The first time you use the app you’ll be asked to state a couple of preferences using the Palate. These tend to be broad tastes, like “sweet/malty” or “bitter/hoppy,” though you can click through to some more advanced options if you’d like to. You can adjust your preferences at any time. If Barly finds beers on the menu that match your taste preferences, it displays them at the top as matches, with more red stars.

If you're at a venue and they've got a beer that didn't come up when you clicked on them, you can add it! Use the search bar at the top of the screen to find the beer. Once you've found it, click on it to go to the details, then select the venue and click save.

We call this a check in, and it will update that venue's list for all users.

If you've searched a couple combinations of words and it's not turning up what you're looking for, you can submit a beer to our database using the Submit a New Beer button on the menu.

Then try something new! Below the matches Barly shows ratings and info on every beer you submit. If there are no matches, he shows the highest rated by other users at the top.

It still exists, but is now located in the menu. Once we started sourcing beer lists from venues directly, processing a photo of a menu became a bit less important.

Sorry about that! For what it’s worth, we recommend asking for a taste before ordering a whole pint of something, unless the bar is crazy busy. However, we think trying things you don’t like can be a positive learning experience. What didn’t you like about it? Too citrusy? Too hoppy? Not hoppy enough? We promise not all is lost, and better beer is in your future.

Sorry about that! But did you try something new as a result?

This is because our menu data comes from people checking into beers on other databases. We do our best to filter out overly old check ins, but sometimes some get through.

Sure can. We use a star rating system within the app. The red stars you see are for how much Barly thinks you will like a beer. You can click the stars to save your own ratings, turning them gold. The next time you come across that beer, those gold stars will be displayed with it.

If you click directly on a beer you'll be taken to a details screen where you can save more detailed reviews.

Not only that, but your ratings are considered when Barly recommends a beer from a menu.

You can also go to My Beers to check out what you’ve rated in the past.

This basically means that either Barly could not find a match in our databases, or it found a match for the wrong bit of text. Sorry about that! Let us know what it got wrong and we’ll work to improve it.

Sounds like Barly had trouble reading the text in your photo when using the Scan a Menu feature. Make sure it’s a clear image, in focus, without too much glare. Barly will not work on handwritten menus or tap handles – use the text entry feature to search for these beers.

It means you managed to find a bug on our end. Try again in a little while. If it continues to give you that error, please send us a message at info@barlyapp.com so that we can get it fixed.

Glad you asked! Barly is a product of Top Banana Technologies. We are registered as an S Corporation in California, and we would love to talk with you about investing. Drop our CEO, Nick Norton, a line at nick@barlyapp.com to get in touch.

We're open to hearing from people in the startup world who think they can contribute, though at this time we are not hiring. It couldn't hurt to talk, though. Send a resume to info@barlyapp.com.

Yeah you can! We’re up for interviews and things like that too. Just drop us a line.

Yep. Facebook.com/barlyapp and @barlyapp on Twitter and Instagram. Say hello and let us know what beer you’re drinking.

That’s not technically a question, but feel free to send us one at info@barlyapp.com.