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I built HopLog because I wanted to do one simple thing: record a beer I liked so I could remember it later. After years of using Untappd, I felt that ads in the feed, social check-ins, and a growing set of features made that personal task feel more complicated than it needed to be. HopLog is my attempt at a calmer, journal-first alternative—not a claim that it can replace Untappd’s catalog or community.
Why I wanted a beer journal, not another social feed
I had used Untappd for years to keep track of beers. Over time, though, my own use narrowed to a single question: “I liked this beer, I want to remember it.” In my experience, the feed’s ads, the social pressure I associated with check-ins, and accumulated features made that small job feel cumbersome.
That is a personal account, not a finding that everyone experiences Untappd the same way. Untappd’s official materials describe a drink journal as well as checking in and rating drinks, discovery, badges, recommendations, nearby places, venue menus, and local events. Its help center also documents custom lists, beer and brewery additions, Find It, notifications, beer history, and friend management. Those options may be useful to many people; I wanted a product whose starting point was simply remembering what I drank.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteWhat I set out to build with HopLog
I described the idea as “Letterboxd, but for beer”: a clean, fast, personal journal first, with social features second. The product pitch was to log drinks, remember preferences, and discover beers without ads or a surplus of features. HopLog’s ad-free core logging experience and its live, free availability are claims from my article; they may change over time.
#1 Best Overall
- Read Before You Buy — No Video Output: These adapters support charging and USB 2.0 data transfer, but cannot transmit video signals. Except for standard USB webcams (which use USB data only), they are not compatible with HDMI/DisplayPort cables, video-capable USB-C hubs, or docking stations with video output.
- Convert USB-A Ports to USB-C: Designed to connect USB-C earphones, cables, flash drives, card readers, and other USB-C accessories to standard USB-A ports. Plug-and-play with no drivers or software required.
- Aluminum Alloy Housing: Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy shell that aids in heat dissipation and protects against daily wear and scratches. Designed to maintain a stable and secure connection.
- Compact & Travel-Friendly: The ultra-compact design allows the adapter to stay plugged into your device without blocking adjacent ports or adding bulk, reducing wear and tear on your original USB ports.
- 12-Month Warranty: Backed by a 12-month manufacturer warranty for peace of mind. Designed to meet strict quality control standards for reliable everyday performance.
A design meant to feel like a taproom
I chose a “taproom chalkboard” direction, using deep malt-brown tones, amber accents, a serif display font, and clean body text. The intention was to make the journal feel inviting while keeping the act of recording a beer straightforward.
How I approached the build
I began with a requirements document, user personas and stories, wireframes, database and API design, and a milestone roadmap. I then organized the work into six milestones:
Rank #2
- 5-in-1 USB-C Hub: Experience comprehensive connectivity featuring a Power Delivery input, two USB-A 2.0 ports, a USB-A 3.0 port, and an HDMI port. (Note: The USB-C power delivery input port is only for connecting an external wall charger to power your laptop and cannot power peripheral devices.)
- 90W Pass-Through Charging: Achieve optimal charging with 90W pass-through power to your laptop, supported by a total input of 100W, with the hub reserving 10W for operational efficiency. (Note: Wall charger not included.)
- Quick Data Transfers: Accelerate your productivity with rapid data transfers using a high-speed 5Gbps USB 3.0 port and two 480Mbps USB 2.0 ports.
- 4K HDMI Display: Enhance your visual experience with a hub capable of delivering 4K resolution at 30Hz in both mirror and extend modes. Please note that this hub is compatible with MacBook (macOS 12 and newer), Windows 10 and 11, ChromeOS, and laptops equipped with DP Alt Mode and Power Delivery. Note: This device is not compatible with Linux.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (5-in-1, 4K HDMI), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
- Authentication
- Beer and brewery data
- Tasting logging
- Profiles, statistics, and badges
- Feeds and follows
- Search polish and operational basics, including rate limiting and error monitoring
That is how I described the project’s process; it is not an independent audit of the implementation.
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The tradeoff: a calmer interface cannot make a small catalog complete
HopLog’s beer database is small. I seeded it with public brewery data and user contributions, while Untappd has a substantial head start in crowdsourced beer, brewery, and review data. That gap matters: a focused interface does not, by itself, provide broad catalog coverage, reliable discovery, or the network effects built by years of community contributions.
Rank #3
- Sleek 7-in-1 USB-C Hub: Features an HDMI port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, and a USB-C data port, each providing 5Gbps transfer speeds. It also includes a USB-C PD input port for charging up to 100W and dual SD and TF card slots, all in a compact design.
- Flawless 4K@60Hz Video with HDMI: Delivers exceptional clarity and smoothness with its 4K@60Hz HDMI port, making it ideal for high-definition presentations and entertainment. (Note: Only the HDMI port supports video projection; the USB-C port is for data transfer only.)
- Double Up on Efficiency: The two USB-A 3.0 ports and a USB-C port support a fast 5Gbps data rate, significantly boosting your transfer speeds and improving productivity.
- Fast and Reliable 85W Charging: Offers high-capacity, speedy charging for laptops up to 85W, so you spend less time tethered to an outlet and more time being productive.
- What You Get: Anker USB-C Hub (7-in-1), welcome guide, 18-month warranty, and our friendly customer service.
