Your first batch

Brew your first batch in Brewfather from planning through brewing, fermenting, and completion.

Before you start: You'll need a recipe to brew. If you haven't created one yet, see Creating a New Recipe or Import Recipes.

This guide walks you through the complete process of brewing a batch in Brewfather, from starting the batch through to completing it.

Starting a Batch

Click the menu button in the lower right of any recipe and click Brew!

This creates a new batch based on the selected recipe and takes you to the batch workflow. The batch progresses through four stages: Planning, Brewing, Fermenting, and Completed.

Stage 1: Planning

The Planning stage is where you prepare for brew day:

Set a Brew Date

Choose the date you plan to brew. This can be in the future if you are scheduling ahead — you can always update it on the actual brew day.

Review the Brew Sheet

The brew sheet is a complete summary of your recipe, including:

• Target volumes and gravities

• Full ingredient list with amounts

• Mash schedule and temperatures

• Boil additions and timing

• Fermentation schedule

Check Off Inventory

If you track ingredients in your Inventory, check off each ingredient as you gather it. This automatically subtracts the amounts from your inventory stock.

Tip

Enable Allow Negative Inventory in settings to track ingredients you need to purchase. After checking inventory for your batch, go to Inventory, click Print, and select Negative Only to generate a shopping list of missing ingredients.

Make Last-Minute Adjustments

You can still edit the batch recipe during planning. Tap the recipe link to open it and make any changes before you start brewing.

Stage 2: Brewing

When you are ready to brew, navigate to the Brewing tab and click Change Status to Brewing:

1. Confirm the status change

2. Update the brew date if it differs from the planned date

Follow the Brew Tracker

The Brew Tracker guides you through each step of the brewing process:

1. Prepare — Gather and measure all your ingredients

2. Mash — Click the play button to start the mash timer. Brewfather prompts you through each mash step with timers and audible notifications

3. Boil — Start the boil timer. You will be prompted at the correct times to add hops and other boil additions

4. Hop Stand / Whirlpool — If your recipe includes a hop stand, the tracker guides you through the cool-down and addition timing

5. Cool & Transfer — Cool your wort and transfer to the fermenter

Record Measured Values

During brewing, record your actual measurements in the Measured Values section:

• Pre-Boil Gravity — Gravity reading before the boil starts

• Pre-Boil Volume — Volume in the kettle before boiling

• Original Gravity (OG) — Gravity reading after the boil and cooling

• Post-Boil Volume — Volume after the boil

• Fermenter Volume — Volume transferred to the fermenter

These values are used to calculate your actual mash efficiency and brewhouse efficiency. Click +Add to record additional measurements like first runnings gravity or sparge gravity.

Stage 3: Fermenting

Once your wort is in the fermenter and yeast is pitched, move to the Fermenting stage:

1. Click the Fermenting tab

2. Change the status to Fermenting

Track Fermentation

• Gravity readings — Record gravity samples over time to track fermentation progress

• Temperature readings — Log fermentation temperatures manually or automatically via connected devices (Tilt, iSpindel, RAPT, etc.)

• Fermentation chart — View a graph of gravity and temperature over time

Device Integration

If you have a connected hydrometer or temperature sensor, Brewfather can receive readings automatically and plot them on the fermentation chart. See Devices and Integrations for setup instructions.

Dry Hop and Other Additions

If your recipe has additions during fermentation (dry hops, fruit, spices), the tracker prompts you at the scheduled times.

After fermentation, you can optionally move your batch to the Conditioning stage to track the carbonation and conditioning phase separately. The Conditioning stage shares the same view as Fermenting.

Stage 4: Completed

When fermentation is finished and you have packaged your beer:

1. Click the Completed tab

2. Change the status to Completed

Record Final Values

• Final Gravity (FG) — Your last gravity reading

• Packaging date — When the beer was bottled or kegged

• Carbonation method — Priming sugar, force carbonation, etc.

Batch Summary

The completed batch shows a full summary including:

• Actual vs. target values (OG, FG, ABV, IBU, SRM)

• Calculated efficiencies (mash, brewhouse)

• Fermentation chart

• All recorded measurements

• Tasting notes (add them as you sample the finished beer)

Once a batch is completed and you've added your tasting notes, you can archive it. Archived batches move to a separate section on the Batches page, keeping your active list clean while preserving all your data.

Tips for Your First Batch

• Start simple — An American Pale Ale or Blonde Ale are great first recipes with forgiving ingredients

• Record everything — The more measurements you record, the better you can dial in your equipment profile for future batches

• Use the timers — The brew tracker keeps you on schedule and ensures you do not miss addition times

• Check your equipment profile — If your measured volumes and gravities are significantly off from predictions, update your Equipment Profile with your actual values for better accuracy next time

• Review after brewing — Compare your actual vs. target numbers to learn where your system gains or loses efficiency

What's Next

Now that you've brewed your first batch, explore these features to get even more out of Brewfather:

• Devices & Integrations — Connect a Tilt, iSpindel, or other device for automated fermentation tracking

• Inventory — Track your ingredient stock and costs

• Water Calculator — Dial in your water chemistry for your next brew

• Tools — Explore brewing calculators for carbonation, yeast pitching rates, hop freshness, and more

• AI Brewing Assistant — Get recipe suggestions and brewing advice (Premium Plus)