Of apps and taps

Michael Noble wants to change the way you drink beer, at least a little.

The owner of the two Waddell’s locations in Spokane today launched a Kickstarter campaign for a pair of related projects: an insulated taster tray called On the Rip, and an app named My Beer Taps.

Noble says he got the idea for On the Rip – Irish slang for going to the pub – two Julys ago when he saw sampler trays being served to customers on the patio of his South Hill restaurant.

“People would typically drink the first three, and leave the last two – they were getting too warm,” he says. “Maybe the two at the end that they didn’t get to drink were the ones they would have wanted a pint of.”

On the Rip is made of molded plastic, with an easy-carry handle, filled with gel that stays frozen for hours. The reversible insert holds either five flight-size glasses, or four pints.

Noble envisions it being available in custom colors and logos, and sold for use at home as well as at bars and restaurants.

My Beer Taps also grew out of concerns about the taster tray experience. Servers might have time to write down each beer in a flight, Noble says, but often just end up telling people verbally. Either way, there’s no information about a beer besides the name.

Beyond that, he says, “We have customers come in and say, ‘I was in the other day and you poured me this amazing beer, but I don’t remember what it was.’ ”

With My Beer Taps, each beer served comes with a round plastic chip that has a scannable QR code. If you have the app on your phone, it will show you information about that beer including alcohol by volume, International Bitterness Units and a detailed description. (Even without a chip, you can find the info through a keyword search by beer name.)

Users can rate and save beers that they like, and share them with friends through Facebook, Twitter and other social media. If someplace is out of a beer you want, the app will suggest similar choices. There also will be a “knowledge tab” with information on beer basics, such as different malts and hops.

“It gives people more of an arsenal to better understand craft beer,” Noble says. “They can sit down and enjoy their beer and learn more about it.”

While the app will be free for users, Noble will sell subscriptions to distributors. They can see such data as where specific beers are being sold and how they’re being rated by customers, sorted by zip code, and use that to convince new accounts to carry the beers, he says. They also can send text messages to users when new beers come on the market.

The Kickstarter campaign seeks to raise $20,000 over 35 days. Noble’s partner in the projects is Mehran Khosravi, a local nurse anesthetist.

Noble says he’s been in contact with producers from “Shark Tank” – the reality TV show that hooks up entrepreneurs with investors – and is under consideration for next season.