diff --git a/docs/RELEASING.md b/docs/RELEASING.md
index 82fbad92..65433a8b 100644
--- a/docs/RELEASING.md
+++ b/docs/RELEASING.md
@@ -133,14 +133,34 @@ See [integrations/beads-mcp/PYPI.md](integrations/beads-mcp/PYPI.md) for detaile
 
 ### 3. Update Homebrew Formula
 
-**CRITICAL**: This step must be done AFTER pushing the git tag in step 1, otherwise the tarball won't exist yet.
+**CRITICAL**: This step must be done AFTER GitHub Actions completes the release build (~5 minutes after pushing the tag).
 
-The formula needs the SHA256 of the tag tarball:
+**Why the wait?** The Homebrew formula uses GoReleaser artifacts (platform-specific binaries), not the source tarball. These are built by GitHub Actions.
+
+**Step 1: Wait for GitHub Actions to complete**
+
+Monitor the release workflow at: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/actions
+
+Once complete, the release appears at: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/releases/tag/v0.9.X
+
+**Step 2: Get SHA256s from release artifacts**
+
+GoReleaser creates a `checksums.txt` file with all artifact hashes:
 
 ```bash
-# Compute SHA256 from tag (wait a few seconds after pushing tag if you get 404)
-curl -sL https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/archive/refs/tags/v0.9.X.tar.gz | shasum -a 256
+# Download checksums file
+curl -sL https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/releases/download/v0.9.X/checksums.txt
 
+# Extract the SHA256s you need:
+# - beads_0.9.X_darwin_arm64.tar.gz (macOS Apple Silicon)
+# - beads_0.9.X_darwin_amd64.tar.gz (macOS Intel)
+# - beads_0.9.X_linux_amd64.tar.gz (Linux x86_64)
+# - beads_0.9.X_linux_arm64.tar.gz (Linux ARM64)
+```
+
+**Step 3: Update the formula**
+
+```bash
 # Navigate to tap repo (if already cloned) or clone it
 cd /tmp/homebrew-beads || git clone https://github.com/steveyegge/homebrew-beads /tmp/homebrew-beads
 
@@ -148,16 +168,32 @@ cd /tmp/homebrew-beads || git clone https://github.com/steveyegge/homebrew-beads
 cd /tmp/homebrew-beads
 git pull
 
-# Update Formula/bd.rb (replace version and SHA256):
-# - url: https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/archive/refs/tags/v0.9.X.tar.gz
-# - sha256: <computed SHA256>
+# Edit Formula/bd.rb - update:
+# 1. version "0.9.X" (line 4)
+# 2. SHA256 for darwin_arm64 (line 10)
+# 3. SHA256 for darwin_amd64 (line 13)
+# 4. SHA256 for linux_amd64 (line 23)
+# 5. SHA256 for linux_arm64 (line 20) - optional, often empty
+
+# Example:
+# version "0.23.0"
+# on_macos do
+#   if Hardware::CPU.arm?
+#     url "https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/releases/download/v#{version}/beads_#{version}_darwin_arm64.tar.gz"
+#     sha256 "abc123..."
+#   else
+#     url "https://github.com/steveyegge/beads/releases/download/v#{version}/beads_#{version}_darwin_amd64.tar.gz"
+#     sha256 "def456..."
 
 # Commit and push
 git add Formula/bd.rb
 git commit -m "Update bd formula to v0.9.X"
 git push origin main
+```
 
-# CRITICAL: Verify the installation works
+**Step 4: CRITICAL - Verify the installation works**
+
+```bash
 brew update
 brew upgrade bd  # Or: brew reinstall bd
 bd version  # MUST show v0.9.X - if not, the release is incomplete!