If you like beer, the drink that has quenched the thirst and calmed the nerves of millions of people since time immemorial, you'll know of the sheer quantity of varieties and brands currently available from all corners of the globe. It can be tricky to remember all the varieties that you've tried and that's where Untappd comes in - the social network for beer, helping you find beers and bars that you'll like, wherever you go.

Foursquare + Facebook

Untappd has two goals: in the first instance, it shows all the beers that you've tried, in the style of Foursquare, with check-ins, so that you can keep track of your personal record or so your friends and other Untappd users can be impressed by your vast beer knowledge.

Untappd is also really useful for getting to know nearby bars where you can find the best beers. You can search for the most popular bars (or the nearest ones) and see what other members of Untappd think.

When it comes to the social component of Untappd, you can share where you've been and what you've sampled on Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare, as well as on Untappd itself. And of course, it's handy for getting to know other beer lovers by browsing the information available on Untappd.

As well as all this, Untappd has an achievement system, like Foursquare, which can be unlocked as you gain experience and get to know bars and beers in your city and area.

Useful and well-designed

After trying Untappd, the verdict is that this application is well designed and ticks all the boxes. It might not have the technical details of the beers, although it does indicate the style and origin, as well as the score given by other Untappd users.

Accessing each section is really easy, and the options available for interacting with other users or checking in are easy to find. You can also add brands or bars which aren't available already.

For beer lovers

Untappd is unusual for its

specialized theme. Certainly, if you like beer you'll have fun with this application, it's also handy for knowing where you've visited and what you've sampled, as well as getting to know other like-minded people. It's all topped off with the function of being able to interact with other social networks to share this information.