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For many brewers, long gone are the days of doing recipe calculations on pen and paper. Save for the nostalgic, most homebrewers use some kind of software to figure out their numbers.
Though many out there have relied on the “ole’ standby” Beersmith2, there are a plethora of choices. But its the 21st century now, and we want connectivity, we want syncing across devices, we want brewing software that integrates with out current, modern devices.
BrewFather Brewing SoftwareBrewFather runs on any modern browser and/or mobile devices. You can work offlineand connect automatic synchronizationwhen you get back online. Recipe designer, intuitive batch tracking, inventory management, and integratedwith many popular devices. All to make your brew-day easier.
My goal here is not to tell you which one is best, but rather to give you a high-level overview and to point out some of the key features between the most popular options. Using this information should help you in making a somewhat enlightened choice when choosing your brewing software.
Compatibility
Contents
- 4 Brewing Software Reviews
- 5 Final Notes
First let’s look at compatibility. One of your foremost deciding factors when it comes to the type of software you will choose will be the format in which you can use it.
Recipe Software For Mac Computers
- Do you want to use it from your phone or tablet (web-based or app)? Do you have an IOS or Android based device?
- Do you want to run it from your computer (web-based or desktop app)? Do you have a Mac, PC, or Linux?
- Do you want open-source where you could potentially change the source code or do you just want it to work out of the box?
Hopefully I can answer a few of these questions, but let’s just start with trying to make it compatible with your setup.
Cost
One of the most limiting factors for most homebrewers is the cost of their tools.
Although not all of these software packages are exactly apples to apples, the difference in cost between them might be a “make it or break it” factor for you.
Below are the prices associated with each piece of software reviewed. Some of the packages are subscription based, and in that case, the monthly or yearly price is listed.
Potential Popularity
It might not be a fair comparison when looking at the user base of certain products.
In some cases, the user base might not be public information. Also, when trying to analyse social media and forums, it should be noted that this is just an attempt to show the representation of the active users. I looked at Facebook pages, Twitter accounts, and forums to get an idea of the user base for each home brewing software.
Though social media and forum activity do not necessarily portray exact numbers of user base, I think they do paint a pretty good picture as to how many people are talking about the software and using it.
Brewing Software Reviews
Lastly, I would like to give a brief description of each package. I have not used every package listed here, but reading reviews and browsing through free trials I have come up with the following.
Brewtarget
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
Brewtarget is an open-source software with a great set of tools. It gives you a lot of control when it comes to designing your recipe.
The software automatically calculates the color, bitterness, gravity, and ABV. It does priming calculations, OG corrections, pitch rates, refractometer calculations, brew day timers, and much more. Best of all it is completely free.
Beersmith 2
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
BeerSmith is by far one of the most used pieces of software in the homebrewing community.
Its tool set is very robust and once it is set up for your brewing style and equipment, its calculations are very accurate.
It was very hard not to compare all of the other options to BeerSmith as it is what I use every brew day.
Brewtoad
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Export only
Brewtoad is an online service that gives you the ability to build recipies, set up equipment profiles, and even helps with mash calculations.
You can create variants of your recipes. One really cool feature of this website is that once you have built your recipe you can buy beer ingredients right from the site. It is like building your own personalized beer kit.
Brewer’s Friend
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
Brewer’s Friend is web service that has an app for both IOS and Android. It also has a windows desktop app.
Brewer’s Friend has a Free version in which you can store up to five recipes.
With this software comes your typical recipe builder, however, they also have a pretty good set of tools including a nice library of forms and templates. They have a great tool for water chemistry as well as a great reference for water reports.
Like Brew Toad, you can also buy the beer kit for created recipes from them. I have never used this software, however, that is only because I started using Beersmith before I found out about them.
They have both a free version and a paid version. The paid version allows you to delete recipes and sync with the apps. Paying for the service also gets rid of the advertising.
Brewcipher
This software is really just a spreadsheet. The link is to the google drive folder where all of the relevant files can be downloaded.
Ability to export/import Beer XML: No
Brewcipher is a free workbook that can be ran with Excel. You can customize your equipment profiles, create grain bills, and hop profiles. It is modeled after most of the other popular software but it does everything using formulas in Excel.
Recipe Software For Mac 2019 Free
If you are spreadsheet savvy, this might be a pretty good fit for you. It has many features that you find in some of the other software packages, however, everything is put in specific cells on different sheets.
