Site Directory:
Brew BuilderŠ v.3.5 for Palm OS handheld computers
First released in January 2006, updated in October
2007, and now updated again in January 2009, Brew Builder v.3.5 is the latest version of the
homebrewing recipe formulator database for Palm OS handheld computers.
Having this application on your Palm device is better than any desktop program
or printed recipe on brewing day, as you can make changes to your recipe on the
fly to immediately see how they affect your recipe's IBU, Gravity and various
water use calculations. Plus, it'll help you make absolutely sure you
never miss another hop addition (see below).
Brew Builder v.3.5 will perform these functions and calculations for you just like a desktop homebrewing application:
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build your own recipes from scratch, or enter recipes from books, magazines or elsewhere, using fully-populated, linked ingredient databases. Most data entry is performed by tapping an ingredient from a list. There are separate linked databases for Malt-Sugars, Hops, Yeast, and Other Ingredients. Each database is fully user-editable to update existing entries, or to add new ingredients at any time.
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Automatically calculates your recipe's Total IBUs. Previously, it only calculated the IBU values for an individual hop addition, and not predictably or reliably. The new calculator is based on Glenn Tinseth's hop utilization tables.
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Automatically calculates your recipe's Predicted Original Gravity based upon the malts, extracts and other sugars you use. You can also customize the Mash Efficiency value to fit your system's performance;
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Reliably and automatically calculates the mash water needs for all-grain brewers, including volume and temperature numbers, and sparge water volume based on parameters you set including the target mash temperature and water-to-grain ratio. You can also customize certain calculation variables such as evaporation rate, volume left in kettle, etc. to adjust your results to your own brewing system;
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Automatically calculates Alcohol % By Volume;
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Incorporates a Beer Style Guidelines database;
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Generates a shopping list of ingredients in one easy-to-view screen
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THE COOLEST THING IT DOES: Brew Builder v.3 uses each hop's boil time as entered in your recipe, to automatically calculate the actual times for each hop addition. Once the Boil Start time is set (i.e. when your wort actually starts boiling, tap a button to set it), it then allows you to set HOP ALARMS for each addition, which tie into your Palm's Calendar or Datebook application to make your Palm sound an alarm a few minutes before each hop addition is due. You can now sit down to have a beer and play your banjo, and STILL not forget a hop addition ever again!
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NEW in v.3.5 (2009): BrewBuilder now shows your complete water volume needs for your entire batch
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NEW in v.3.5 (2009): BrewBuilder now calculates the total mash volume for your batch, including water and grain, based on the pounds of grain in your recipe and the water-to-grain ratio (thickness) you enter. This is important to know when you are building a recipe but don't know if it will fit in your mash tun.
In addition to the linked ingredient databases, Brew Builder v.3.5 comes with another linked database containing beer style guidelines. This (and all the others, by the way) can be used independently of Brew Builder.
Brew Builder v.3.5 requires SmartList To Go.
Brew Builder v.3.5 is not a separate program. Rather, it consists of a series of relational databases which FUNCTION just like a stand-alone program...much better IMHO than several stand-alone Palm brewing applications which I have tried out, and discarded. To use Brew Builder v.3.5 you must also have installed the popular commercial Palm database product SmartList To Go from Dataviz, the same folks who bring us the wildly popular Documents To Go and other Palm applications. If you are not currently a SmartList To Go user, you can download a free 30-day trial version from the Dataviz web site.
Your file download is a .zip file, including all of the required linked databases which comprise Brew Builder v.3.5, along with a README file with some instructions and screen shots. I cannot distribute a trial copy of SmartList To Go as it would be in violation of the Dataviz copyright and user agreement. You can get the trial version here, or any other Palm software seller such as Palmgear or Handango.
Brew Builder v.3.5 is now free for the taking (click here to get it!). If you try it, I would appreciate your feedback...good or bad. And mind you, I would not object to anyone throwing a few bucks my way if they find it to be a useful brewing tool.
Steve Kranz ˇ 741 Windsor Drive ˇ Westminster, Maryland 21158 ˇ stevekranz@comcast.net
