# Brewfather Workflow Best Practices This guide walks through the complete Brewfather workflow from recipe creation to packaging and beyond. The goal is not to document every button, but to show **how** to integrate Brewfather into your brewing process so each batch teaches you something and every brew is better than the last. *** ## 1. Foundation: Set Up Profiles Before You Brew Consistent results start with accurate profiles. Before creating your first recipe, invest time in getting these right. ### Equipment Profile Your equipment profile is the single most impactful setting in Brewfather. An inaccurate profile means every batch mismatch cascades: pre-boil volumes, boil-off rates, gravity predictions, hop utilization—everything. **Key fields to calibrate:** | Field | How to determine it | | ------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------- | | Batch size | Measure your post-fermentation volume into packaging vessel | | Boil-off rate | Time a plain water boil for 60 min and measure loss | | Mash tun deadspace | Volume remaining in tun after draining | | Trub/chiller loss | Volume left in kettle after chilling | | Fermenter loss | Volume lost to yeast cake and trub at bottom of fermenter | > **Brewfather Tip:** After each brew, compare your actual volumes and gravity to estimates. Use **Batch → Edit → Adjust** to refine your equipment profile over time. Most brewers see noticeably tighter predictions after several well-logged batches. ### Mash Profile Choose a mash profile appropriate for your setup (single infusion, BIAB, recirculating, step mash). Brewfather ships with common defaults; for most ales a single-infusion rest at 65–68 °C (149–154 °F) is sufficient. Save custom step-mash programs for styles that benefit from it (highly attenuated lagers, wheat beers). See [Mash & Lauter Science](https://docs.brewfather.app/brewing-knowledge/mash-and-lauter) for enzyme temperature guidance. ### Water Profile Water chemistry can make or break a beer's perceived balance. Build or select profiles in **Profiles → Water** that match your source water and your intended style adjustments. > **Brewfather Tip:** Use the **Water Calculator** inside each recipe to dial in mineral additions and acid adjustments. Brewfather recalculates mash pH in real time as you add salts—watch the pH indicator as you work. ### Fermentation Profile Build fermentation schedules for your most-used yeast strains. A good profile captures: * Ale primary: 18–22 °C (65–72 °F) for 5–7 days * Lager primary: 8–12 °C (46–54 °F) for 10–14 days, with a diacetyl rest at 18 °C (65 °F) before crashing Temperature ramps signal devices automatically when Brewfather is connected to a temperature controller. *** ## 2. Recipe Design ### Build from Known Baselines Don't invent from scratch—clone a known, proven recipe and adapt it. Brewfather's built-in recipe library (and public shared recipes) provide calibrated starting points. Adjust one or two variables per batch to isolate what changes flavor. **Versioning discipline:** Use **Recipes → Versioning** to save a new version before making significant changes. Label versions with a short note ("Increased crystal malt 10 → 15%, batch 8 feedback"). This is your log of what worked and what didn't. ### Targets to Hit First | Metric | Why it matters | Brewfather location | | ------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------- | | **OG** (original gravity) | Drives ABV and fermentability | Recipe dashboard | | **IBU** | Perceived bitterness; balance with malt sweetness | Recipe dashboard | | **SRM / EBC** | Color: visual match to style | Recipe dashboard | | **Mash pH** | Enzyme efficiency and flavor clarity | Water Calculator | | **Attenuation** | Predicted FG / sweetness vs. dryness | Recipe → Fermentables section | ### Hop Scheduling Brewfather supports established IBU estimation models (configured in Settings), including Tinseth and Rager in many setups. All IBU models are estimates; real bitterness varies with boil vigor, wort gravity, and hop freshness. > **Brewfather Tip:** Use the **Hop Freshness** tool (Tools menu) before brew day. Aged hops have lower alpha-acid content—enter the actual AA% from your hop package or estimate based on storage time to keep IBU calculations accurate. *** ## 3. Brew Day Execution ### Plan the Batch First When you are ready to brew, convert your recipe to a batch via **Recipes → Start Batch**. Brewfather copies the recipe snapshot