It’s 2016. Shouldn’t you have access to all things beer right from your smartphone? Here are some of the best beer apps on the market today.
Untappd
(untappd.com) Free, iOS, Android
Boasting over 1 million users, Untappd is the most widely used beer app. Primarily a “ticking” app, users can check in to any beer in the database as they drink it and share location, photos, and ratings. Additional features include alerts when friends tick a beer or when they are nearby your current location.
HopPlotter
(hopplotter.com) Free, iOS
HopPlotter is essentially Yelp for beer. The app helps you locate currently open breweries and get directions from your location. You can also plan your next “beer-cation,” setting up brewery trips and tours to save an itinerary for later.
BeerMenus
(beermenus.com) Free, iOS
BeerMenus allows you the unique experience of deciding which beer you want before you get to the pub. Simply search by venue, and BeerMenus pulls up the list of what they have on tap. There is also a feature to alert you as your favorite bars update their tap lists.
BeerBuddy
(beerbuddyapp.com) $3.99, iOS, Android
Where BeerMenus is more focused on the tap list, BeerBuddy is an app for the bottle shopper. With a built-in barcode scanner, users can pull up any beer in the shop and read reviews or get recommendations for similar beers. Users can also keep a running tab of the beers they have tried and reviewed, or create a wish list of brews they want to try.
Any Beer ABV
(anybeerabv.com) Free, iOS, Android
If you’re at a picnic and someone hands you a can of Scotch ale, or at a bar with a tap list lacking details, Any Beer ABV is there to help you figure out how much of a punch that beer is packing. Search by beer name, brewery, or ABV (because you’re looking for a session ale, not a booze-bomb, right?), or you can flag your favorite selections to return to later.