Mac360 directed me toward an app that I don't have any real use for, but I wish I did. Homebrew Formulator is a Filemaker runtime application, which means you don't need Filemaker to use it. The important thing to know is that Homebrew Formulator is all about helping you make your own beer - brew your own brew, if you will. It lets you manage and design your very own beer recipes and store them in a flexible and powerful database. It includes beer styles from the most current BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Style Guidelines, a mash calculator, brewing water calculator, carbonation calculator, yeast repitch calculator and even a hydrometer correction calculator. Those words (other than the word beer) mean nothing to me, but to those who practice the art of fine homebrewing, it's probably important stuff.
Who knew that there was so much math involved with something as sublimely simple as beer?
I drink a lot of beer, but I will be the first to admit that I don't know a damn thing about making it. I know how to buy it and I know how to drink it. Usually I even know when to stop drinking it. I appreciate fine beer like some people appreciate fine wine - only without all that bothersome knowledge. I do think it would be very cool to make my own beer, however, and if I am ever inspired to brew more and drink less, this will be the first app I turn to to get me started.
You'll need Mac OS X 10.3.9 or better and Intel-based Mac owners will be glad to hear it's Universal Binary. The good news? Homebrew Formulator is free, as in beer. And on that note... will one of you toss me a cold one?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-29-2006 @ 9:10PM
MacNewsOnline.com said...
I am sure the diggnation crew would like this app, well atleast Kevin.
Reply
11-29-2006 @ 10:11PM
AlMeister said...
Hopefully it can tell me how to brew a nice Macness!
Reply
11-29-2006 @ 10:32PM
Famous Pete said...
This is one fine piece of writing. Well done.
All the TUAWers are really setting a fine standard for blogging excellence these days.
Crack open a Red Stripe in honor of this blue-ribbon (Pap's, that is) post.
Reply
11-29-2006 @ 11:02PM
Chewbaca said...
beer is so awesome.
Reply
11-29-2006 @ 11:58PM
PeterO said...
Finally, I can brew my very own opulent, velvety, rich-bodied Coors Lite.
PS-Laurie Duncan: Great prose
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 2:06AM
Greg said...
I've tried HBF, but it doesn't hold a candle to BeerAlchemy. And BA actually looks and acts like an OS X app.
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 2:06AM
Ian! said...
My god, I've been looking for something like this. Me and two of my friends homebrew (a totally worthwhile hobby for anyone who likes beer), and while one of them runs BeerSmith (http://www.beersmith.com/), I've wanted a Mac solution for a while.
Now I just wish there was a cross-platform solution...
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 2:12AM
Ian! said...
Yup, I should have looked harder.
BeerAlchemy looks sweet.
BeerMeister (http://members.cox.net/mrstuffbm/shareware.htm) looks less sweet, but MIGHT be cross-platform (he says to email him for an OS9/Linux/Windows version). If it is, that'd be nice for trading receipes.
Homebrew Formulator looks okay.
I'm going to play around some more, and see which one I like best. I'd probably be willing to spend money on something like this, but free would be sweet too.
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 6:10AM
Sherman Homan said...
Finally!
A legitimate use for a computer!
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 11:31AM
GregPC said...
I've use Beer Alchemy for a couple of years and like it a lot. I just downloaded Homebrew Formulator to try it out and it's pretty good; but it's not as complete or polished as Beer Alchemy. If you're a brewer here in the Boston-area, let me know.
Reply
11-30-2006 @ 2:32PM
Josh said...
I made beer once, but it was a PITA because my apartment is too small. When I get a bigger apartment, I'm sure I'll try it again. Maybe it's about time I get a bigger apartment...let's see...pay Manhattan prices for a bigger apartment, or use that money for a new Intel MacBook Pro? Tough choice.
Good thing it's free, because no matter what I do, I won't have the money to spend on it. But then again, the money I save by making beer instead of buying it (a regular occurrence) would more than pay for the app and possibly a new apartment and computer or both. Let's see, $5 per beer (avg) x 6 per week (avg) x 52 weeks in a year = $1560. That's not enough savings for either!? Hmm...if you factor in that I would only save on beer drunk at home or someone else's home, not at bars, and that the tips at bars go up as the night gets longer, and that 6 per week is wishful thinking, and that the morning after a night out I try to remember if I gave the cabby a $20 for a $5 fare, then add in the McDonald's cheeseburgers as hangover medication (which for some reason is NOT covered by insurance)...add the 6...subtract a 4...carry a 1...square the 56...aww, screw it, my head is starting to hurt.
Maybe I'll just go buy a beer instead of worrying about all this.
Reply