It costs only 99 cents, so I downloaded it this weekend and gave it a whirl.
Developed by Barrett Garese and Rudy Jahchan, Craft Check is beautiful in its simplicity. You scan the barcode on a bottle, can, or carton, then Craft Check searches its database to return one of two answers:
- CONGRATULTIONS! What you’re looking at is a genuine craft beer from a genuine craft brewery.
- CAREFUL! What you’ve got there is an imitation craft brew from one of the big guys!
If you don’t happen to have the beer handy (or if you’re drinking draft), you can choose to search by brewery and type in the name. To arrive at its answer, the app’s database checks the brewery’s qualification against the somewhat controversial Brewers Association definition of American Craft Brewery (a definition that they revamped at a recent strategic meeting). Thus, Craft Check cautions you about such breweries as Blue Moon, Shock Top, and Red Hook. Interestingly, you are still congratulated for considering Blue Point Brewing Co, recently acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev.