It is not easy to find the beer that suits you best. Luckily, there is an app that helps you find the kind of beer you like and share it with others.

Untappd is a social networking app that allows you to check into beers as you drink them. The purpose is to discover beers while allowing friends to see which beers you have tried, how much you like them and where you ordered them. Using Foursquare, Untappd gives each beer a location so other users can see where they can buy one for themselves. For anyone who enjoys a cold brew and wants to discover new ones, this app is a great choice.

As a server at The Swamp Restaurant, I get a lot of questions from customers about the beers we have on draft and which ones I enjoy the most. I will admit, up until my 21st birthday, I could not tell you what a lager was (other than Yuengling). I assumed all beers were the same: bitter and boring. One night this spring, I had a customer ask what wheat beers we had on tap. Before I could answer his question he cut me off, “You probably don’t even know what a wheat beer is.” He was right. Fortunately, I knew which wheat beers we had on draft, but I was not sure what classified them as such. That was the day I decided I was going to learn all about beer.

I did not begin my beer-drinking journey until I visited the University of Arizona in May to see my cousin graduate. He introduced me to Untappd and explained that I could check in to a beer and rate it for future reference. I could also discover which type of beer I was drinking, what brewery it came from, its alcohol by volume (ABV) and a few suggestions of similar beers. Untappd asks that you take a picture, making it a digital scrapbook of beers you have tried and liked. Users can earn badges for drinking craft beers, drinking so many of one type, taking pictures and many others. On any given night, you can see what beers your long-distance friends are drinking and “toast” them, keeping connected with those far away. My favorite feature of Untappd is the “Trending Beers” page. This page shows you what beers are popular and lead you to some seasonal beers that might have a limited time on the shelves. If I like the way a beer sounds, I just click “Find it” and Untappd will find the closest bar or restaurant that is serving it. The app also warns you when you have had a few too many beers; if you continue to check in after the warning, the app automatically displays the phone numbers of local cab companies.

My whole family is using Untappd, even my Grandad, which proves how easy it is to use and love. This app is an easy way to stay socially connected with friends while safely discovering new beers around you. Now go out, have a beer and check in to Untappd. Cheers!