We like to think of Brew Notice as a weekly challenge of new beers to conquer. Brew Notice is an email list that alerts you when bars tap new beer. 

The list was developed by Aaron Godfrey and Aaron Presley, two Portland tech guys who describe themselves as “both web developers by trade, and beer drinkers by choice.”

Because they work in tech, Godfrey and Presley were able to use their crazy coding powers to essentially “crawl” the websites of bars that regularly update their websites with new tap lists. While super helpful, massive lists like Taplister can be daunting if you don’t know which beer you want to try next. Sign up for Brew Notice and the newly tapped beers come right to you.

We asked Godfrey and Presley five questions about Brew Notice:  

Drink Portland: How did you first get the idea to compile an email announcement for newly tapped beers?

Aaron G. and Aaron P.: It started with a program Aaron G. made for himself that notified him when a bar updated their tap list. When he mentioned this script to our group of friends, we all wanted to get these updates. Aaron P. made a simple website where anyone could sign up and choose their bars. The idea was born.

DP: Explain in layman's terms (pretend we’re all at the bar and buzzed right now) how the data for Brew Notice is captured.

AG & AP: In the simplest terms, our program visits a bar’s website every 10 minutes. If they’ve added a new beer, we notify everyone who has subscribed to the bar about the new beers on tap.

DP: Do the beer bars know they’re on the Brew Notice or is it basically just a super secret email club?

AG & AP: Some do, I would imagine most do not. It’s not a secret, we’ve just done zero marketing. We’re too busy developing exciting new features.

DP: You’re both obviously into technology and beer so you probably know there’s a lot of beer apps out there. Are there any other ways you see beer and technology coming together? Or are you thinking about any other drink/technology “inventions?”

AG & AP: We don’t currently have any future ideas for beer/technology innovations, although that’s not to say that Brew Notice will be the last!

DP: What are each of your favorite beers right now that you’ve discovered through Brew Notice?

AP: I haven’t really discovered any beers because of Brew Notice, though I’ve definitely updated my evening plans when an alert tells me Boneyard Notorious has been tapped somewhere.

AG: I’ve caught several De Garde Brewing and Goose Island Bourbon County (insert variation here) beers on tap thanks to using Brew Notice! De Garde is making some astounding brews!

Brew Notice is available in Portland, Bend, San Francisco and Seattle.