Best apps of October 2011: myBeerNation

myBeerNation 
(Developed by Looking West)
Available for: iOS
Price: $1.99

"Good people drink good beer." --Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

Looking West's myBeerNation is the iOS application for good people. An encyclopedic, ever-expanding database encompassing more than 2,400 U.S. breweries ranging from large contract manufacturers to small, regional craft breweries, complete with location-enabled search, navigation tools and detailed information on tours, tasting rooms and beer-to-go options, it's essentially an interactive map for the greatest road trip ever--provided you bring along a designated driver, of course.

But myBeerNation is more just than a brewery database. The app also boasts BeerJournal, a tool enabling connoisseurs to rate and review the brews they sample--entries can be as brief or as detailed as the user wishes, including insights into head size, body clarity, aroma, taste and texture. According to myBeerNation's App Store page, its beer evaluation form includes 22 different categories, enough to rival most professional beer judging forms--BeerJournal entries are optional, but they're essential for helping users remember the best (or worst) beers they discover, especially as the evening wears on and memories wear off. You can even share brewery information, beer critiques and photos with friends. Because that's what good people do.