[pinnah]

I am curious if there is anyone here who does not use a computer in their homebrewing process?

I was trying to convert Denny's Noti Brown recipe in the Wiki the other day and was pulling my hair out...I think I need to update my brewing program...

[brick pig]

I started brewing before I ever owned a computer. (Hell, almost nobody owned a computer when I started brewing.) Now that I think of it, I don't believe I've ever seen a homebrewing program, even now.

[HoosierBrew]

I started brewing pre-brewing software.  I remember thinking it was a step up to get the calculations from Ray Daniels' DGB to do by hand. But I'm a sucker for the good software. A lot less time and grief involved.

[Slowbrew]

I brew without a computer all the time, making the following allowances:

1) My recipes are generally stored in Word docs.
2) I do "on the fly" calculations on an electronic calculator
3)  I do refractometer conversions to FG using a spreadsheet.

I made the assumption that you were talking about software packages like Beersmith or Promash.  I own a copy of Beersmith 2.0 and play with it now and then but have not ever really gotten into a habit of using it all the time.

Paul

[factory]

I use Beersmith.  It just makes life easy.

[pinnah]

Interesting stuff.  I added another option that I neglected initially.

I brew without a computer all the time, making the following allowances:

Paul

Allowances are appropriate.    Thanks

[brick pig]

1) My recipes are generally stored in Word docs

I started to write this in my initial response, but yeah, I have all my recipes saved as well, in Evernote. I have around 30 recipes, but I tend to repeat my favorite 6 or 8 of them over and over. So, really, I don't very often do anything that software would be useful for.

[dls5492]

I started brewing before there was brewing software (1988). But, I use Beersmith now and I enjoying using it. I like to tinker with recipes.

[pinnah]

I tend to repeat my favorite 6 or 8 of them over and over. So, really, I don't very often do anything that software would be useful for.

I think this is where I would like to be.

Computers allow us to feel like we are being so precise.
Maybe we are.
Some day when I am old I hope I can just brew with gestalt and not worry too much about it.

In the meantime..I will look into beersmith.

[Slowbrew]

1) My recipes are generally stored in Word docs

I started to write this in my initial response, but yeah, I have all my recipes saved as well, in Evernote. I have around 30 recipes, but I tend to repeat my favorite 6 or 8 of them over and over. So, really, I don't very often do anything that software would be useful for.

Sorry, I work with a group of people that require precision that's a bit over board.  It's hard to shift out of that some days.   

Paul

[Jimmy K]

I'm sure I could, but I'd need a crash course in brewery math.

[Stevie]

I'm disappointed that more are not admitting to wanting to brew without pants. No pants are the best pants.

[69franx]

I have only been brewing for about 18 months and I use beersmith,  I would like to get to a point where I have the time to do all the numbers work myself, but for now it helps me see theoretical changes in my finished product as I make data input changes in the program. It's not an exact science, but with about 15 all grain batches under my belt, I feel I would only have time to buy and make kits. And then normally not be happy with variations in results based on system differences. Basically it gives my untrained brewing mind a good road map

[MDixon]

I typically formulate the recipe on the computer and then use a calculator as I brew.

[mbalbritton]

I started brewing about a year or two ago. WAY into the computer support day for brewing. I can't imagine using a computer. Other than just the timer on my phone.

I like to keep it simple. Not worried about making a repeat brew EXACTLY the same. I take notes (on paper) and keep them in a binder.

I figure if Egyptians didn't have computers, I don't need them. then again, I'm not planning to ferment in clay pots either.

I also brew by the motto, Worst case, I end up with Beer, and that's better than anything I produce at the office. (And we produce some cool s*** too)


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