Hypothetical scenario: you’re driving through the country of rural British Columbia, or the downtown streets of Portland, on the hunt for a brewery a friend told you about. But wait! Suddenly a flood of questions envelope your mind, filling you with fear! Are the directions wrong? What are their hours? How are their beers rated? Do they serve food? Do I even like IPAs? What if that’s all they serve?!
There’s an app for that. The catchphrase of a generation has made its way to the beer industry over the past few years. With apps springing up in almost every area, beer apps offer you a world of information at your fingertips. With 619 breweries currently in operation throughout the Pacific Northwest (and a lot more coming), having easy access to information can be both convenient, and time saving! We’ve collected for you our top picks for beer related apps that cover the best insight for your hopped hobby.
Oregon Beer Life || Price: Free, available for iPhone or Android users
This app collects together all the Oregon breweries, bottle shops, filling stations, etc….pretty much anywhere you can get beer, and gives you information year-round beers, seasonal brews, and select/reserve beers available, awards won, contact information, head/master brewers and production size (barrels/year). Weekly updates include Oregon beer news, information on new releases and breweries openings, brew reviews and even homebrew recipes! The app has only been out for a few months, but is already being called one of the best beer apps on the market! Whether you’re in Oregon, or just plan to one day visit Oregon, this is a good app for you. || oregonbeerlife.com
Washington Beer App || Price: Free, available for iPhone or Android users
Fun fact: Washington is the only state in the United States to have a state-authorized commodity commission dedicated to beer. With Washington breweries currently ranking No. 2 in the number of breweries in the nation, having a app to give you up-to-date, and detailed information is a must. The Washington Beer App, put out by the Washington Beer Commission, provides information on breweries, news, festivals and events based on your own current location. Washington beer fans, your app is waiting. || washingtonbeer.com
Untappd || Price: Free, available for iPhone and Android users
If you are not Untappd, odds are you’re not a beer fan. Or you don’t have an smart phone…. Even if you’re not currently on Untappd, it’s definitely worth the download. With a nationwide database, and reviews coming in from every corner of the globe, Untappd continues to be the ultimate source of quick information in the craft beer world. Simple and straight forward design, also features a rating and suggestions system for breweries as well as nearby bars. Offering a welcome convenience when drinking in an unknown city. || untappd.com
Next Glass || Price: Free. Available for iPhone and Android users
How many of us go into the grocery store and stare blankly at all the beer options? Let’s face it, here in the Pacific Northwest, there can be dozens of really good options available at the most basic level. And then you go to a bottle shop! Next Glass takes the hassle and stress out of the equation, by offering you the suggestion of what you should buy, and when. Think of Next Glass like the rating system on Netflix. It uses ratings you give to beer to give recommendations as to what you should drink for the day. One to five stars, and your likes, as well as your dislikes, get collected together to make for your recommendation. Let go, and resign your faith to Next Glass. || nextglass.co
Taphunter || Price: Free. Available for iPhone and Android users
There’s a misconception about beer, and alcohol in general, that says if you’ve been to a place once, you’ve experienced it, and to be adventurous taster you should go somewhere else. Couldn’t be more wrong! Breweries and wineries are constantly updating their tap list and bottle pours, with the aim of giving patrons a new and different experience. Taphunter is the app that eliminates the guess work and actually informs you when a taproom has brought out a new beer. You can also get notifications when your favorite beer is on tap in your local area based on your ratings. It also gives you information on where to buy specialty bottles or cans. || taphunter.com
Honorable Mention:
Beer?! || Price: Free. Available for iPhone and Android users
Beer?! That’s all the app does. It sends an audio message to your friends, saying in a funny voice that kind of sounds like Homer Simpson, “Beer?!”. How can you not have this on your phone?! || beerapp.co