into the batch and generates a checklist-style brew day sheet. In the **Batch → Planning** view, confirm: * Scaled grain bill and water volumes * Strike temperature (use the **Strike Temperature** tool if in doubt) * Hop additions timeline * Yeast pitch quantity (use the **Yeast Calculator** for accurate cell counts/packets) > **Brewfather Tip:** Print or keep the batch sheet open on a tablet during the brew. Checking off each step in real time (rather than reconstructing after) ensures accurate time-stamps and prevents missed additions. ### Record as You Go Log actual values—not just planned values—as the brew progresses: | Stage | What to record | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------------ | | Mash | Strike temp achieved, actual mash temp, pH if measured | | Pre-boil | Volume, gravity (use refractometer or hydrometer) | | Post-boil | Volume, gravity | | Pitch | Yeast type/lot, pitch temp, starter size if used | | Fermentation | Gravity readings, temperature, any off-aromas | Use the **Notes** field liberally. Observations like "cloudier than expected pre-boil" or "yeast lag was 24 h" become invaluable diagnostic data in later batches. ### Gravity Readings and Efficiency Brewfather updates brewhouse efficiency estimates as you log actual gravity and volume readings. If efficiency falls short: * Check sparge completeness and grain crush * Verify equipment profile deadspace and loss values * Review mash temperature and time If efficiency is consistently much higher or lower than expected for your setup, verify hydrometer/refractometer calibration and review your loss settings before changing recipe assumptions. *** ## 4. Fermentation Tracking ### Connect a Device If you have a Tilt, iSpindel, RAPT Pill, or similar gravity/temperature logger, link it in **Devices** before pitching yeast. Continuous logging surfaces fermentation curves in Brewfather's fermentation graph—useful for spotting stalls, unexpected gravity drops, and temperature excursions. ### Gravity Milestones * **24–48 h post-pitch:** Active fermentation (krausen visible/rising); gravity starting to drop * **Day 3–5 (ale) / Day 7–10 (lager):** Fermentation decelerating; gravity approaching final third * **Stable gravity for 48 h:** Fermentation likely complete; confirm FG > **Brewfather Tip:** Never rely on the absence of airlock activity as a fermentation signal—use gravity measurements. Log at least three readings spread across active fermentation and take a final reading before packaging to confirm FG. ### Diacetyl Rest For lagers (and some clean ales fermented cool), a common practice is raising temperature to about 18–20 °C (65–68 °F) for \~24–48 h before cold crashing. This helps yeast reduce **diacetyl** before settling. Log the rest in Brewfather's fermentation notes. ### Cold Crash and Fining Cold crash to 0–2 °C (32–36 °F) for 24–72 h to precipitate yeast and proteins. If using a fining agent (gelatin, Biofine Clear), add it at crash onset. Log the crash start/end in fermentation notes. *** ## 5. Packaging ### Carbonation Use **Tools → Carbonation** to calculate priming sugar or keg pressure. Input the actual beer temperature and target volumes of CO₂ for style. Brewfather calculates the exact sugar weight needed for bottle conditioning. | Beer style | Typical carbonation target | | ------------------ | -------------------------- | | British ale | 1.5–2.2 vol CO₂ | | American ale/lager | 2.2–2.7 vol CO₂ | | Belgian/wheat | 2.8–3.5 vol CO₂ | | Stout/porter | 1.8–2.2 vol CO₂ | > **Brewfather Tip:** For force carbonation, use the **current beer temperature in the keg**. For bottle/keg conditioning with priming sugar, use the highest recent beer temperature when estimating residual CO₂. ### Mark the Batch Complete After packaging, move the batch to **Completed** status. Brewfather locks in your final metrics and adds the batch to your historical records. Use the **Batch Notes** to record packaging date, carbonation method, and any final impressions. *** ## 6. Post-Batch Review and Iteration This step is where most homebrewers leave value on the table. Brewfather stores everything—use it. ### Review Your Batch History After tasting the finished beer (typically 2–4 weeks post-packaging), return to the batch and add tasting notes: * Aroma, flavor, mouthfeel, carbonation observations * Overall score or rating * Key areas to improve Tag issues explicitly ("diacetyl detectable", "undercarbonated", "mash