iBrewMaster review

We review iBrewMaster, a homebrew iPhone app in the old sense of the word, which keeps an eye on your ale so you don’t have to

When we talk about homebrew these days, we’re generally referring to community-made software. But before the days of small, internet-distributed computer utilities, homebrew was about a garage full of exploding beer-like concoctions that caused temporary blindness and false pregnancies. At least, that’s the way our dad made it.

This iPhone app brings the two homebrew meanings together in feature-packed unison, to provide the perfect companion for the tech-savvy CAMRA member. Combining recipes for beer with a critically timed brewing schedule and a useful social networking element, iBrewMaster is the packet of peanuts to the iPhone’s bottle of Newcastle Brown.

Although homebrewed beer isn’t something we proclaim to know anything about, even a cursory glance through iBrewMaster’s features demonstrates that this app should be the first port of call for novices and head brewers alike.

Primarily, the app offers a clear, well-categorised schedule for your current batches of homebrew. Keeping strict records and keen timing is (evidently) essential to the perfect brew, and iBrewMaster keeps track of everything including primary fermentation to its bottling stage. You can then keep a close eye on when it’s time to take the next step in each batch’s brewing process, and keep a record if you decide to change up the recipe.

Which brings us to the next impressive feature of iBrewMaster. Recipes are a major part of the app’s appeal, and something of a social drinking network is included allowing brewers to download and share their beer recipes. A huge number of recipes are available online, and each one has a whopping amount of easily-accessible detail. The type and weight of hops, the expected gravity, how much yeast to include, the full brewing schedule, the colour of the finished booze, and even user ratings to help you decide.

Recipe packs are available as in-app purchases at 59p each, and there’s an equally huge selection to choose from there, too. And should you be on the lookout for local suppliers, there’s a section where homebrew companies can advertise and you can search for ingredients.

All of this is further refined by a massive amount of customisation. Now, given our novice brewer status (half of Tom Caxton’s, anyone?), it’s hard to know exactly how we’d go about changing this level of intricate detail, but suffice to say there’s enough customisation to run the Tetley Brewery.

It might not be the cheapest app, but now that VAT is through the roof, it’s only really the price of a decent pint, and considering iBrewMaster will help you make a barrel-full of cheap and hearty booze, it hardly seems like an outrageous price. Perhaps it’s angled more toward the expert, too, but following the community’s recipes is undoubtedly a great way to get into the fine art of homebrewing.

Cheers.

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