How do we grow BeerAdvocate internationally?

To get participation started, make the site easier to use for rating/reviewing and for use of the Places feature for the new members by loading in every brewery and every beer that can be found in the countries where member growth is desirable.

 

When it’s possible to hold events again, hold some outside the US. The exchange rate is very prohibitive for To visit
Did you know there’s ‘Distillery District’ in Toronto? That would be a great venue.

 

You can host some kind of American Beer Festival in a couple of major European cities !?! And European Beer Festivals in some U.S. and Canadian cities...

 

I don’t think it makes sense to share too many beer reviews as most beer is just locally available. But, local forums might make sense if there is a local need.

In terms of travel, I do know when I am planning international travel I consult RateBeer and local press, rather than a Beeradvocate as the reviews are so spotty and dated for most destinations.

Last time I travelled internationally I tried to update both ratebeer and Beeradvocate, but it is a bit of a pain.

Perhaps some incentives on reviews of local places and Noteworthy beers by a North American travelers might be a good start. As many have stated, the non-US craft beer scene in many ways is more exciting , although a little more variable, than the US, as it is still evolving. Of course many destinations also have rich beer cultures with classic styles that often don’t exist at the same quality level in North America.

Partnering with someone local, at least in major destinations, might also provide a jump start. There must be a beer nerd in say London, Stockholm, Berlin, Mexico City, Seoul that can re-purpose their work to start making some destinations more richly described.

 

I’ve thought about this issue on and off for a while. Many of the ideas already suggested are interesting. I think a more formal or integrated relationship with untappd could help internationally. International beer festivals are a great idea. Partnering with local writers who have an established following couldn’t hurt.

I’d also suggest forum sections with interviews/short form articles on local topics. These could be user submitted or more formally structured. Local users know of the most interesting aspects of their own beer scenes. Similarly, local festival reports might be of interest.

As a Toronto resident, I can think of a number of local focused topics that I think would have at least some sort of broader appeal. In the past year a local brewery brewed a Lithuanian Keptinis. An interview with the brewer might be interesting as the style is so uncommon. Another brewery partnered with an historian to brew an historical recipe Old Ale. An interview with the brewer and historian might also be of interest. There is someone in the local scene here that has done a lot of work on diversity in craft beer. An article or interview again might be of broader interest, especially considering recent events.

I think the benefit here is twofold. One, you provide a more global picture of beer on the website through locally produced content. Two, and probability more important for the topic at hand, you engage with local breweries and personalities that have followings. An Instagram or Facebook post from a brewer linking an interview that is appearing on BA might drive a lot of local traffic to the site that otherwise may never visit.


Paranthetically, please bring back provincial markers for Canadian users. The loss of these just fuels the argument of those who say the site is only focused on the US. If it is important to have State markers for US users, why is it not important to have provincial markers for Canadian users?

 

BA just docked my beer karma again (the second time in recent years) despite being a paying overseas supporter who uploads new beers and brewers from outside the US (but who rarely writes reviews). I don't think this approach will encourage international participation. Karma 's a bitch.