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Best Homebrew (Beer Recipe) Software

Last Update: Sun, 11/15/2009 - 14:30 — site.editor

 
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Introduction
One of the key aspects of homebrew is recipe formulation and management. Creating a tasty brew that meets the characteristics of its target style is no easy task, involving many calculations and variables (color, bitterness, specific gravity, etc). So it's not surprising that there are several homebrew software programs such as QBrew, CyberBrau, DrewBrew, ProMash, Strangebrew and SUDS, available to assist with these crucial tasks.
Discussion

After reviewing all of these programs, two freeware products are recommended.

PQBrewFor an excellent freeware homebrew recipe program, QBrew is the only, but very deserving, choice. It has an intuitive and simple interface and is excellent for formulating recipes quickly (about half the time as BeerSmith, a commercial program). Recipe entry and ingredient database management is extremely simple. Each recipe is stored in a separate file and can be exported in BeerXML format for sharing and/or importing into other BeerXML-enabled applications such as BeerSmith. The summary pane also lists the maximum and minimum gravity, bitterness, and color levels according to standardized style definitions published by the Beer Judge Certification Program. This is useful if you're brewing for a competition, or targeting a particular style.

QBrew's recipe calculations seem to be more accurate than BeerSmith's, but don't accept that as a guarantee! Home brewing systems vary in efficiency and the calculation results are served as guidelines. Both BeerSmith and QBrew can be extracted from the installation archive and run from a USB flash drive.

CyberBrauFor those interested in a web-based beer recipe application for a personal web site and then accessed from anywhere, CyberBrau is very appealing. It features recipe formulation and management, batch tracking, a reviewing system, and other useful utilities. It also supports multiple users and is great for sharing recipes, tracking batches through the entire process, and sharing comments on recipes.

Many thanks to Craig Vollmar for preparing the original review on which this article is based.
Quick Selection Guide

QBrew    Rating 9 of 10  Gizmo's Top Pick
Pros   Intuitive and simple interface, formulate recipes quickly, simple database management, export to BeerXML format, useful summary pane.
Cons    
Developer Home Page   http://www.usermode.org/code.html
Download link   http://www.usermode.org/code.html
File Size   4.2 MB   Version 0.4.1   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows98-XP, Mac OSX, Linux, Unix
Portable version available   Portable version available
Info   The program can be extracted from the installation archive and run from a USB flash drive.

CyberBrau    Rating 8 of 10
Pros   Web-based, features recipe formulation and management, supports multiple users, great for sharing recipes and tracking batches.
Cons   Additional Software Required: PHP 4+ and MySQL.
Developer Home Page   http://cyberbrau.sourceforge.net/
Download link   http://cyberbrau.sourceforge.net/
File Size   1.4 MB   Version 0.9.4a   License Type Unrestricted Freeware   Installation Requirements Windows (IIS 5+ or Apache), Linux (Apache)
 
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Tags

home brew, home brew software, free beer recipe, beer recipe software, freeware

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#1Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 11/17/2009 - 13:23.

Another alternative to add to the list:

http://www.brewtoolz.com

#2Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 10/06/2009 - 01:17.

Not too bad!

Make Your Own Beer

#3Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 19:21.

There is a free spreadsheet that rivals the software packages called Diesel's Brewing Spreadsheet: http://dieseldrafts.com/

#4Submitted by BruGuy on Tue, 09/15/2009 - 18:16.

I looked at the software and I liked what I saw. I'll post this into a review coming soon.

#5Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:50.

I'll look into this one.
Thanks for the note.
BruGuy

#6Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 06/09/2009 - 12:52.

An excellent article.

#7Submitted by hallie on Wed, 01/28/2009 - 18:06.

Beer making software? I have to admit that this is the first time I hear about this. I know that this kind of software is meant to help us make the perfect brew but I am personally more found of traditional methods and I would appreciate a traditionally made beer more than a "modern" beer. I collect beer bottles and classify them by tastes, only originally products and being a member of beer clubs helped me a lot.

#8Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:52.

If you were to brew your own beer you might want to keep track of the recipes that you used, that is what the software is used for. Some packages will suggest basic recipes to start with and you can change them from there.
Usefull stuff really.
Regards,
BruGuy

#9Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 01/29/2009 - 06:34.

For good "modern" beer (using the latest technology of the time):
http://www.hooknortonbrewery.co.uk/virtual_tour/start.html
Not freeware though, unfortunately.

#10Submitted by Bob on Sat, 01/31/2009 - 09:02.

(PS No conflict of interest to declare.)

#11Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 10/26/2008 - 05:30.

I'd like software that actually makes beer.

#12Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:53.

Only thing better would be raining beer!

#13Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 23:25.

Any home still/spirit making software?

#14Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 09/09/2009 - 16:54.

None that I know of right now.

#15Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 15:03.

You missed a bunch of software. Did you try Beertools? In my opinion this is the top software package. It is the only right now that is still really developing new products and features actively

#16Submitted by peter on Sat, 07/12/2008 - 15:17.

Is it freeware?

#17Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 19:57.

A few other sites that may be of interest:

Beer Calculator - http://leebrewery.com/beermath.htm
BeerXML - http://www.beerxml.com/
BrewMaxer - http://www.brewmaxer.com/
Microbrew packaging - http://www.brewpack.com/
RCB Equipment - http://rcbequip.com/
U.K. Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) - http://www.camra.org.uk/
Real Beer - http://realbeer.com/
Homebrew Digest - http://hbd.org/
Home Distillation - http://www.moonshine-still.com
Bartender’s Companion - http://www.bartenderscompanion.com/

If you live in Silicon Valley you may find these sites interesting:

Silicon Valley Sudzers - http://www.sudzers.org/
Brewing Supplies in San Jose, CA - http://www.beerandwinemakers.com/
Brewing Supplies in Los Altos, CA - http://www.fermentationfrenzy.com/
Brewing Supplies in Santa Cruz, CA - http://www.breworganic.com/

#18Submitted by gizmo (not verified) on Sun, 04/06/2008 - 07:16.

I'd like to see this expanded to include home wine-making software

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