I am not pretending HopLog will dethrone Untappd. My goal was to serve a devoted niche of people who want a calmer way to keep a beer log. If finding obscure beers, checking venue menus, or drawing on a large community catalog is central to your use, Untappd’s documented breadth may matter more than the interface preference that led me to build HopLog.
How the two approaches differ for a beer log
| Question | HopLog as described by its creator | Untappd as documented by Untappd |
|---|---|---|
| What is the emphasis? | Personal beer journal and remembering preferences, with social features second | Drink journal, check-ins, ratings, discovery, and social features |
| What can a check-in record? | The article describes tasting logging but does not specify equivalent check-in fields | A beer entry can include a photo, tasting notes, rating, serving style, friends, location, and flavor profiles |
| What discovery and venue tools are described? | Beer discovery is part of the stated aim; specific venue tools are not described | Recommendations, nearby places, venue menus, and local events |
| How broad is the beer catalog? | Small database seeded from public brewery data and user contributions | Substantial crowdsourced beer, brewery, and review data, as described by the creator’s comparison |
| What about ads and the feed? | The creator describes the core logging experience as ad-free and designed without an unwanted algorithmic feed | The creator’s dissatisfaction with ads in the feed is personal experience; Untappd’s materials describe a broader product but do not establish that every user sees or dislikes ads |
The comparison reflects my description of HopLog and Untappd’s own documentation, not an independent feature or usability review.
Rank #4
- Dual Converters, Infinite Potential：Includes 2× USB C male to USB A female adapters and 2× USB A male to USB C female adapters. Perfect for a wide range of uses—tablets with Bluetooth keyboards, expand USB ports on macbook, and more. Two different converters for all your daily needs
- Next-Level 10Gbps & 3A Charging: No more slow 480Mbps, this usb to usb c adapter has a transfer speed of up to 10Gbps, allowing you to do more transferring in less time. This usb adapter fits both USB A and USB C charger, supporting up to 3A fast charging
- Upgraded Exquisite Craftsmanship: With an aluminum alloy housing and metal connector, the usbc to usb adapter is extremely durable and sturdy. Rigorously tested to withstand more than 10,000 times of plugging and unplugging, ensuring long-lasting performance
- Broad Compatible: The usb c to usb adapter widely supports all USB C/ USB A devices like laptops, tablets, cellphones, car chargers, and phone chargers. Such as compatible with MacBook Pro/Air 2023/2022, Thunderbolt 4/3 Devices,Apple MagSafe Watch 9/8/7/SE/Ultra, iPad Pro 2022/2021, Samsung Galaxy S23/S20/S10, and iPhone 17/16/15 Pro. Plug and play
- Please Note: To reach 10Gbps speed, keep the cable under 3.3 ft. For USB A Male to USB C adapters, try flipping the USB C connector. USB C Male to USB A adapters support bidirectional 10Gbps transfer within 3.3 ft
Can you export Untappd history and move it to HopLog?
Untappd’s help article says an Insider can request beer history in JSON or CSV from the web account. That establishes an export option for those subscribers, not a direct route into HopLog. I did not establish that HopLog accepts either format, so I cannot promise an import feature or a compatible migration path.
Who might prefer a journal-first alternative?
- You mainly want a personal record of beers and whether you liked them.
- You value a quieter logging experience more than a large social network or extensive discovery tools.
- You are comfortable with the possibility that a smaller catalog may not contain every beer you want to record.
If a deep crowdsourced catalog, venue information, or community activity is essential, the tradeoff may not suit you. There is no independently published statistic in the cited material that measures how common the frustration behind HopLog is; the motivation here is my own.
Best Value
- 5-in-1 Connectivity: Equipped with a 4K HDMI port, a 5 Gbps USB-C data port, two 5 Gbps USB-A ports, and a USB C 100W PD-IN port. Note: The USB C 100W PD-IN port supports only charging and does not support data transfer devices such as headphones or speakers.
- Powerful Pass-Through Charging: Supports up to 85W pass-through charging so you can power up your laptop while you use the hub. Note: Pass-through charging requires a charger (not included). Note: To achieve full power for iPad, we recommend using a 45W wall charger.
- Transfer Files in Seconds: Move files to and from your laptop at speeds of up to 5 Gbps via the USB-C and USB-A data ports. Note: The USB C 5Gbps Data port does not support video output.
- HD Display: Connect to the HDMI port to stream or mirror content to an external monitor in resolutions of up to 4K@30Hz. Note: The USB-C ports do not support video output.
- What You Get: Anker 332 USB-C Hub (5-in-1), welcome guide, our worry-free 18-month warranty, and friendly customer service.
Availability and what I can claim
My article says HopLog is live and free, with an ad-free core logging experience. Those are the creator’s claims at the time of that article, not independently confirmed current terms or availability. Check HopLog itself for its present status before relying on access or pricing.
Sources: DEV Community, “Why I Built an Ad-Free Alternative to Untappd,” August 23, 2026; Untappd Help Center, “How to Check-In a Beer,” March 11, 2024; Untappd Help Center, “Where can I find the Exportable Data feature?”, April 2, 2025; Untappd official product page; Untappd Help Center.
Quick Recap
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