diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/irb.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/irb.rb
index 845747c25c..c43fa9f077 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/irb.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/irb.rb
@@ -1,13 +1,21 @@
+require 'formula'
+require 'keg'
+require 'irb'
+
+class String
+  def f
+    Formula.factory(self)
+  end
+end
+
 module Homebrew extend self
   def irb
     if ARGV.include? "--help"
       puts "Formula.factory('ace').installed?"
+      puts "ack.f # => instance of the Ack formula"
     else
       ohai "Interactive Homebrew Shell"
       puts "Example commands available with: brew irb --help"
-      require 'formula'
-      require 'keg'
-      require 'irb'
       IRB.start
     end
   end