Just Checking In

Late last week the Untappd social drinking application pushed through an update for both its IOS and Android apps. The new update enables users to see more details of each friend's beer check-ins immediately in "The Pub" tab. The five-star rating system has now been integrated to allow half-point ratings if need be.

This can make for a more enjoyable experience in terms of engaging with your friends within the app and discussing the beers you've tried as well as more accurate ratings. I most likely won't be changing my rating system to anything more than I have now. So, please don't confuse what I rate beers on Untappd with the final ratings I give them in a blog post review

The initial ratings I give on Untappd to those beers I check-in to are just a first impression. I traditionally perform each check in just a few sips into a beer that I'm trying. In some cases the check-ins can just be a small sample. Here's to some exciting check-ins in the future!

Monday Rant: An Untappd Problem

I came across a retweet in my Twitter feed just over a week ago (so long ago that I can't seem to locate the tweet to actually embed it). This particular retweet was a bit of a complaint. In essence, this tweet showed a bit of disdain for those of us in the beer community that send connect both our Twitter and Untappd accounts.

For those of you that don't understand this I'll try to explain. Some of us that check-in to our beers via Untappd can also simultaneously send that check-in to Twitter as well. Sometimes we even add our feelings toward said beer in that check-in. So, in some cases it's not just Untappd check-ins, it becomes a little more personable when we post our thoughts, too.

Drinking a Railbender Ale by @eriebrewingco — untp.it/WhAVuX
— Chris (@GoPens75) January 6, 2013

Personally, I find it interesting to bring up Twitter and see what others in the beer community are partaking in.  Seeing multiple Untappd posts in my feed has never struck me as annoying or bothersome. On the other hand, I've become weary of possible posting too many of my check-ins to my own feed. I'm not sure everyone that follows me cares when I drink every single bottle of my Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale. Thus, I try to limit how many of those check-ins make it outside of the Untappd application.

There are many social media pet peeves that people have. I never figured this particular topic would be one of them. At least not on a huge level and it's nowhere near that yet. This is pretty much the only complaint I've come across on Twitter pertaining to Untappd check-ins.

Holy coffee beans. Would go well with a bagel right now. — Drinking a Java Head Stout by @troegsbeer — untp.it/TFPyu7
— Bill K. (@BurghBeerSnob) January 2, 2013

Anyways, I sure hope this isn't the beginning of one of those massive social media movements. Odds are that the author of this tweet I saw doesn't even follow a decent amount of craft beer folk. Maybe this person has figured out how to put down the smart phone and realize that by expanding your Twitter client horizons, you can actually filter out certain texts in your feed.