Tag: Craft Check

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Check App

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For some in the world of craft beer, knowing who owns who and who is craft and who is crafty is of paramount importance. My first allegiance is to good beer no matter the maker but I can understand a desire to stand by the little guy and instead of carrying around a chart, graph or infographic , you can upload the latest version of Craft Check.

Version 2.0 of the app is now free and has added some new features. Updates will occur faster and in the background, you will also get more information on ownership to allow for those who are kosher with Heineken but not too keen on SABINMILLERBEV. The interface of the app has been changed as well.

It is a great that anyone can simply scan the barcode or do a search by brewery name to get that background business information because a lot is hidden from view. But I don’t know if people who know the least will be aware of this app either.

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Craft Check

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Have you ever been in a grocery store (most good craft beer shops don’t have this issue) and wondered if the beer in front of you was a “phantom” craft beer?  Well help has arrived from app creators Barrett Garese and Rudy Jahchan the folks behind Craft Check, an app whose sole purpose is to warn you if a beer is craft or not.

You can find it in this app store or search engine it.

Once downloaded you just shoot a photo of the barcode and you will either get “Congratulations! What you’re looking at is a genuine craft brew from a genuine craft brewery. This is as good as it gets (when it comes to beer).” or “Careful! What you’ve got there is an imitation craft brew from one of the big guys. It’s got all the soul of a spreadsheet. Crafty, but not Craft.”

This can be helpful if used correctly.  If someone uses it as a blanket condemnation and will not buy anything that is painted with the corporate brush, that would be bad.  We already have too many people who won’t drink Widmer or Goose Island or (now) Blue Point because of that reason. But if used to educate, this app can be a powerful way to show how deceptive the monolithic brewers are in trying to cash in on craft via labels and brand names.

Kudos to Garese and Jahchan for building an app that will help create transparency in beer buying.