Below is a list of common questions and answers we get asked when users are just getting started with TTB Tamer.
When should you use TTB Tamer?
We recommend that you work TTB Tamer into your schedule so that you can make new entries daily. At the very latest you should be making entries within 1 business day of the operation taking place to comply with the TTB requirement of keeping Daily Records.
You can read more here “When to use TTB Tamer?”
How do I use TTB Tamer?
The process of using TTB Tamer can be broken into 3 steps
- Make Entries for your operations
- Review your entries and batches to make sure what’s been entered actually makes sense with your current inventory
- Print, review, and submit your completed reports.
We put together a video that outlines this process in detail here “The 3 step process of using TTB Tamer”
How do I use TTB Tamer for State forms?
Note: State Report Helper is currently under development for Winery and Distillery customers.
There are two ways you could use TTB Tamer for your State forms.
Because most state forms typically ask for the same information that is required on the federal forms, usually we only need to recalculate the entries you’ve already made. You can do this easily using State Report Helper that is built into TTB Tamer.
Read more about State Helper at “Using State Report Helper“.
If you need to report things that are not typical (for example, in Idaho you need to report “Strong Beer” (beer over 4% abw) because it’s taxed as wine by the state) simply note that it is Strong Beer in the optional comments when you make your packaging and sales entries. Then, when it’s time to work on your state reports you can export your data from TTB Tamer and use a spreadsheet to sort which beer was strong beer and which wasn’t.
Read more here about exporting at “Using the Entry Log“.
How do I manage my Batches inventory to make sure my reports are correct?
A common problem that occurs when preparing your TTB operations reports by hand is an accumulation of what we call “Phantom Inventory”, or inventory that exists in the numbers on your report but doesn’t actually exist in your inventory. This usually occurs because losses are estimated, usually fall short of what they really are, and don’t completely “zero out” your inventory. Over time these small leftover amounts add up and throw your reports out of reality.
We’ve built a Batch History inside of TTB Tamer where you can see all of your entries as they relate per batch, and you can easily make sure that your batches are zeroed by being able to adjust your entries on the fly. This eliminates the “Phantom Inventory” problem and your reports always accurately reflect reality.
Read more about “Using the Batch History“.
How do I add more Users to my account?
Currently, we do this manually to avoid users signing up to your account who don’t have your permission.
Just shoot Daniel an email at daniel@ttbtamer.com and he will get your users connected, usually within a few minutes. In your email be sure to include:
- the user First name and Last name
- the users Email address to be used as their login
Beer Specific Topic – What is Racking Bulk and Bottling Bulk?
Simply put, Racking Bulk is beer currently being carbonated (in a brite tank, unitank, or keg) that will eventually end up in a final, packaged state and be sold in a Keg.
Bottling Bulk is beer currently being carbonated (also, in a brite, unitank, keg, or in bottles in the process of bottle carbonation) that will eventually end up in a final, packaged state and be sold in Cans or Bottles.
The TTB separates these two Bulk categories out depending on what the final, packaged product will be. So, all beer that will eventually end up and be sold as kegs must go through the Racking Bulk step when it is being carbonated. And all beer that will end up and be sold in cans or bottles must go through the Bottling Bulk step when it is being carbonated.
Beer cannot flow from Racking Bulk into cans or bottles and beer cannot flow from Bottling Bulk into kegs.
The two Bulk categories don’t need to be in separate tanks in your brewery! It is just fine if your Racking Bulk and Bottling Bulk is contained in the same vessel. For example, if you bottle and keg from beer carbonated in a single brite tank, you would just need to keep the end product in mind when entering in how much beer is in these bulk categories.
When you put beer on carbonation, simply ask yourself:
“How many kegs do I plan to make?” -> This amount is entered into Racking Bulk during carbonation.
-and-
“How many bottles/cans do I plan to make?” -> This amount is entered into Bottling Bulk during carbonation.
You can always adjust the final amounts actually kegged, or actually bottled, after the fact inside of TTB Tamer before you submit your operations report.
We’ve put together a short video that go through a few different examples of how the beer flows through these processes using different brewery setups, you can read more and watch it HERE.
Also, feel free to check out the descriptions of entries ‘Transfer From Cellar to Racking Bulk for Carbonation’ and ‘Transfer From Cellar to Bottling/Canning Bulk for Carbonation’ in the Entry Descriptions post for more clarification.