BeerAdvocate in 2016

In 1996, we founded Brewguide, the precursor to BeerAdvocate. The site and the company have grown a lot since then, all with the goal of supporting and promoting better beer. But, like anything that's been on the web for 20 years, we decided it was time to make some changes.

BeerAdvocate 4.0
With BA 3.0 we integrated the old site with the new forum for a seamless user experience. In 2016 we'll begin work on BA 4.0, which will include:

• Rebuilding the entire site's codebase (except the forum) from scratch using our internal API to create a more functional, stable and secure site.
• Applying a responsive design to the entire site for a new and enhanced user experience across all modern platforms and devices. We'll be streamlining the user interface and flow, too.
• Launching new maintenance tools to greatly improve the accuracy of our data and the timeliness of updates.
• Allowing businesses to claim their BA page and manage the data associated with it.
• Building out new functionality and helpful stats. Examples: a new image uploader for beers and places, putting places on the map, beer cellar tracking and extended user stats for all of you data nerds out there.
• Bringing a deeper focus on content; see BeerAdvocate Magazine below. We'll be soft-launching some examples of this in the coming months.
• Applying HTTPS (a secure connection protocol) to the site to offer users increased security.
• New site-wide search functionality.

… and much more. Thanks in advance for your patience as we work to make BeerAdvocate even better.

BeerAdvocate App
Admittedly, it took us forever to launch our BA app due to a lack of resources. And when we did, we made the mistake of trying to replicate the site instead of creating an app that supported the site and offered enhanced functionality for mobile devices. This year we'll begin the process of overhauling the app, which will become more of a notification center with some core utilities.

BeerAdvocate Magazine
Launched in December 2006, BeerAdvocate magazine was then and still remains the only monthly beer publication in circulation. Last year we gave it a full redesign and expanded our coverage, bringing the page count to 72 pages. Your subscription helps support our ongoing beer advocacy efforts and the craft beer industry as a whole. This year we're planning to:

• Wrap up our archive project (view our progress).
• Introduce original editorial content to the website.
• Increase distribution of complimentary stacks to interested bars, stores and breweries (contact us to learn how).

BeerAdvocate Events
We'll be putting even more focus on events this year. In fact, we just hired a full-time Events Manager who joins the team this February and will assist in organizing, improving and expanding BA events in current and new markets.

Current 2016 BA events:

• Extreme Beer Fest (Feb 5-6, Boston)
• BeerAdvocate Microbrew Invitational (Jun 3-4, Boston)
• Return of the Belgian Beer Fest (Sep 16, Portland, Maine)
• Mass Beer Week (Nov 4-13, Boston)

We'll also be announcing another beer fest that's not in Boston, and working on relaunching BA social gatherings worldwide.

That's just a taste of what we're working on this year. Make sure to check out the Announcements forum for future updates. Until then, thanks for your continued support and for being a part of BA.

Cheers!