New website features Michigan Breweries “On Tap Now” list
September 10, 2008
Have you ever wondered what beer is on tap at your favorite Michigan Brewery?
I was browsing one of my favorite websites today (Michigan Brewing Co.), checking out their current tap list. I thought it was pretty brilliant that they had the list on the site. Before, to find out their tap list, consisted of making a phone call to the brewery, and having them rattle off the list. Usually, because I’d be driving, I’d have them rattle it off again. Then, because I have no short term memory, I’d ask “but do you have the Imperial Stout?”… Luckily they were always polite and never hung up on me.
While browsing their tap list, I clicked on one of the beers, and was brought to the site OnTapNow.com. I browsed around and ended up signing up for the site.
I got in touch with the founder of OnTapNow.com and exchanged emails. Mark Matthews, who came up with the original concept gave me the low down. Mark (original concept, marketing, CRM, development) teamed up with Ernest Mecham (technical lead, head developer) and Dan Davis (graphic design, development) to create the site. All Michiganders, all craft beer fans.
“The impetus behind the site is that there was no single source for accurate, timely information as to what was currently on tap across breweries.” Mark said. “Some data is available, but it is often sketchy, spread across web sites, difficult and time consuming to gather, and out of date.”
Mark went on to say, “We are the only site serving this niche. We make it incredibly fast and easy for a brewery (brew pub, etc.) to maintain the status of their taps. One click to turn a beer off, two clicks to turn a beer on.”
The user (beer drinker) side is pretty easy too. A user can view a brewery and check out their “on tap” list, add their favorite beers to their profile, and get notification when the beers go on or off tap. The site is very clean and easy to use.
Right now, the site has a handful of Michigan brewers. Mark said they are working on signing up as many Michigan brewers as possible, and hope to take the concept outside of the state in the future.
OnTapNow.com is free to brewers and consumers.
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Posted in Uncategorized
September 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Awesome! Thanks for sharing.
I see that the featured beer is the Jackhammer from Arbor. That is good, good stuff.
September 11th, 2008 at 7:34 am
Great idea!
I hope that brewers will be willing to update (remember how long it took for a Dark Horse site?)
I also hope theses guys can make some money from their site
September 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I’ve been talking with Mike at Dark Horse – I think they will be updating at OnTapNow.com soon. Another cool thing we do is enable the the brewers to display their OnTapow.com tap statuses right on their site – it makes their web lives a lot easier!
We’ve also made it incredibly easy for brewers to update. We think these features will keep them updating. (Along with pressure from their customers!)