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Software

http://thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=2070

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Software

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:22 am
by evyn
Hi,

Which do you guys recommend, ProMash or Beersmith?

Evan

Re: Software

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:51 am
by Kaiser
evyn wrote:Which do you guys recommend, ProMash or Beersmith?


Beersmith.

It's easier to navigate and it has a generous 21 day trial period.

Kai

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:00 am
by bub
Already a large discussion here...
http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1379
Promash is the king.
BUB

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 5:23 am
by evyn
Thanks!

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:40 am
by Impalla
I have the full version of both Promash and Beersmith and I prefer Beersmith. Not because I think it's a 'superior' program, I just happen to be able to navigate a little easier with it. Smile

-Impalla

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2006 1:52 pm
by johnsma22
I see that Beersmith can convert all grain recipes to extract and vice versa. Does anyone know if ProMash can do that?

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 9:41 am
by Speyedr
johnsma22 wrote:I see that Beersmith can convert all grain recipes to extract and vice versa. Does anyone know if ProMash can do that?


It doesn't have a nice pretty button that will do it for you, but all Beersmith is doing is replacing base malt with the extract of your choice. You can do this in whichever software you use by just taking note of the expected OG of the recipe, and then reducing the amount of base malt and adding extract until the expected OG is the same as it was as an all-grain recipe.

For example, you have an all grain Pale Ale recipe with 8lbs of Pale Malt. Your expected OG is 1.050 (just example numbers). You remove the base malt and then add extract until the OG is back to 1.050.

I use Beersmith predominantly now, but the feature you're talking about is just a "nifty little thingy" and I don't recommend you rely on it blindly. After it does it's "magic" you should make sure it makes sense to you.

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2006 7:14 am
by bperetto
I have full versions of both. I'm using promash right now because that's what I had first and that's where all my stuff is.

However, they mostly have the same features, but:

Promash has a better water profile calculator

Beersmith has a better inventory/shopping list
...beerXML compatible (which will be big once my database is finished)
...better support/concern from the author (who said he'll try to implement a water profile calculator)
...doesn't look like it was designed in 1985
...better reporting that you can fully customize

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