> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.brewfather.app/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.brewfather.app/batches/brew-tracker.md). # Brew Tracker The Brew Tracker is Brewfather's guided brew day timer system. It automatically generates a step-by-step timeline from your recipe's mash schedule, boil additions, and hop stand, then walks you through each stage with countdown timers and notifications. {% hint style="warning" %} **Beta 3.1.0:** Native mobile timers, Live Activities, Brew Tracker widgets, and the expanded infusion/decoction action guidance are in public beta. The standard Brew Tracker remains available in the stable app. See [Public Beta](/beta.md). {% endhint %} ## Enabling the Brew Tracker The Brew Tracker must be enabled in your settings before it appears on batch pages. 1. Go to **Settings** 2. Under **Features**, toggle **Brew Tracker** on When disabled, the brew tracker section and all associated timers will not appear on your batch pages. ## Starting the Brew Tracker The Brew Tracker appears on the **Brewing** tab of any active batch. Once you change a batch's status to **Brewing**, the tracker is initialized from the batch recipe. To start the timer: 1. Open your batch and navigate to the **Brewing** tab 2. The Brew Tracker section shows the stage bar at the top with your brew stages 3. Press the **Play** button to begin the first stage The tracker records a start time when you first press Play, so you have a log of when your brew day began. ## Stages The Brew Tracker generates stages automatically based on your recipe. The possible stages are: ### Mash Appears for **All Grain** and **Partial Mash** recipes that have mash steps defined. The mash stage includes: * **Heat mash water** -- Prompts you to heat mash water to the strike temperature with the calculated water volume * **Mash action prompts** -- Each mash step shows the planned action, such as `Mash in with X @ Y`, `Add X @ Y`, `Pull X thick mash and boil`, `Pull X thin mash and boil`, or `Heat mash to X` * **Mash step timers** -- Each mash step (e.g. Saccharification Rest, Mash Out) runs as a countdown with the target temperature displayed * **Ramp times** -- If your mash profile includes ramp times between steps, these are tracked as separate sub-steps * **Decoction return step** -- Decoction steps add a separate paused return step after the boil so you can confirm when the boiled mash has been returned to the mash * **Mash additions** -- Any fermentables, hops, or miscs with a "Mash" or "Steep" use timing are shown at the appropriate countdown point * **First Wort additions** -- Hop and other additions marked as "First Wort" appear as steps within the mash stage * **Sparge water reminder** -- If sparge water is configured in your equipment profile (with a reminder time set), the tracker notifies you to prepare sparge water during the mash * **Sparge step** -- At the end of the mash, the tracker prompts you to sparge with the calculated water volume and temperature. For batch sparges, the individual batch volumes are listed * **Mashing Complete** -- A final confirmation step at the end of the mash stage ### Boil Appears when the equipment profile has a boil time greater than zero. The boil stage includes: * **Top-up water** -- If the recipe calculates a top-up water amount, the tracker prompts you to add it before starting the boil * **Boil timer** -- A countdown for the full boil duration * **Boil additions** -- Hops, fermentables, and misc additions timed during the boil (60 min, 30 min, 15 min, 5 min, 0 min, etc.) appear as steps at the correct countdown time * **Flameout additions** -- Additions marked as "Flameout" appear at the end of the boil * **End of Boil** -- A final confirmation step ### Hop Stand Appears when the recipe has a hop stand/whirlpool time or "Aroma" use hop additions. The hop stand stage includes: * **Start Hop Stand** -- Prompts you to begin the hop stand at the target temperature (from your equipment profile or the hop stand temperature setting) * **Hop stand addition timers** -- Timed hop additions during the hop stand period with their temperatures * **End of Hop Stand** -- A final confirmation step ## Stage Navigation At the top of the Brew Tracker, a stage bar shows all stages with their names and a progress indicator. You can tap on a stage name to jump directly to that stage (after confirming). The current stage is highlighted. ## Timer Controls The Brew Tracker provides five control buttons below the stage bar: | Button | Action | | ---------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Previous Step** (skip backward) | Go back to the previous step. If you are at the first step of a stage, it moves to the previous stage. | | **Restart Current Step** (refresh) | Restart the timer for the current step from the beginning. | | **Play / Pause** | Start or pause the countdown timer. When paused, the timer holds its current position. | | **Set Time** (pencil) | Manually set the current timer position. Enter a value in MM:SS format to jump the timer to a specific point. | | **Skip Forward** (skip forward) | Skip to the next step. If you are at the last step of a stage, it advances to the next stage. | ## Step Types Within each stage, the tracker shows a list of steps. Each step displays: * A **description** of what to do (e.g., ingredient additions with amounts, temperature targets) * A **progress bar** showing time remaining for the current step * A **checkmark** for completed steps * A **Continue** button for steps that require manual confirmation before proceeding (such as "Mashing Complete" or "Start Boil") Some steps pause the timer automatically and wait for you to press **Continue** before proceeding. These include stage transitions and events that require your action (like adding sparge water or confirming end of boil). For decoction steps, the initial tracker step tells you how much thick or thin mash to pull and boil. If the decoction step has an optional rest temperature and time, the tracker includes that rest in the pull-and-boil guidance. After the decoction timer finishes, the tracker inserts