Filed under: Software, iPhone, iPod nano, App Review
New 'Pub Finder' app helps you find a Guinness
Some of us here at TUAW have been known to hoist a pint or two of a frosty beverage now and again. When doing so there's quite a few selections from which to choose to satisfy that urge for something cold and refreshing. One choice often made by me personally is Guinness. But what if I want a Guinness after a long day but can't figure out where to go and get one? Fortunately, there's an app for that: the Guinness Pub Finder.To commemorate the 250th anniversary of Guinness on September 24th they have created a new iPhone and iPod Touch app that will, according to the company, allow "consumers of legal drinking age across the US (to) join the celebration and more easily raise a toast with friends in the future." Which, of course, sounds great unless you happen to live in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kentucky, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas or West Virginia where the app is forbidden by law from working. Yeah, I don't get it either.
Even if you can use this app for its intended purpose, it actually isn't just about helping you find a drink, although it does do that pretty well. Here's a breakdown of its main features:
• Locate a Pint - uses GPS to locate the consumer and the pubs serving Guinness nearest to their current location. It then provides name, address and telephone number of the pub chosen, access to directions, and an email setup to invite friends to join.
• Know Your Pint - provides a tutorial on the 6 Steps to Creating the Perfect Pint, and also includes a ruler that can be used to measure your pint's head.
• Fun Extras – includes animated screensavers, a countdown clock to the "Arthur's Day" celebrations and a live feed of the latest news regarding the Guinness 250th Anniversary celebration
• Responsible Drinking – Provides consumers with the DRINKiQ resource which shares important facts about alcohol to aid responsible choices.
The app is US$1.99 in the iTunes store and its available now.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Frank Owen said 1:50PM on 9-16-2009
Wait.. We have to PAY $1.99 to help Guinness sell more beer? What's up with that?
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Slappy said 2:51PM on 9-16-2009
Seriously, I have the lightsaber one and the Army of Darkness one ONLY because they are free. I'll trade you a few seconds of my time for your splash screen if it is free but hell-to-the-no if you are expecting me to pay for an advertisement.
coolwubla said 10:20PM on 9-16-2009
I would like to use this app, go to a bar drink a bunch of Guinness, then try and play the Super Reflex Challenge app
DistortedLoop said 1:55PM on 9-16-2009
What's the point of cluttering up your iPhone with single purpose apps like this that offer VERY LITTLE additional function beyond just using the location aware Google Maps app, or even just Safari?
And to pay for it as well. Not for me.
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Heimbachae said 9:55AM on 9-17-2009
this is when you say come ooooooooon cydia devs and make a mock program that does the same thing!!!!
timbo said 1:57PM on 9-16-2009
Incredible, not even available in the UK store. Don't get me started on the origins of the public house.
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JKT said 2:01PM on 9-16-2009
I've done some Googling and have been (so far) unable to find reference to the law the authors claim forbids this app in those 12 states. I assumed it had something to do with not being allowed to publicize lists of taverns and such, so if I'm off-base with that maybe that thwarted my search. But if anyone has more info on a law that forbids the use of an iPhone app in certain states, please post here with more info. Thanks!
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Archion said 2:06PM on 9-16-2009
I'm wondering about this law as well, granted I guess those of us in WV are supposed to have drinking problems, if you believe all the billboards and signs in the stores, we are also addicted to prescription drugs and gambling. There are 1-800 help lines for everything in WV, except Appleholics, we don't even get an Apple store...
John Hamilton Farr said 2:10PM on 9-16-2009
Is this a serious website or not? Are any of us so braindead and hopeless that we can't get ourselves a freaking BEER?!?
Anxiously awaiting the next report of a #%*$^@* IPHONE APP that tells people whether their brand of jeans has a zipper or button fly, so they'll be able to pee.
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DistortedLoop said 2:41PM on 9-16-2009
Hey, I think I'll write that app!
Tony said 2:43PM on 9-16-2009
Any self-respecting Guinness drinker already KNOWS where every pub that serves Guinness is within 150 mile radius, and can easily FIND a pub that serves Guinness in any strange town they happen to be in.
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iBearTouch said 3:05PM on 9-16-2009
Like I need an app from the App Store to help me find beer. Especially Guinness. Mmmmmm Guinness. It should be free, like iPint. It is all fine advertising for the beer company.
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Tony said 4:07PM on 9-16-2009
not available in the Ireland store. funny!
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cowfodder said 6:30PM on 9-16-2009
It should be pointed out that if you truly are a Guiness afficianado as you claim to be then you would not be drinking it in a "frosty" state. Any true Guiness drinker knows that the proper serving temperature is 37-42 degress Fahrenheit, which is far above frosty.
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Eli Gratz said 8:02AM on 9-17-2009
Interesting thread. I bought the app for $1.99 to try it out, because I have been working on the recently released Drink Specials App, which finds you drink specials, and allows users to update, add and verify them on the fly.
I see your point that this is just a list of bars that serve guinness (though it does say if they pour an "imperial pint" or not), but that it.
Check out Drink Specials in the App store (or the Lite version which apple is reviewing now) and see if that's in this niche, but more useful.
Cool to see branded apps out there, but agreed that they should be free if it's a liquor/beer company.
--Eli Gratz
CEO, Great Time Apps
Drinkspecialsapp.com
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d3bruts1d said 5:34AM on 9-17-2009
This may be great for travel, but I know all the pubs in my area which server Guinness. Sadly, the number is few. :'(
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