To get this badge, make 10 different comments on other people’s check ins in a month, and then check in a beer yourself.
Dutch Beer Week
Seeing as I covered American Craft Beer Week yesterday, it would be remiss of me not to mention that it is also Dutch Beer Week.
For this one, check into three different Dutch beers between 16 and 26 May. This one isn’t limited to craft beers, so if Heineken, Heineken Light and Groschl are your thing, go wild.
This badge has been around since 2012 and is a sponsored badge.
And just a note for consistencies sake, I usually won’t be covering sponsored badges on the blog here as there are so many it’s almost an impossible task. However, badges that have been around a while and are also relatively achievable all around the world will usually get a mention.
American Craft Beer Week
For this badge, check-in to any beer from an independent American craft brewery between 13th May and 19th May.
That means any American beer produced by a brewery classified on Untappd as a Regional, Micro, or Nano Brewery, or a Brew Pub.
Sponsored by the Brewers Association (of America), this badge has been offered every year since 2011 to celebrate American Craft Beer Week. The Brewers Association also publish a list of breweries that qualify as independent.
The Backpacker
This is a regional badge covering all of South East Asia: Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, The Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, East Timor, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Brunei and, somewhat surprisingly, Taiwan.
Each of these countries has its own generic lager, with the most widely known being Singapore’s Tiger beer (owned by Heineken). Others include Thailand’s Singha and Chang, The Philippines’ San Miguel Pale Pilsen (Kirin), Indonesia’s Bintang (Heinekin), Vietnam’s Saigon and Hanoi, Cambodia’s Ankor (Carlsberg), Laos’ Beerlao lager (also Carlsberg) and the ROC’s Taiwan Beer.
Fun Fact: Taiwan Beer sponsor a basketball team (called the Taiwan Beer) in their national basketball league.
There is also a slowly growing craft movement with a notable mention going to the Pasteur Street Brewing Company in Vietnam. Craft beer faces significant challenges in the region, both because of the dominant Muslim religion in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia and a ban on breweries that produce less than 10 million liters a year in Thailand.
Bar Explorer
This is the catch-all venue badge. Simply check into 5 distinct venues to earn it. And yes, it levels up to 100, which means 500 venues.
Simple really. And, despite the name, they don’t even have to include bars.
For the Can
For this badge simply check in 5 beers using the serving style of can. It levels up to 100, which is 500 cans of beer!
The badge points out that canning beer is more environmentally friendly, travels well and is mor convenient (no need for a bottle opener). Cheers to that!
Taste Crazy
Fairly simple, check in to five different beers in one day.
The best way to do this? Go to a craft bar and get a flight.
This badge doesn’t level up, but there is the Take It Easy badge…
The Gondolier
This is the country badge for Italy. Have 5 Italian beers to receive this one. It levels up to level 100.
The two main brands in Italy are Peroni (owned by Asahi) and Birra Moretti (Heineken).
Italy has been slow to develop a craft beer scene, but good brewers do exist. Have a look out for Birrifico Italiano, Birra del Borgo (now owned by Anheuser-Busch InBev) or Birrifico Agricolo Baladin.
New Brew Thursday
To unlock this badge you need to check into three new beers on three different Thursdays over a 30 day period. So essentially on three out of four Thursdays.
While a little convoluted to get, this badge can be leveled up as well.
Also note that you can only level up once every 30 days for New Brew Thursday.
The badge is named after a now defunct podcast. However the badge lives on!
Black as the Night
It used to be said that there was no style more “craft” than a black IPA. While trends may have moved on to sours or hazy IPAs, Black or Cascadian IPAs remain a popular style.
To get this badge check 5 beers that are classed as IPA – Black/Cascadian Dark Ale or IPA – Imperial/Double Black. These beers also count towards both the IPA badge and the Dark beer badge.
Cascadia is a nod to a type of hop that is commonly used in these beers (Cascade) and also refers to the Pacific North West Region of the US, where this style was first developed (think Oregon, Washington and even Northern California).
Untappd Badges 