Good Beer Guide

I have yet to get this app to work satisfactorily for me. First, the lack of a built-in database is a huge problem. I'm living in the UK temporarily, and so my iPad and iPhone are not connected to 3G. So, I have to rely on wireless. That means that I often cannot access the database, which requires internet access. Second, even when I have a wireless connection (by then, already in a pub usually), I have rarely been able to get this application to work. It hangs up on "loading data" and then eventually shuts off. Out of the dozen or so times that I've tried to use it, I'd say 10 attempts have ended in that kind of failure (yes, I've deleted and reinstalled the app). Third, when the app does connect, the pub data is not savable. So, for instance if I know ahead of time that I'm going to London, and wanted to search for and then load a few pubs into the app or future reference, I can't do it. That's such an easy feature to include, and would at least offset some of the hassle involved in not having 3G connectivity. In the 4 years that I've been using an iPhone, I've spent maybe 30GBP on apps. So this one represents probably 1/3 of all the money I've spent on an app. It was not worth it. I eventually found and downloaded the CaskFinder app. Same online/offline issues, but it works when I have wireless, it has more pubs listed, and it's free. A much better alternative.

Regarding the latest upgrade, tried to use tube station, the app closed.

I looked up a ton of breweries and this app did not find a single one! I looked up Avery, North Coast, Rogue, Ten Pin, Steamworks and several others and NONE of them were on this app! I even tried Müreau, a brewery that has some great beer and is over 400 years old, and nothing.. This would not be so bad, I know there are a ton out there but the content is so limited unless you buy the full version that it was not even worth keeping to try to find new breweries! I may keep the app for a little longer in hopes that there is an update, but am planning on just deleting the app soon :(

This sure beats lugging around the paper version (assuming, of course, that you already own an iPad), and the search feature makes it easy to find a decent pub if you know where you are going to be. But surprisingly it is not possible to search by pub name (!??). So if you've heard of a great pub in the Midlands called the "Hollybush" but don't know exactly where it is, you could easily pull out what little hair you may have left trying to find it in this reference.

This is a "taster" for a paid app. As far as I can tell it does nothing. A BIG dissapointment for me as a long time supporter of CAMRA.

The GBG is not simply a gazetter of UK pubs, but a highly biased list of pubs that serve consistantly good real ale (cask conditioned beer). Pubs are not rated because simply being included is recognition enough- it is the best of. Other factors might come into play, but it is the quality of the real ale that is the starting point. Charm, hipness, kegged imports, even choice of beer do not get entry to the GBG- one good cask is enough. Accept this, and guide works, it will deliver you to some of the best places to drink real ale in the UK. It is a shame that you cannot download the GBG to read off-line, but it is easier and cheaper than buying the book, and integrates very well with Google maps. Saving pubs as favorites will keep the details, but WiFi is nealy always available from the big coffee chains and local libraries. If all this fails just take a hike, there''ll be plenty of pubs around, some just as good as those in the guide!

Great content but doesn't work offline.

I have tried to use this app on several occasions to find pubs that I know for certain are in the area and consistently it doesn't have the pub information. Currently sitting in Ailsa Tavern in St Margaret's which serves real ales and of course it to is not listed! Very disappointing to say the least, try he good beer guide instead!