Hi, all. I am 10 years plus member of RB. Imo it is the best beer site out there, far better than Untappd or Beer Advocate. I have close to 4000 ratings posted. So sad to say it, but it seems like my favorite beer site is in serious trouble! What the heck is going on? The Android app just shut down with no explanation, this coming after months of malfunctions. In addition, the lack of communication is very troubling.
Clearly if the site is going to survive, someone will have to put some time and money into fixing it up. Aren’t there enough serious beer fans out there to keep RB going strong? Will we all lose our ratings and be left with no choice but to move over to Untappd, which is imo an annoying and mediocre site?
Basically, no, though there were some close calls.
The site is in a much better situation than it was over the last couple of years, even a few months ago. Development on the site (and the app) had stopped 2-3 years ago, so the site was left almost dead in the water development-side, but alive on other fronts, including a pretty okay amount of users (depending on the area) staying on and content admins doing a huge amount of work to keep things look okay.
Tech issues, however, started showing up and we got worried, but Joe recently managed to get dev access to the site, and work had started, little by little, to fix them, and, once all of those are out of the way (many already are), further development is set to continue. Joe has been in touch with some of us and has been communicating publicly here and there, far more so than in the previous couple of years.
As for the Android app, I’m sad to hear that - it’s still thankfully working perfectly for me and many others (as much as the last version developed does), which I know doesn’t mean much to you but it didn’t get shut down or anything. What’s true is that it got delisted for whatever reason, same as the iPhone app had before. That issue was brought up with Joe when the roadmap for the site was being built, and he will hopefully be able to get the apps back up.
Ideally, there might be a way for someone to share an APK of the app with you if you can’t get it on your phone - but have to say I haven’t had any issues with redownloading it on my Androids after its delisting, even if it’s not directly in the store… What exactly is wrong with it? It won’t open?
Like many others I came to the conclusion a couple of years ago it was not going to last so transferred all my ratings to Untappd. I also much prefer RB for many reasons - the layout, the stats, usability… After a number of issues uploading ratings, being unable to add places without logging out and logging in again, site being down a number of times etc I messaged Joe direct in April and asked for his honest answer about the future of the site.
His answer: “I’m working on the issues you mentioned, it’s a slow and difficult road, but I expect there will be eventual success. No signs things are ending after nearly 25 years!”
It’s nice to have an update thanks @Marko. The site seems remarkably stable considering and a lot of admin work is clearly still being done as seriously as ever.
If you are concerned about losing ratings, you can download them from time to time if you are a premium member. Joe has been giving out premium on request.
Forgot to say, huge thanks to @Marko and others for devoting their time to sorting out the many issues most of us have no idea about and will never understand and effectively saving the site.
Greeting everyone. It has been some time since I have left a message on Forums, probably years. In regards to issues with RB, I have been trying to update my personal information and get nowhere with it. I change my location and my bio and submit it. A reply comes back saying " Finding your location didn’t go well. Didn’t find part2 of the location data in the response." Huh? I tried adjusting some of my info to perhaps make it acceptable. Does not work. Anybody with advice on how to overcome this? Thanks in advance.
Weird topic you’ve chosen to write that on. Anyway, I’ve successfully replicated the issue, and we will forward the info to Joe, who’s working on the site again. It wasn’t brought up earlier, so thank you for that! Hopefully it’s something that’s easy to fix.
Also, if you wish to use your actual username/account on the forums, the pinned message and the related thread should be of assistance - it also contains info on what to do if the regular process doesn’t help!
Thanks for the prompt response. I moved last year and have repeatedly attempted to get an update into my profile. The last time I tried, the frustration led to me getting back on Forums. I latched on the thread you had going with some of the old guards from RateBeer, not really close to what you discussing but there were comments on software issues in there. Also it was a recent thread and there are not near as many of those as there once were.
Good news from you on the viability of RateBeer going forward. I am eight years in with the site, have slowed down considerably in my activity, but still like to rate beers in the styles I appreciate and really enjoy commenting on breweries and bars I encounter in our travels. I want to see this site carry on, the format and stats provided are superior to any other similar website.
Yep, true grass root users and admins like marko keep the ball rolling. I don’t think RB will fold anytime soon, too big of an app for the old country users. Also, if you have any problems, emailing joet usually helps if the old stand-by’s don’t come to the rescue! RB is so much better than UT. JMHO.
Good news the boss man @joet has been working at fixing the issue @KevinReddirt1. I tested it earlier and was able to edit my location. Give it a go and let me know.
In the future it will help us if you start a new thread and then we can update everyone as we work through the issue.
Hi Shawn. Thanks for the message, it is part of the reason I appreciate RB as I do. I followed up and attempted to update my profile as you suggested two days ago. It did not work and I got the same message back from the system concerning “part2”, whatever that means. Minimal changes to the existing profile information (city, state, zip code and statement), everything else kept in place but it was not accepted. As an experiment, I went to the public library and used one of their computers to attempt an update, hoping the problem might be related to a setting on my personal computer, my internet service, whatever. Unfortunately that did now work either. Hopefully the situation will be resolved and I can address this small issue. In any case, I appreciate you reaching out to me.
Didn’t the app die several years ago? And wasn’t really terribly functional anyway? And you’re new and have no ratings? NGL,I am skeptical of your worry, @Vinal.
Anyway, I’ve successfully replicated the issue, and we will forward the info to Joe, who’s working on the site again. It wasn’t brought up earlier, so thank you for that! 
Hopefully it’s something that’s easy to fix.