pH too high—astringent finish"). ### Compare Actual vs. Planned Brewfather shows planned vs. actual for key metrics. Review: * OG actual vs. planned → brewhouse efficiency calibration * FG actual vs. predicted → yeast health and attenuation behavior * Volume losses → equipment profile refinement ### Update Your Profiles If you made changes during the brew (mash temp adjustment, boil extended, extra hops), update your equipment or mash profile to capture the change for next time. **Profiles are living documents**, not a one-time setup. *** ## 7. Repeatability: The Discipline of Logging The single biggest lever for improving beer quality over time is **disciplined data capture**. Brewfather provides the infrastructure; the brewer must supply the habit. ### Minimum Logging Checklist (Every Batch) * [ ] Recipe version recorded and unchanged (or new version created) * [ ] Equipment profile current and accurate * [ ] Strike water volumes confirmed pre-brew * [ ] Pre-boil gravity and volume measured and logged * [ ] OG measured and logged at pitch * [ ] Yeast lot/date and pitch rate logged * [ ] At least two gravity readings during fermentation * [ ] FG confirmed with stable 48-hour reading * [ ] Packaging method, carbonation calculation, and date logged * [ ] Tasting notes added after conditioning ### Recipe Versioning Strategy | Scenario | Action | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------- | | Tweaking a recipe | Create new version; note what changed | | Rebrewing identically | Use same version; log as new batch | | Major style change | Clone recipe to a new recipe | | Equipment change | Update equipment profile; note effective date | ### Using Batch Data Across Brews Use the **Library** to compare multiple batches of the same recipe. Over time patterns emerge: * Which yeast temperature achieves your target attenuation? * What mash temperature correlates with your preferred body? * How does your actual efficiency compare to plan by grain type? *** ## 8. Advanced Workflow Tips ### Multi-Batch Planning When planning a high-volume session or back-to-back brews, use the **Inventory** system to verify you have sufficient stock before brew day. Brewfather tracks inventory depletion per batch—checking inventory in advance prevents mid-brew discoveries of missing ingredients. ### Recipe Sharing and Importing Brewfather supports BeerXML, JSON, and direct recipe import from popular recipe sites. When importing a community recipe, verify the equipment profile is adjusted to *your* system. Community recipes are calibrated to the original brewer's setup, not yours. ### Styles Reference Use **Styles** (sidebar) to load BJCP or Brewers Association style guidelines directly into your recipe target. Brewfather shows whether your recipe falls within style limits for OG, FG, IBU, SRM/EBC—useful when brewing for competition. ### AI Brewing Assistant For recipe troubleshooting, style questions, or ingredient substitution, use the **AI Brewing Assistant**. It has context about Brewfather features and can suggest recipe adjustments based on your logged data. *** ## Summary | Phase | Key Brewfather Action | Outcome | | ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | | Setup | Calibrate equipment, mash, water, fermentation profiles | Accurate predictions | | Recipe | Design from baseline, version changes, hit style targets | Consistent recipe baseline | | Brew day | Log all actuals in real time | Accurate efficiency and volume data | | Fermentation | Track gravity milestones, log temp excursions | On-time packaging decisions | | Packaging | Use carbonation tool, mark batch complete | Correct carbonation, closed-loop batch | | Review | Add tasting notes, refine profiles | Iterative improvement | The power of Brewfather comes from treating it as a **learning system**, not just a recipe calculator. Each logged batch makes the next one more predictable. *** *See also:* [*Brewing Fundamentals*](https://docs.brewfather.app/brewing-knowledge/fundamentals) *·* [*Fermentation & Yeast Management*](https://docs.brewfather.app/brewing-knowledge/fermentation) *·* [*Water Chemistry & Adjustments*](https://docs.brewfather.app/brewing-knowledge/water-chemistry) *·* [*References*](https://docs.brewfather.app/brewing-knowledge/references) ## Related docs * [Getting Started](https://docs.brewfather.app/getting-started) * [Recipes](https://docs.brewfather.app/recipes) * [Batches](https://docs.brewfather.app/batches)