Brewing Notebook

[JimH]

I have kept a log for the most part for the bulk of my brewing. Early on of course my notebook really just consisted of "Mr. Beer X Recipe brewed in accordance with MB directions, bottle primed with 1/2 teaspoon sugar."

Now, more and more of my beers are my original recipes, and I am exploring more toward partial mashes. I definitely want to keep better brewing logs. What does a typical brewing notebook entry look like for you guys? What should I be logging?

[Yankeedag]

I'll list the components, temps, boil times, OG/FG, yeast (&lot number). anything I think I may need to reproduce that batch. Batch name. AA of the hops. At what time they're added.
Just stuff like that.

[haerbob3]

I use Beersmith and add notes to each recipe. I also make sure I keep my recipes backed up on the cloud.

[jimjohson]

+1 I got BeerSmith on the 'puter and my ipad as well as keeping it backed up on cloud

[BlackDuck]

I'm another one for BeerSmith. The program keeps all that stats, then I add my own notes in the "note" section. Works great for me.

[John Sand]

I use pen and paper, recording ingredients, times of additions, origin of recipe, mash temp, gravities etc. Most important are the mistakes I make! Then I make tasting notes, all with dates.

[Inkleg]

I print all my BeerSmith recipes out and keep them in a binder. I'll hand write all my brew day and follow up notes on it. Day brewed, bottled, ready, what and how much yeast pitched and at what temperature, first signs of fermentation, yada, yada, yada, and of course my screws ups.

[Banjo-guy]

It's Beersmith for me. I print out the recipe so that I have a hard copy.

Jim, I'm brewing our RCE pale ale tomorrow.

[JimH]

Thanks for the input guys. I keep my recipes in qbrew and brewers friend, plus extra hand written notes in a small notebook with actual OG and stuff.

Greg, I got paid a couple days ago. I will be ordering the ingredients in the next few days, so I will be right behind you.

[jhough]

I use Brew Mate. It works great and has alot of features . Plus it's free.

[Photon Brewing]

I print out a copy and keep them in a recipe box type thing. Temps, times, etc. and general observations of a particular recipe. I have a calendar that I write down name of brew on the date; then 3 weeks later give or take I write when I bottled; I count out 6 weeks from bottling date and write down when it will be ready in calendar; I write that date on a piece of tape and put it on the case of bottled beer and set it on shelf to carb/condition. 9 weeks roughly and I have a case of beer ready for consumption. I may condition longer if its a bigger beer or needs more time and when its to my liking I write that on the recipe so I know how much conditioning was needed if I want to brew it again. Pretty basic stuff but it works for me.

[FrozenInTime]

I use Word but just put dates in it now. For details, I use BrewSmith and keep them saved in a folder.

[Yankeedag]

I use Word but just put dates in it now. For details, I use BrewSmith and keep them saved in a folder.

Fit, your too dang drunk to do that. stop your fibbin.

[Gymrat]

I use excel and I back it up on a flash drive. I would rather type than write.

[mtsoxfan]

+1 to the detailed notes, including tastings. One thing I've added in the last few brews was when I make changes, I write why, what I expect to accomplish, what I want to happen kinda notes... ie. add type x hops to gain spicy character...