a separate paused return step. If the mash profile has a decoction boil-off rate configured, the return step can include an approximate return volume. ## Notifications and Alarms When the tracker is running and a new step is reached, Brewfather can alert you with: * **In-app notifications** -- A toast notification appears in the app with the step name and description * **Push notifications** -- If enabled, a push notification is sent to your device * **Audio alarm** -- An audible alarm sounds when a new step begins You can toggle notifications and the alarm on or off per tracker using the buttons in the Brew Tracker section header: * **Bell icon** -- Toggle push/in-app notifications on or off for this tracker * **Volume icon** -- Toggle the audio alarm on or off for this tracker * **Power icon** -- Turn the entire tracker on or off ## Active Trackers Sidebar Widget When one or more Brew Trackers are running, an **Active Trackers** widget appears in the sidebar navigation. This widget shows: * The number of active trackers * For each active tracker: * The **batch name and number** * The **current stage name** (Mash, Boil, Hop Stand) * The **remaining time** in MM:SS format * The **current step description** * A **power button** to turn off the tracker Clicking on an active tracker in the sidebar takes you directly to that batch's Brewing tab. This is especially useful if you are navigating elsewhere in the app during a brew and want to quickly return to your active batch. ## Native Timer (Mobile App) The Brewfather mobile app for iOS and Android can run the active Brew Tracker stage through the phone's native timer, notification, and widget systems. ### Checking the Native Timer Setting 1. Go to **Settings** 2. Under **Features**, make sure **Brew Tracker** is enabled 3. Review the **Native Timer** toggle The **Native Timer** setting only appears in the native mobile app when Brew Tracker is enabled. It is not shown in the web app. ### Android Foreground Notification While a brew timer is active on Android, Brewfather starts an ongoing foreground notification. The notification can show: * The **batch name** * The **current stage and step** * The remaining time, or paused state when the timer is paused * The next step and time until it begins * Progress through the current stage Tapping the Android notification opens the related batch in Brewfather. ### iOS Live Activity On iOS devices that support Live Activities, Brewfather can show the active brew timer on the **Lock Screen** and in the **Dynamic Island** on supported iPhone models. The Live Activity can show: * The **batch name** * The current stage and stage number * The current step and step temperature when available * A live countdown timer or paused state * Progress through the current stage * The next step preview Tapping the Live Activity opens the related batch in Brewfather. ### Step and Stage Notifications When the native timer is running, Brewfather schedules native step and stage notifications with the brew timer alarm sound: * Step notifications use the step name, or the step description when available * Stage-complete notifications show the completed stage * Android step and stage notifications also vibrate and open the related batch when tapped ### Brew Tracker Widget The Brew Tracker widget is available in the mobile app on both iOS and Android. When an active brew timer is running, the widget can show: * Batch name and current stage * Current step with countdown timer * Step temperature when available * Next step preview * Stage progress * Paused state When no brew timer is active, the widget shows the first available batch list from your synced batches: **Fermenting**, **Completed**, or **Planning**. Depending on the batch status and available data, it can show values such as gravity, temperature, ABV, brew date, and rating. On iOS, the widget can also refresh and expand fermenting batch details on supported iOS versions. Widget taps open the active batch, or the shown batch when a batch list is displayed. ## Multi-Device Behavior The Brew Tracker state is synced to your Brewfather account in real time. This means: * If you start a tracker on one device (e.g., your computer), it appears and updates on other devices logged into the same account (e.g., your phone) * The device that is actively controlling the timer is tracked. When you interact with the timer controls (play, pause, skip, etc.), that device takes control * Alarm sounds can be stopped from any device -- when you dismiss an alarm on one device, it stops on all others * If you close the app and reopen it, active trackers resume from their synced state ## Tips * **Start the tracker when you are ready** -- The tracker does not auto-start. Press Play when you are actually ready to begin your mash or boil. * **Use Set Time if you get ahead or behind** -- If you started a step early or late, use the pencil button to adjust the timer to match reality. * **Keep your recipe accurate** -- The tracker generates stages directly from your recipe's mash steps, boil time, hop additions, and hop stand settings. The more accurate your recipe, the more useful the tracker will be. * **Use mash-profile overrides intentionally** -- Manual infusion and decoction overrides are supported, but they change the generated mash actions and can trigger warnings if the entered amount is unlikely to hit the requested rest. * **Check sparge water reminder settings** -- In your equipment profile, you can configure when the sparge water reminder appears during the mash. This is controlled by the **Sparge Water Reminder** time setting. ## Related Pages * [Brewing](/batches/brewing.md) -- The batch Brewing stage where the Brew Tracker lives * [Equipment Profile](/profiles/equipment.md) -- Configure boil time, whirlpool time, sparge settings, and other values that affect tracker stages * [Settings](/settings.md) -- Enable or disable the Brew Tracker feature * [Notifications](/notifications.md) -- Configure push and email notification preferences --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. 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