[un]Plug & Play your Next Home Brew with BeerBug™

Want to take your home brewing prowess to the next level? Enter BeerBug™ -- the patent-pending wireless hydrometer that measures the specific gravity and temperature of your home brew fermentation process. The BeerBug™ brings continuous fermentation information to your smart phone, tablet, or PC so you can see your fermentation progress in real-time!

Bluetooth BeerBug Software Guide:

This guide will help use the software to obtain the data from your bluetooth BeerBug.
Bluetooth BeerBug Software Guide

BeerBug Info Page

1. Cleaning the BeerBug
2. The BeerBug
3. BeerBug Software
4. Bluetooth
5. End

We'd like to thank you again for Backing us during our KickStarter launch! As you'll see when you open the package a few things have changed since KickStarter. Originally we planned to ship all Bluetooth BeerBugs with our initial design then polish and redo the design for WiFi Backers. However, KickStarter allowed us the upfront capital to make that design improvement for all Bluetooth BeerBugs. Mmhhmmm Shiny!

Originally we asked Backers what line length they'd like. The aim here was to accommodate all sizes of brewing vessels. However, we've found that mono-filament (or fishing line) provided us the best measurements (due to smallest ratio of line mass and volume to BeerBug Torpedo mass and volume) and the most ease when accommodating different sized brewing vessels.

Additionally you'll see the BeerBug's sensor beam is visible under the snout. This allows for more accurate measurements. However, a potential trade off is damaging the sensor beam. As long the BeerBug snout is only removed for cleaning you'll be fine!

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Cleaning the BeerBug

The only parts of the BeerBug that will potentially contact your brew are within the BeerBug Snout, the Torpedo, and it's line & hook. Cleaning the Torpedo, line, and hook are as easy as it gets! Drop them (they're all one piece) into your cleaning solution as you begin your clean process. To clean the beam use a Qtip or soft brush and Star San. Scrub the sensor beam and surrounding area to free it from brew gunk.

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The BeerBug

When you begin cleaning during the brewing process it is advised that you set up your BeerBug for calibration. Calibrating the BeerBug before each use yields the most accurate results. I've found it easiest to use a 6 gallon bucket. Hang your BeerBug on the pail lid (just as you would during fermentation) when you begin your brewing/cleaning. This allows the BeerBug to adjust it's "zero" to water. At the end of this period if your BeerBug is not already reading 1.000 SG it is best to tare your BeerBug (measuring the actual SG of your water is sometimes needed as water can vary +/- 0.002). To tare you BeerBug go into the BeerBug software mouse over to "Options" in the upper right corner (if you do not have the BeerBug Software installed on your PC, please see the section below). Once in "Options" click the tab labeled "Tare". Clicking the button labeled "Tare" will properly calibrate the BeerBug.

For the best longevity in accurate results, the longer you wait to tare the BeerBug after hanging it in water the better. An hour is certainly sufficient! However, I set it up when I get my supplies out (before brewing) and leave it in the water/cleaning solution until I've pitched the yeast. As attaching the BeerBug Torpedo puts strain on the beam sensor, it takes a bit of time to allow the beam to mechanically equilibrate. This levels out in just a few hours (most of which is in the very first hour).

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BeerBug Software

Mouse over to our website (http://thebeerbug.com/). Scrolling down just a bit you will see the section labeled "BeerBugBeta Software for PC!". Clicking below will redirect you to the page where you can download the BeerBug Software.

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To ensure you can connect your BeerBug properly -

You'll have to link your BeerBug with a virtual COM port on your computer. First you have to ensure that your computer has Bluetooth capabilities. Most every laptop does. PCs sometimes need a Bluetooth dongle.

Find a Dongle HERE!

This symbols denotes a Bluetooth communication. You should see it in your system tray. Right click it.



Then you have to click Add a Bluetooth Device.



Quickly you should see available Bluetooth devices. More than likely there will only be one (your BeerBug). The number you see there is the MAC address of your BeerBug. Don't worry, you can re-name it soon!

You'll then be asked to enter your BeerBug's pairing code. All BeerBug's pairing codes are "1234".

This will generate a COM port. This is a virtual connection thru which your BeerBug and PC exchange information.

You'll see this COM port in the upper left of your BeerBug software. Click that COM port and then click "OPEN".

We're publishing a software user guide here in the near future. Please feel free to contact me in the meantime!

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THANKS!

Thanks again for helping us get BeerBug of the ground! We couldn't have done it without you.
Now it is your duty as an Early Adopter/Bird to give us all the feedback that you can! We'll
do everything in our power to make sure we provide the best possible experience for current and
future BeerBugers.

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Taylor McClenny & the BeerBug Team