Remember when Untappd was the app for craft beer lovers? Launched in 2010, it let you “check in” with a beer, rate it, snap a photo, share it with friends, and build a badge-collection of hops and malt. It became the ultimate endorsement of certain beers, as well as the user’s beer knowledge.

Over the years, it has become a staple for breweries, taprooms, and beer-geeks alike — a social metric that connected the craft beer community.

Why “Beer Only” No More?

But this fall things have started to shift.

Untappd updated its “Drink Guidelines” to support many more drink categories beyond beer: cider, mead, wine, sake, RTD (ready-to-drink) cocktails, spirits, even non-alcoholic versions of all of the above. help.untappd.com+2Instagram+2

Even though there is still heavy beer-focus, the change signals a broader ambition: to become the check-in app for beverages — not just brews.

What The Change Looks Like on the App

For the user this means:

• When you open the app, you may no longer see only “beer” categories. Ciders, wines, sakes and RTDs can be logged. It’s important to note that, at least for now, you can turn that function off and remain in “beer-only” mode.
• Producers and venues that focus on non-beer drinks might now appear more prominently.
• For old-school beer lovers, this could feel like the signal of a changing identity. Indeed, users on Reddit have expressed concern: > “When I open the app which I’ve had for a decade … I see there’s no more ‘Beer’, or ‘Brewery’ and I could be using this app to rate the bleach I feel like swallowing when I see this shit.”
• On the flip side, new users who drink wine, seltzers, or non-alcoholic beverages might feel included for the first time.

What’s Driving The Move

Several forces appear to be at play:

• Market trends: Non-beer beverages — whether wine, RTD cocktails, seltzers or non-alcoholic alternatives — are growing in popularity, especially among younger or “sober-curious” drinkers.
• Platform growth: To scale beyond the beer niche, Untappd likely sees opportunity in opening up to more categories. More drink types = more check-ins = more engagement.
• Commercial reasons: The parent company Next Glass powers Untappd and has business interest in beverage-data, menus, and venue listings; broadening categories can increase addressable market.

The Tension: New vs. Old

Yet, with any pivot, tension is inevitable. On one hand, expanding categories is smart business. On the other hand, for the craft-beer loyalists who loved Untappd for its beer-centricity — this could feel like a compromise.

Some users worry: will the “beer community” feel diluted if check-ins increasingly include wine, spirits or non-alcoholic drinks? Others say: this is inevitable, and the app should evolve.

What It Could Mean For You

• If you’re a beer-lover who just uses the app to log rare IPAs and hit breweries: you likely will still be able to do that — and the core functionality remains.
• But if you also enjoy wine, seltzers, spirits, or ‘mocktails’, you might discover unexpected value: the platform embracing your drink of choice.
• If you manage a brewery/bar or brand: the shift might open up new audience segments — and you may want to consider how your venue or drink-list appears in the app.
• Keep an eye on the feed and search filters: you might want to adjust to “filter out” categories you’re not interested in, if they clutter your experience.

Bottom Line

Like it or not Untappd has signaled a departure from beer-only site to beverage-friendly platform.

Whether that’s a good thing depends on who you ask — for newcomers it’s inclusive, for die-hard beer fans it might feel like the brand’s soul has shifted. One thing is clear: check-in culture is evolving, and what’s in your glass is no longer exclusively beer.

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