Map for Ames Lager Availability

Cycsk

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This week, I was thinking about how cool it would be to have a website with up-to-date info about the availability of Ames Lager (and Blood Round). Do any of you Fanatics know how to do this? I envision a map with all the places we know have had it. And when someone knows that they have it in-stock, they could post something and it would be green. When someone posts that they are out, it would be red. Anybody able to help with this project?
 

MJ29

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I think this is coming. Someone close to the process mentioned this in the Ames Lager thread. I can't remember his handle.

Edit: Went and found the handle. @ZJohnson can likely weigh in on this.
 
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DSMCy

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I think this is coming. Someone close to the process mentioned this in the Ames Lager thread. I can't remember his handle.

Edit: Went and found the handle. @ZJohnson can likely weigh in on this.
Seems like Blum has said on the podcasts that this would be ready for football season
Don't remember him saying anything lately so maybe its been delayed.

Also, my understanding is the map would only show where Ames Lager is distributed (to which stores).

The OP is asking for much more functionality to know if it is in stock or not. That would require something like an API into the store's inventory which is much more complex.
 
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Cycsk

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That isn't hard to do with Google Maps.

I don't know how to do it with Google Maps. Could you give me a brief explanation about how to do it?

Or, if anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.

TIA.
 

Al_4_State

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If someone does this, add the Ox & Wren in Cresco. They've been having it pretty regularly lately. West O has been hard to come by in the far northeast corner, but they had a good stock last fall when it was first released, and have been picking it back up this summer because the local Clones kept it moving off the shelf.
 
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Turn2

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I don't know how to do it with Google Maps. Could you give me a brief explanation about how to do it?

Or, if anyone has any other ideas, please let me know.

TIA.
It has been a couple of years since I’ve had to do it, but info like GPS coordinates and an indentifier are listed in an Excel file and imported to Google Maps. Then customization is done within the app. Maybe someone who has worked it more recently can provide more detail.
 

Cycsk

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It has been a couple of years since I’ve had to do it, but info like GPS coordinates and an indentifier are listed in an Excel file and imported to Google Maps. Then customization is done within the app. Maybe someone who has worked it more recently can provide more detail.

That would seem to put locations on a map. However, would it provide the opportunity for us to post updates about availability? I'm trying to put something together that will be a service to all the people who keep asking where it is available. Thanks.
 

Turn2

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That would seem to put locations on a map. However, would it provide the opportunity for us to post updates about availability? I'm trying to put something together that will be a service to all the people who keep asking where it is available. Thanks.
To do that you would need to edit each location individually as needed. That's going to be a huge PITA no matter how you do it, if the list is large, dynamic and changing daily.
 

DSMCy

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That would seem to put locations on a map. However, would it provide the opportunity for us to post updates about availability? I'm trying to put something together that will be a service to all the people who keep asking where it is available. Thanks.
Not trying to discourage you but what you're describing is a fairly large undertaking.

First you'd have to identify every store/location that carries Ames Lager. This in itself would be a large job, but this is probably the easiest part of the project

Next you'd have to find a way to track inventory levels at every store.
Then you'd need people to sign up or download your app, or give some way for people to "check in" locations


Sounds like you're pretty serious so I'd say start with just identifying locations that people have seen or purchased from.
You could create a Google Sheet and share it here for anyone to update.
You can link the Sheet and create a "My Map" in Google Maps

Just did a quick search and this tutorial might be helpful.
This is for Excel upload, but the steps should be similar for a Google Sheet

 
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Raiders70

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Not sure why they can't do it. Backpocket and Toppling Goliath have location finders for their various beers.....
 

Cycsk

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Thanks for the continued input. I'm beginning to wonder if a map with interaction is too fancy. Maybe I just need to post a document that lists the places organized by region and has a column for updates. For instance, every time I go to Cyclone Liquors, I can update about what I found in terms of inventory and location in the story. However, I worry a bit about making it public and getting misinformation from trolls.

Please keep the suggestions (and warnings) coming.
 

Cycsk

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Now that I'm letting go of the interactive map concept, maybe I just start a new thread in this forum in which I list all the places where we have found it. And when people post in the thread, I can update the first post.

What do you think about that? It won't be as public as I was hoping, but it is a big step forward as I become a consolidator of CF knowledge posted about Ames Lager availability.
 
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DSMCy

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Not sure why they can't do it. Backpocket and Toppling Goliath have location finders for their various beers.....
I'm sure WestO could do it.

These are likely just the locations their distributors deliver too. They may get info on where a specific truck is delivering to, so a little more accurate but still no realtime inventory.

This is from the TG map:
1721416546454.png
 

cyfan92

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Can someone please give me a locally owned (DSM metro) beer/liquor store, run by Cyclones that carries Multiple varieties of West O beer?

I'd love to find Smoked Red, Soak'd, Rasberry Shandy, Bahia, and soon their West O fest (Marzen). Plus when the Wrestling collective beer is out.
 
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ZJohnson

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Can someone please give me a locally owned (DSM metro) beer/liquor store, run by Cyclones that carries Multiple varieties of West O beer?

I'd love to find Smoked Red, Soak'd, Rasberry Shandy, Bahia, and soon their West O fest (Marzen). Plus when the Wrestling collective beer is out.
Dang that is a tall ask! Liquor store owner that loves the Clones in the DSM metro? The issue is there aren't really many family owned bottle shops left in the metro. Wall to Wall is our #1 bottle shop in DSM, followed by Gateway Market. I have five placements in there. Both hy-vee's in Ankeny generally carry at least four of our SKU's. The best spot is of course Cyclone Liquors in Ames. He carries most of our SKU's offered to him.
 

cyfan92

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Dang that is a tall ask! Liquor store owner that loves the Clones in the DSM metro? The issue is there aren't really many family owned bottle shops left in the metro. Wall to Wall is our #1 bottle shop in DSM, followed by Gateway Market. I have five placements in there. Both hy-vee's in Ankeny generally carry at least four of our SKU's. The best spot is of course Cyclone Liquors in Ames. He carries most of our SKU's offered to him.
Appreciate your comments, thank you for your work!

Next time I am in Ames, I will be stocking up!

By chance do you have an estimate when WestOFest is set to come to be in Ames?
 

ZJohnson

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That one used to be strictly NW IA distro but I am making sure it gets to Ames this year since I live there. It will hit around the week of the Arkansas St game.

-- Forgot to mention that you will see Doppelbock in a few weeks as well. All new label design!
 
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