Ok. Would beer geeks like an "on tap app"?

I think this is a compelling argument and there is definitely a lot of useful feedback in here. I think the cost/benefit definitely comes into play for the consumer (ie is this the best use of storage on my phone and how much of a hassle is it to use when I have to search several different apps to figure where I'm drinking today?). I would agree with you that for most bars, this is a waste of time.

However, I think there is as strong of a counter argument to this when it comes to a brewery and branding. For a brewery like Fitgers, that is focusing primarily on a local market and branding themselves with their different locations and the different "scene" that goes along with it, I think it is rather brilliant. Doing it themselves ensures them control over how frequently it is updated, who can update it, accuracy of the information on it, the ability to promote themselves in a style all there own, and guaranteed brand recognition (in a more directly associated way) by the consumer.

Consumers are a fickle beast... and there are certainly advantages to both insourcing and outsourcing.

 

If you visit an establishment regularly or have a general interest in their beers, then this app would be awesome. If you never or rarely go to said establishment, then simply don't download the app. Pretty simple. If Fitgers did this, would I download the app? No. If I lived in Duluth, I sure as hell would. When visiting Duluth, i would download the app, then simply uninstall when im not there. Everyone has their regular haunts and could have those places apps if they so choose. I would rather have the option to download said app or not, than no option at all.

 

FYI the current iteration is just a mobile formatted site, not an actual application you need to down load...

 

But looking at development costs, what does somebody expect an app to do versus a mobile version of their site? That is my point. I am not saying that an establishment shouldn't be developing something, as I have been ultra critical of how far behind most businesses in MN are in most aspects. I am just offering a more logical solution. Look at it this way; an app only addresses your potential customer base that actually downloads and uses that app. That in and of itself, does not address the vast majority of people who will be searching your brewery out through a mobile browser. So in the end, you would (or should) still be developing a mobile version (Fitger's has one for the inn, not the brewery, as far as I can tell after a quick check). So you are doing two jobs. But then you have to be realistic about how dynamic a brewpub app really needs to be and what specifically about the functions of that app can't already be done in a mobile version of your website. Updated menus, beer lists, details about the beers, history of the brewery, calendar, special offers, link directions to google maps, photos and maybe even video...not much else and all of that is done easily with a mobile oriented version of a website. My point was why do two jobs, when everything that they most likely want to do can be done in one job and is the easier and cheaper job to do.

Apps are a buzzword at this point. It is overkill. Certainly necessary for many, but not all needs. I saw somebody in the thread call it a "brilliant idea" as if developing an app was some groundbreaking idea. Seriously? My 87 year old dad just asked me if I knew somebody if he wanted to develop an app for his WWII buddies, mainly because he had no idea what he wanted to do nor the scale of what he reasonably needed for what he wanted to accomplish. Know who needs an app? Beer Advocate needs an app, because of the depth of functions that could be incorporated into it, like scanning barcodes to pull up item pages and reviews or to use GPS to pull up beer locations while traveling and things like that. That is what an app is really needed for and not just so somebody can pop open a beer list that can just as easily been scene when bookmarking them in a mobile browser. I'd get paid to sit with a company and hear them out about their long and short term goals and scale it all to meet their budget in the most cost effective way. But just an off the cuff look at the needs of a brewpub (of which, I have visited hundreds, even if not Fitger's specifically) and I get the idea of what one would reasonably be doing to both promote/market their restaurant and meet their customers needs. And none of that is really "app" level stuff.

 

Was I the only one who clicked on the link? It isn't an "App" it is a mobile website. It is already up and running.

Here is the link again:
http://www.appnotch.com/apps/gda3735/content/html/home.html

 

Guess I missed that initially. I just saw app in the thread title.

How easy is that! It's basically a real time website for beer lists. Simple to find and simple to use. I don't see any problem with this at all.

 

Unless I'm missing it, the only thing missing is prices.

 

I clicked on it, but the OP stated in that post; "Here is a link to the online app. It isn't complete by any means." So to me that sounds like he is saying "hey guys here the work in progress and our app developers are displaying an online visualization of the app that they are working on and this is kind of what the app will look like. Maybe the OP has meant a mobile site all along and has simply been referring to it as an app. But that post in and of itself didn't lead me to think that, as everybody puts elements of their projects on line for their clients to view during the development phases.

 

Invest a lot less time and money making sure you have an updated tap list on your website.

 

Hopefully every beer bar and brewpub in MN is reading this!

 

1. The Brewhouse has a nice website, with an almost always up to date taplist http://brewhouse.net/
2. Being a long-time regular (when in town) who no longer lives in/near Duluth, this app would have zero bearing on me going to the Brewhouse or Fitger's establishments when I'm in town (it's destination #1 on my list either way). But it may steer me between Tycoons, the Brewhouse or Burrito Union on any given day. Who am I kidding, odds are I'm going to the Brewhouse anyway.
3. You want me to come more frequently... return the high back sofa chairs to the seats near the windows by the kitchen. The table there is nice and all and probably more profitable (turns over more frequently, seats more), but I miss chilling for hours at a time in that spot.
4. Honestly I think all the apps and gadgets and other things seem like nice ideas out the gate and may influence others to go to one bar over another... but being a brewpub I come there for Your beers, regardless of what seasonal/cask is on. It's just a bonus to me when its Edmund, Cherry Batch, Jesse the Barleywine, 1100, etc.

Take this with a grain of salt... I'm old, I was in college when you opened and thus have very fond memories of the way things were.

 

^^^ This. The hard truth? I think you're site is outdated and could use a good facelift. (Your © says 2010...)
Spend the money on creating a new website. Make it responsive so it views on all browsers/devices/tablets and have a nav item "On tap" and keep it updated. That's all I would need

 

Can't wait for the finished product. I've liked what I've seen so far.