BeerSmith 3 due out soon

[Kealia]

I suppose this *could* go under Advanced because it's software but new folks shouldn't be overwhelmed by this program. I think of it like Excel - powerful enough to do more than most people will ever do, but with a quick tutorial it's easy enough for the beginner to do simple things (create and store recipes, scale recipes, etc.).

This jumped out at me right away:

With the explosion in IPA brewing, I could not ignore whirlpool hops. BeerSmith now has a proper model for the utilization of steeped/whirlpool hops vs temperature, and lets you specify both temperature and time for each whirlpool addition. It also has an enhanced model for carrying forward unused boil bitterness into the whirlpool enabled from the equipment profile for easy reuse.

While I can get somewhat repeatable results, it will be nice to have some measurements (right or wrong, they set a baseline) to use for steeped hops.

More info here.

Anything in here that excites anybody?

[BlackDuck]

I like that the water profile tool will be integrated into the recipe formulation. That might mean I don't have to use EZ Water to figure that out.

[Kealia]

I saw that, too. I won;t get excited about that until I see how easy it is to use.

[BlackDuck]

I agree, there's already a water profile tool there, but it's confusing as hell to me. That's why I use EZ Water...cause it's EZ!!!

[Beer-lord]

I just looked on their website last week to see if an update was coming and found nothing. Your timing is good!
Re: water tool, I still like Screwy's water calculator but also use sided by side with Bru'n Water and it I use them together, I usually hit very close. But like most programs, after you use them a few times, it gets much easier.

[bpgreen]

I like this part:

"Similarly, BeerSmith 3 supports a new boil elevation setting in the equipment profile that estimates the boiling point and reduced hop utilization you will see when brewing at altitude. The difference in hop utilization can be significant if you are brewing well above sea level."

I think I made that request a long time ago in response to an email from BeerSmith requesting feedback. I think other people must have asked for it as well, because it's doubtful that it would be added for only one user. It's possible that I was the only one to request it and he added it because he realized it would benefit everybody brewing at an altitude, and that many brewers didn't realize that it makes a difference.

[mashani]

I like the water additions adjusting the ph properly. Right now I'm having to use other calculators to get the base profile post adjustment, and then fiddle with the numbers in beersmith to figure out final mash ph adjustments.

[ScrewyBrewer]

I'll keep using ezRecipe for the obvious reasons. But I know my brewing system well enough now where setting up a brewing system profile is no longer necessary. And I respect the diversity of recipe design tools preferred by homebrewers today. Which one is the best? That always comes down to what you like and what you can afford. Brad Smith has devoted nearly a decade to the advancement of homebrewing and the development of brewing tools. You just can't argue with that kind of commitment and passion.

[HerbMeowing]

v1.4 had all the look and feel of an MS Access form.

v2 isn't much better. Its haphazard design of the GUI layout is just awful. User-hostile functionality.
Doubt v3 will be any better.

[mashani]

v2 isn't much better. Its haphazard design of the GUI layout is just awful. User-hostile functionality.
Doubt v3 will be any better.

I am not a fan of the UI. As a software developer, to me it is like I was back in the caveman days before Y2K was about to cause our imminent doom.

So for a long time I was using other software because of it.

But the other software was always lacking in some technical way, or was doing something wrong/weird that I noticed and couldn't work around without doing stupid things, etc. So I was using a bunch of other software in a mix to work around whatever issues I was having.

Once I just "got over it" regarding the UI, I stopped using most of the other software, because BeerSmith just works from a technical standpoint. The only other software I use right now is Brewers Friend yeast pitch calculator, and water profile tools.

If 3.0's water profile tool works and counts the mash additions properly, then I'll just be using the pitch rate calculator, although I hardly look at it anymore for most batches because I know what I need to pitch for most everything I make now.

[mashani]

Hurray, I bought mine late enough that I get free upgrade!

So I can let you know if the new stuff actually works when I get it.

[BlackDuck]

Did you get an email about your free upgrade? Curious how he is releasing it.


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[Beer-lord]

I did and pre-ordered. Got an email but it doesn't say much other than to download it and click to activate. But, since 3 isn't out yet, I'm on hold to find out.
I assume I'll get an email letting me know its available for download.

[mashani]

Yeah, I got an email asking me to plug my existing activation code into a form to see if I was eligible, which I did and now it says I have a valid Beersmith 3 license, I theory I can just download it and install it later I guess. Email says they hope to have it out by Fathers day.

[BlackDuck]

Hmmm...I didn't get an email yet. Wonder whats up with that?