This a guest article by Ashlee McCullen, a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com
I like exploring craft beers as much as the next person. Still, I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer number of options. Paradoxically enough, I also sometimes yearn to try something new and break my routine.
That’s where beer apps come into play. They’re excellent tools for newbies to finally learn there’s more to malted beverages than Coors Light (apologies for using those words on this blog). [ed: apology accepted] Yet, the best apps are loaded with information that aficionados can use to deepen their appreciation and knowledge of beers.
Personally, I own an Android-based T-Mobile smartphone , so this list will lean heavily towards offerings for Google’s platform.
iPhone and Android
Find Craft Beer: The title alone tells you exactly what this fun app offers. Find bars, breweries, and beer sellers that offer high-quality craft beers. When a cheap lager just won’t do, Find Craft Beer is a handy tool. And it’s most useful when visiting brewery-friendly cities like Portland. It lacks the advanced features of the other apps, but that’s part of its charm. ($0.99) [Google Play Store, iTunes]
Pintley is a powerful beer recommendation app, with tools for tracking the beers you drink, making notes about them, and sharing your findings with friends (including those on Foursquare, Facebook, and Twitter). Pintley analyses your ratings of beers to suggest new ones to try out; I’ve discovered some wonderful gems between the app’s recommendations and seeing what my friends have been drinking. (Free) [Google Play Store, iTunes]
BeerCloud is a strong all-around app, as it packs just about all the features you could look for. And to boot it’s one of the best looking of the beer apps. Use BeerCloud for everything from finding nearby pubs that serve your favorite beers to learning about beers and finding group outings like pub crawls. I’ve made extensive use of BeerCloud’s “favorites” feature to keep track of both individual beers and their brewers. And if you’re out to eat, this app offers food pairing suggestions. (Free) [Google Play Store, iTunes]
Android Only
Beer Map is a simple and useful app for finding bars and breweries. It’s powered by the beer location service beermapping.com, and uses Google Maps to help you find spots. Using it with my Galaxy, I could find great breweries around me and even call them straight from the app. ($0.99)
[Google Play Store]
The Beer Expert may just have the largest database of beers (if their marketing is to be believed). Either way, it’s extremely useful when you’re at the grocery store and are staring at dozens of beer options. Speak or type in a beer name to learn what others say about its taste, quality, and more. You can also scan UPCs, helping you make informed decisions. ($1.99) [Google Play Store]
About the Author: Ashlee McCullen is a staff writer for ApronAddicts.com, a website about fashionable aprons and kitchen style. She is also a wannabe-foodie and craft beer enthusiast.