It would be a little scary at first glance, especially for someone that does not use Excel. However, if you are good with Excel, Brewcipher could give you a better idea of the math behind all of the outputs, if that’s your thing.
Bru’n Water
Ability to export/import Beer XML: NA
Bru’n water does not really compare to the rest of these, however, I wanted to list it because it seems popular.
It is a calculator specifically for the water chemistry of your mash.
I had not heard of it before researching for this post,but I will start using it from now on.
Bru’n uses Excel or Open Office and it does have a free version. Their website also has a lot of information on it for those looking to get into brewing water chemistry.
Mr. Malty
Ability to export/import Beer XML: NA
Mr. Malty is a yeast pitch rate calculator and much like Bru’n water does not really compare to the tools offered in the other packages, however, I would not write it off.
It is recommended by many when it comes to calculating the pitch rate of your yeast.
The web version is free. It does have an app available on the Apple App Store ($2.99) and the Google Play store (4.99).
BrewPal
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
BrewPal is an app based recipe formulation software for IOS. It allows you to take your recipes with you.
It syncs between all of your iCloud devices. Though somewhat limited when comparing it to the others, when it comes to an IOS app based software, BrewPal is still a nice tool to have.
If you are looking to only use your iPhone or iPad for brew calculations, this might be just the tool you are looking for.
Beer Tools Pro
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
Beertools is a recipe formulation and management software.
It has many tools for adjusting alcohol, color, bitterness, and much more.
This software, to me, feels much like Beersmith, though, not as many options. However, It’s tools seem much more streamlined and to the point. Overall the user interface is clean and navigation through all the available options is very straightforward.
I would have liked to have seen more reporting from such a feature rich product. (e.g. brew steps).
They have a web-based version that the desktop app will sync with so that you can use it on a mobile device as well.
BeerAlchemy
Ability to export/import Beer XML: Yes
BeerAlchemy is a Mac only software with a desktop version and an App version which only runs on IOS.
It has a recipe creator and tools for inventory management.
One cool feature I noticed was that if you are a brewer that keeps on top of their inventory, this software can recommend brews based on the ingredients you have in stock.
The desktop version will sync with the app version which will help with shopping lists and brewday schedules.
Final Notes
Once again, I have not personally used every software listed here and this post just scratches the surface when it comes to the different options available for brewing software. They change and the good ones frequently update to keep with modern devices and new platforms. My current favorite does an excellent job with staying up-to-date.
BrewFather Brewing SoftwareBrewFather runs on any modern browser and/or mobile devices. You can work offlineand connect automatic synchronizationwhen you get back online. Recipe designer, intuitive batch tracking, inventory management, and integratedwith many popular devices. All to make your brew-day easier.
Hopefully it can be used to help you make a knowledgeable decision when you decide to look into using software for your brewing needs.
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Recipe Manager Software – let us create our very own recipe database.
Related:
Is your passion in life is cooking? Do you love to try best recipes from all around the world? Then you must know how valuable these recipes are, and you must store them in such a way, that generation after generation it can be passed on.
Through technological advancement recipe managers software is capable of storing numerous recipes in a virtual platform. You can upload your recipes and add videos too. Software details of this type discussed below:
Cook’n
It is an extremely fun software for sharing your recipes. The unique features it offers are- It has a user-friendly interface, your own recipes can be added easily, equipped with auto generation of the shopping list and plans for menu and import and export of recipes from the internet possible. Compatible with windows, Android, Mac, iOS, and kindle.
Now You’re Cooking!
This recipe software has the ability to store recipes by importing your own recipes and importing recipes from the net in 14 languages. Nutritional value analysis and calculation of diet possible for any recipe. Supports Windows operating system, and has a 60 day trial pack available, full version needs to be purchased.
Home Cookin
This is a Recipe organizer software for adding your own recipes with no limitations to any ingredients. It is an easy and fast program which can plan your meals, can organize shopping list for ingredients and gives you the freedom of creating your own e-book. 15 day trial period available, full version needs purchasing.
Master Cook
It is a software tool needed to organize recipes against cooking for home or cooking for professional needs, and all related activities and turning into custom cookbooks. Planning the menus, shopping list, meals and calculation of nutritional value for each recipe. Compatible with Windows and Android devices. 1 year subscription free if ordered.
