Journals, Records etc

[ChrisA]

Where does everyone make and keep their write ups and notes?

I'm waiting on my first brew to finish fermenting and while it's just a kit beer I think it's probably worth starting a journal or something. A record of my journey and experiences, if for no other reason then as practice for when I start making or tweaking all grain recipes.
I have another kit beer lined up and some stove top 5 litre all grain supplies ordered and on route.

Just not sure if there's some useful software I should look for, if I can make a post on here with everything, if a pen and paper are the way to go or some other option I'm missing

 

[robster62]

Take a look at amazon they have loads of brew journals for sale. It's much easier to write things down as you go or you might forget it if you wait to save it electronically

 

[GerritT]

Google Sheets for an list of the brews in tab 1, inventory tab 2, planning tab 3, some formulas for dilluting and sugar adding in tab 4 etc. And Google sheets handles mysql queries!
BeerSmith3 for the recipes.

Addition: DURING brewing I have some small square notes, 2 pencils and an eraser ready for quick thingies. And I make the occasional photo.

 

[terrym]

Scrap paper and a pencil on brewday against a plan.
Then record on ongoing spreadsheet for what I've done with basic details.
If its a unique recipe a *.docx file referenced on the spreadsheet.

 

[LeeH]

BeerSmith superb at keeping track of all your brews.

 

[The Baron]

I record in a small book the basics and print off the menu sheet and other info from brewers friend once kegged and bottled and keep in a folder

 

[chrisb8]

Brewers Friend for making and tweaking recipes, but I write all my brew day notes, calculations and an inventory of grains and hops in a little notebook

 

[uDicko]

brewfather for inventory, recipe design, notes, calculators water treatment etc

Brewday is exported to XML and into GF app for timings etc

 

[Clint]

I use a 65p note book from the "cheap" shop. Brews are numbered and their style recorded. Repeat grain bills get noted "as brew**" new or tweaked get recorded. Same with hop additions. I also record mash temp, boil, volumes and yeast. Also priming and dry hop amounts..plus the letter the bottle top gets!
Nothing fancy but works for me.

 

[Oneflewover]

I've got a journal. Use it to record various iterations of recipes and tasting notes etc too.

 

[Bigjas]

I stumbled across this homebrew log sheet a few years ago. I use it for every brew. I just print it out and write my notes on it. I put all my timings etc on the back.

 

[An Ankoù]

I use an A4 page-a-day diary which lasts me many years. Nice, cheap hardback book if you pick up last-year's out-of-date edition from a pound shop or from amazon.

 

[Sadfield]

I use beersmith, so that records most things. I also have a hardback A4 notebook that I write the recipe and notes into, mainly the timings and changes to fermentation and dry hopping. It's handy for quick reference.

 

[GerritT]

From the site of Randy Mosher (writes good books by the way!):

https://randymosher.com/Tools-And-Downloads

 

[Graz]

I did start a blog using the Google Blogger tool for my brewing but I think I've failed to put my last couple of brew on it.

Mainly for my own benefit but it is publicly view-able though I'm not sure if anyone would really be that interested

 

[Justin Dean]

 

[Llamaman]

I plan my brews on whatever piece of paper is to hand. I then scribble amendments on it as I go along on brewday.
Once the session is over, I transcribe my notes neatly into an A5 notebook, with a page per brew (the back kept bank for tasting notes).
(I did try making the neat notes as I went along, but I found my notes ended up a bit messy and not well laid-out, and I feared I was one spill away from ruining all my records...)

 

[bobukbrewer]

Excel works for me....

 

[SaintKel]

I use BeerSmith and then print out the recipe so I have a hard copy also. I update BeerSmith Notes during fermentation etc so any useful info is saved.

 

[dad_of_jon]

I just write down the bits I need to remember in a word doc.