Sometimes (like today) I have no clue what I’m going to write about – No clever observations, no geeky insights, no new bear videos that remind me of my better brotherly half. Nuthin.
On days like these, I’ll dig around the interwebs until I find something that sparks an idea for a post. More often than not, this quest for fodder starts with a Google search. I usually click into the “news” section and then search craft beer terms to see what pops up.
But today, I tried something different. I typed in “beer” into Google’s main search window and I was surprised with what I saw.
Here’s what appeared:
If you would have made me guess what the results would be before Googling “beer,” I would have said that the mega-brewers and their big marketing and search engine optimization budgets would have the top spots locked up, but that’s not the case. Only one out of the top 8 results for “beer” was for a macro-brewer, with Budweiser occupying the seventh position.
Google is constantly making modifications to their algorithm to make their search results as accurate as possible and to keep people from gaming the system. I think these results are telling, because they are a pretty accurate reflection of what people want when they think “beer.” Or at least they are a reflection of what people who are using a search engine to find out more about beer are thinking when they type “beer.” I’m sure this isn’t what a NASCAR fan watching a race at Hooters is thinking when he thinks “beer.”
Still, it’s an indication that there’s a healthy interest in good beer out there in cyberspace, and it’s cool to know that when people type the name of the world’s greatest beverage into the world’s most popular search engine, what they get in return are several good resources to learn more about what makes beer (particularly the craft variety) so awesome.
Of course the search results are even more impressive when you type in “beer and whiskey” but I might be a little biased about those, especially because of the handsome devils that top the list. 🙂
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Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
about the only difference with my results was a link places to drink “beer” near where i live. also, i didn’t get the two brews in the name google…or, did you photoshop that in…?
Google has made a push towards delivering more relevant location-based results, so seeing some local beer resources in your results are to be expected.
And yes, I chopped the beers into the logo…
that would’ve been really cool if Google had had the foresight to do that on their own…
Beer Googles!!
When you google “boring beer post” does it go to Don’s articles?
No, but it should.
Maybe this Google isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…
I think Google searches do more than personalize based on location. It looks at your history and personalizes based on the kinds of search results you click on. Everyone gets slightly different results. A macro beer enthusiast (if they happen to exist) would get results littered with industrial, rice adjunct lagers.
I don’t think that’s the case, Zac. If I wipe the cookies from Chrome (which I never use anyway) the results are exactly the same.
That second sentence would have made no sense 20 years ago. And why can’t NASCAR fans be craft lovers? I like both tasty, well constructed beers and men driving in circles. It’s not necessarily my first choice, but I enjoy it all the same.
You can love both NASCAR and craft beer, but mix in Hooters, and I’m pretty sure you’d think “Bud” before “Stone.”
Point. I’ve not been in a Hooters recently enough to determine if their beer selection has improved to offering Old Rasputin. I’d expect their wings are still unpalatable as well.
You don’t go for the beer….or the wings…or the TV’s…or the decor…
What do you go for then? Hmm… 😉
( . )( . )
I wonder if they’ve thought of working that into their marketing sch…
…oh wait, never mind.
Now all they need is an airline.
You’re right Zac, my “beer” Google got the following:
Beer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
BeerAdvocate – Respect Beer.
Samuel Adams® Beer Guide
Places for beer near Ellicott City, MD
Yuengling America’s Oldest Brewery | beer | merchandise | club | TV
Ellicott Mills Brewing Company
Budweiser Beer from Anheuser-Busch: the Great American Lager
Budweiser: the Great American Lager.
I love craft beer, I like Hooters AND their wings. I’m ambivalent about NASCAR, but I hate stereotyping and snobbery.
What about high horses?
I’ve always found it difficult to get down from after riding.
And by high horse, you mean a Clydesdale, right? It’s a shame Budweiser got such a cool mascot.
Well, for the record I remember enjoying the wings there…
Thanks guys….I usually check google once a week for beer or Girls Pint Out and this week, lo and behold, a rouge GPO group in South Carolina. Yay lawyers!
Nice catch! You should really set up a Google Alert for GPO. It’ll alert you whenever someone mentions Girl’s Pint Out, either as it happens, daily or weekly. It’s a good way to keep you eye on what people are saying about your baby!
We do have that set up! Curious as to why this slipped through the cracks since July but we think it’s because they are a Meet Up group and through a bar…very odd. But cool that we have rogue underground chapters! I still like to manually use google search as well. Kind of fun to see where we pop up on search rankings. #dweebiepostover
Nice graphic bro! And I’m pleased to see that Yuengling was so high in the returns.
BTW: if you’re at a loss for a post in future you my want to check the November issue of Natural History magazine (don’t think its on-line yet). In his Medical Examiner column (pg 10), Druin Burch discusses health effects of drinking beer and other alcoholic beverages. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised at his conclusions.
I live in Korea and got similar results, but with a notable exception being a hit for Beer, Devon, UK, which is located in southwest UK on the English Channel. Sounds heavenly!
Bud Light came 10th.
And no Korean beers? Maybe you have to search in Korean for those. I bet Dear Leader Nuclear Winter Warmer Dopplebock would come up first!
If Hooters sold craft beer I think it would be pretty close to heaven.
Try Tilted Kilt, Matthew. The one I’ve been to served Two Brothers (Warrenville, IL), Half Acre (Chicago), and Goose Island. The girls wear less clothes than at Hooters.