Living Cookbook 2015
This is an extremely good software for entering as much as recipes you want and its related notes, images and videos. It works as a calculator of nutritional benefits against each recipe. Planning meals, downloading recipes and sharing recipes with friends made easy. 30 Days trial available, then buy the full version.
YummySoup!
This is a Recipe software for Mac computers, for adding your own recipes and it enables you to import recipes from the 11 most popular recipe websites available. It can create grocery list, plan the menus and makes browsing, e-mailing and printing your favourite recipes very easy. Recipe cards can be created for distributing in any parties too.
Computer Cuisine Deluxe 7.0
Through this powerful software you can create your own recipes and organize them by uploading. Import innumerable lip smacking recipes from various sources of the net. It is compatible with devices using Windows and Mac operating system, and also with iOS devices like ipads and iphones. Free demo version available and full version needs to be purchased.
iCuistot
It is a recipe management software and provides a very easy to use interface which can organize all the recipes and calculate its nutritional value. You can create high quality themes for each recipes and add notes and images corresponding to that. It is compatible with Mac operating system and all Apple devices.
What is Recipe Manager Software?
Recipe manager software are used for storing a collection of recipes on a virtual platform which can be accessed through computers, laptops, tabs and even smartphones. This software are made to perform their task in a very smart way. Some very useful and unique features are instilled into them for performing according to our needs. Importing and exporting of recipes from various platforms are possible through this. For each recipe, its nutritional value can be analyzed for calculating a number of calories you are to consume from the food. This helps in creating a proper diet for each individual.
Meal planning and shopping list creation for ingredients can be auto created. Organizing the recipes and adding needed information through videos, images and notes are also the features which this software supports. It can calculate a number of ingredients you need for each recipe requested by you. It can create different themes for each recipe..
How to install Recipe Manager Software?
From the various Recipe manager software available in the market you will have to pick whichever suits your needs and supports your operating system for the device you use. The next step involves downloading the installation file into your system. After that run the file and follow the instructions available through the installation wizard. When it is done, start the program by clicking on its icon. When it starts, the interface will be there to guide as what is to be done next. Upload your recipes, import from various sites, add images and how to videos and save your valuable recipes as a part of your possession.
Benefits of Installing Recipe Manager Software
Recipe manager software plays a very important part in our day to day life. People who are interested in cooking or has cooking as their passion in life always would prefer to store their collection of recipes properly. Jotting down the recipes or getting printouts and making a spiral book file is ok. But needs tremendous care and space in keeping them. Even heavy recipe books are very difficult to handle and might get lost. For avoiding these problems, for proper organization of your recipes, this software come to rescue.
You can store millions of recipes of your choice, can plan your meals by assembling few recipes together and can share your culinary skills with every friends and family of yours by creating e-books as well. By getting this software you can have a recipe database anyone can be jealous of and which can be passed on to the generations to follow.
Recipe Software For Mac
Free Windows Recipe Manager Software
BigOven is the best option available, if you are looking for free windows Recipe manager software. The features provided by this software includes, organizing the recipes, saving any recipe from the net, creating grocery lists, nutritional value analysis and creating meal plans and exporting recipes of your own on the internet.
Free Android Recipe Manager Software
My CookBook
My Cookbook is the best option for managing your prized recipes for your Android smartphones and tabs. The free cookbook software offers you features of storing numerous recipes, importing recipes of your own or through the internet and a single click search feature. This recipe manager app is free of any type of virus threat.
Free Mac Recipe Manager Software
Recipe Manager for Mac is the best free Recipe manager software available in the market for Mac operating system. It is a simple basic software for entering all your recipes for planning your menu and planning the shopping for food items. This does not require installation, launch directly when download finishes.
Popular Recipes 2019
Other good Recipe Manager Software Available
There are many other options for Recipe manager software available in the market. The names of such software are Shop’NCook, Pepperplate, Evernote Food, Side chef, Kitchen tories, Tender, Appetites, Paprika recipe manager for mac and Paprika recipe manager for PC. Paprika recipe manager free download available as trial also, Paprika recipe manager review is very good and it is recommended. All the other software mentioned are also very good as per experts and user reviews.
Most Popular Recipe Manager Software for 2016
MasterCook has been considered as the best and most popular Recipe manager software for 2016, according to users and expert reviews. Over 8000 recipes come equipped with this software. Menu planning and shopping for food planning features are supported here and verbal instructions for cooking is also available. It makes the experience of being in the kitchen and cooking more worthy.