As a homebrewer, you’ve probably jotted down recipes in notebooks, tracked brew day data on scraps of paper, or built your own spreadsheets to stay organized. But there’s a much better way to streamline and improve your brewing process: brewing software.
Whether you’re brewing your first kit or refining your tenth all-grain recipe, brewing software can help you plan better, save time, and brew more consistently. In this post, I’ll share 7 reasons why using brewing software is a game changer — and I’ll also highlight my own experience with Brewfather, the tool I personally use.
1. Recipe development is easier and smarter
Brewing software takes the guesswork out of recipe building. You can choose from extensive ingredient databases and get instant feedback on bitterness (IBU), color (SRM/EBC), and expected ABV. This makes it easier to balance your recipes before you even heat your strike water.
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2. Consistent results, batch after batch
Nothing beats nailing a recipe — but replicating it is even more satisfying. With brewing software, you can keep a detailed log of all your batches, including notes, fermentation temperatures, water chemistry, and more. This helps ensure consistency and lets you make incremental improvements with each brew.
3. Automatic calculations save you time
Forget about using separate calculators for strike water temperature, priming sugar, or mash efficiency. Good brewing software handles it all. It automatically adjusts volumes and gravity predictions based on your equipment profile. This saves time and reduces the chance of errors.
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4. Ingredient inventory management
Tired of finding out you’re short on hops or crushed malt the night before brew day? Many brewing apps let you manage your ingredient stock. You can mark what you have in your pantry and get a notification when you’re running low. This makes planning much easier and helps reduce waste.
5. Brew day planning made simple
Brewing software often includes a step-by-step brew day mode that walks you through the process. Whether you’re mashing in, boiling, or chilling, you can follow a clear timeline that includes temperature targets, hop additions, and timings — all tailored to your specific setup.
6. Mobile access anywhere
Most modern brewing platforms have mobile apps or web interfaces. This means you can check your fermentation status, tweak a recipe, or review your notes — whether you’re in the garage, the kitchen, or even at the homebrew store.
7. Explore and learn from others
Many platforms have built-in recipe libraries. You can explore what others are brewing, get inspired by trending styles, and even adapt public recipes to your setup. It’s a great way to learn new techniques and stay engaged with the homebrew community.
My experience with Brewfather
After trying a few brewing software options, I landed on Brewfather — and I haven’t looked back. What I love most is how complete and intuitive the platform is.
Brewfather has both a web interface and an app, which means I can use it on my laptop while designing a recipe, then switch to my phone during brew day. The layout is clean and user-friendly, and all the essential tools are right there.
I especially enjoy browsing the public recipe library. It’s packed with tried-and-tested brews from fellow homebrewers. I’ve picked up inspiration for several of my own batches just by exploring this section.
Another feature I rely on is the stock management. I enter the malts, hops, and yeast I have on hand, and Brewfather automatically deducts what I use in a recipe. It even alerts me when I’m running low on key ingredients, which helps a lot when preparing for a brew session.
During fermentation, I use the batch tracking feature to log gravity readings, fermentation temperatures, and tasting notes. It’s great to look back on old batches and see what worked — and what didn’t.
In short: Brewfather has made my brewing more efficient, more fun, and more consistent. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned homebrewer, I can highly recommend giving it a try.
Final thoughts on brewing software
Brewing software isn’t just a fancy tool — it’s an essential part of becoming a better brewer. It helps you stay organized, improve your process, and focus on what really matters: crafting amazing beer. So if you’re still brewing without software, now’s the time to make the switch.
