Plain-language policy
The guide keeps account information private, measures site use with limited first-party data and honours browser privacy signals.
When you create an account, we keep the name, email address and sign-in details needed to secure the account and attach any verified listing access. Google authentication provides a stable account identifier and verified email; Google credentials and authentication secrets are not stored in the CraftBeer event history.
The site sets two first-party cookies for up to 30 days: one records that the browser has visited before, and one holds the last CraftBeer.co.za page path. They contain no visitor ID, advertising profile or cross-site data. They let us count new and returning visits and aggregate common transitions between our own pages.
When the browser sends Do Not Track or Global Privacy Control, the journey cookies are not created and product interactions are not recorded. The collection endpoint also rejects requests carrying either signal.
Private reports contain aggregate page paths, page-to-page transitions and interactions with cards or calls to action. They do not record IP addresses, user-agent strings or a persistent visitor identity. Claimants only see aggregate engagement connected to content they manage.
Signed-in members can follow breweries and create Favourite beer lists. Follow choices and list membership are attached to the account. Lists remain private unless the owner explicitly makes them public; public lists show the account name and ordered beers. Beer popularity uses only a distinct-account aggregate count.
When you ask the beer finder to surprise you, an encrypted first-party cookie remembers the last 12 suggested beer IDs for up to 30 days. It prevents repetitive suggestions and stores neither search words nor a visitor identity.
Security logs, session cookies, upload files and authentication state are kept only as needed to operate and protect the service. Wholesale pricing and private contact details remain outside public pages.
Ask what is held about your account, request a correction or discuss deletion by contacting the editor. Some records may be retained where needed for security, legal obligations or event-history integrity.
Email editor@craftbeer.co.za with a privacy or account question.