Computer recipe generators...

[l1chris]

I am mildly interested in a subscription to beertools or beersmith or something like that. I don't use anything like that now so I know nothing about how they work and was wondering what everyone elses, do you have any problems with yours? How it works? (a program or a web based) Price? Do you suggest even using one? I do all my recipe formulation by hand now and always wonder what if I screw up a calculation...

[siwelwerd]

I use Promash. It's old. It's clunky. I tried the other ones at one point, and while I can't recall any specific criticisms now, they didn't make my life any easier.

[wnordmann]

For web site i've used http://hopville.com/ and http://www.fermkit.com/fermkit/#. Hopville is nice a pretty and easy enough to use, I think I had a problem with some of the math. I like Fermkit more because it is easy to add missing ingredients and I think it was made by someone local.
My advice is find one that you like to use and stick to it. No software can tell you exactly how your beer will turn out but give you a good idea about the results.

I would love an app that works on my phone and the web so I can see recipes anywhere. And an inventory feature that automatically reduces my stock when a beer is made.

[JE]

I, personally, use BeerTools...both online and the program. I like it, even though it isn't ALWAYS the easiest to use. I have some grains that are not in there (Midnight Wheat, Carastan), but for the most part it is pretty easy.

Other than that, I second what Willie said...find one you like and stick with it.

[l1chris]

Thanks guys, I'll check those out. It would be really cool to have one that knows your inventory and then automatically reduces it after a brew. Keep the suggestions coming!

[siwelwerd]

It would be really cool to have one that knows your inventory and then automatically reduces it after a brew. Keep the suggestions coming!

Promash does this. I thought Beersmith and BeerToolsPro did that too, maybe they don't?

[turkeyjerky214]

You're right, Drew. Beertools Pro keeps track and subtracts from your inventory.

I've used Beer Alchemy, BeerSmith, and Beertools Pro. BTP is the one that I ended up buying. For me, it was all about the interface. There's so much functionality in it that I'm barely scraping the surface. Bobby M from HBT has a bunch of videos on youtube about the different features that are really handy.

Josh, when's the last time you updated your copy? I know they added Carastan back in July. If you post on their message board, they're really good about adding stuff people request.

[Kerth]

I still like the old pencil and paper myself.

[tlael]

Beersmith will also reduce inventory by the items you use in each brew.
I'm really diggin Beersmith 2.0.

[Lynux]

Big fan of Beersmith here.

[SteveO]

I use the free, open source program called BrewTarget.

[l1chris]

So I've been playing with the free subscriptions of Beersmith and Beertools and so far I think I like Beersmith the best. It seems to have more stuff to mess with than Beertools. Beertools just seems a little basic unless everything is just hidden (or I can't find it, more likely).

[dvdaniels]

+1 on the Beersmith except for the problem of them not completing functionality on the 2.0 version. Even with that it is pretty good. The developer is still adding things back in with releases. I still prefer it over Beer Tools.

[wonkothsane]

I use BrewTarget.

It's aimed at being as good as Beersmith. It is open source, and still developed upon. Which means it's free, and community supported.

It takes some getting used to, and some featured (like undo) are going to be implemented int he next release, but for it's use ability and price, it is the perfect fit for me.