Privacy Policy

Welcome to Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide ("we," "us," "our," or the "Site"). This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you visit our website at https://bestamericancraftbreweries.com.

By using this Site, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you have questions about our data practices, please contact us.

1. Information We Collect

We collect different types of information when you visit and interact with our Site:

A. Personal Information You Provide

When you voluntarily interact with our Site through forms or correspondence, we may collect:

• Contact Form Submissions: Name, email address, subject, and message content when you use our contact form
• Email Correspondence: Any information you choose to include when emailing us directly
• Newsletter Subscriptions: Email address if you opt in to receive updates (if applicable)

B. Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our Site, certain information is automatically collected through cookies and similar technologies:

• Usage Data: Pages viewed, time spent on pages, links clicked, referring websites
• Device Information: Device type, operating system, browser type and version, screen resolution
• Location Data: Approximate geographic location based on IP address (country/city level)
• Log Data: IP address, access times, error logs

C. Information from Third Parties

We may receive information from third-party services integrated into our Site, such as:

• Google Analytics: Anonymized visitor behavior and demographics
• Google AdSense: Advertising interaction data
• Social Media Platforms: If you interact with us through social media channels

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

Primary Uses:

• Respond to Inquiries: Answer questions about brewery recommendations, trip planning, or other topics
• Improve User Experience: Analyze site usage to enhance content quality and navigation
• Content Development: Understand visitor interests to create relevant guides and blog articles
• Site Optimization: Identify and fix technical issues, improve load times and mobile responsiveness
• Security: Detect and prevent fraud, spam, or malicious activity

Analytics & Marketing:

• Traffic Analysis: Measure which brewery regions (California, Pennsylvania, etc.) are most popular
• Content Performance: Evaluate which guides are most helpful to visitors
• Ad Revenue Optimization: Display contextually relevant advertisements through Google AdSense

Legal Compliance:

• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Respond to legal requests and prevent illegal activity
• Enforce our Terms of Use and protect our rights

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience and analyze site performance.

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your web browser. They help websites remember your preferences and understand how you interact with the site.

Types of Cookies We Use:

Managing Cookies:

You can control cookies through your browser settings:

• Chrome: Settings → Privacy and Security → Cookies and other site data
• Firefox: Settings → Privacy & Security → Cookies and Site Data
• Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Manage Website Data
• Edge: Settings → Cookies and site permissions

4. Third-Party Services

Our Site integrates several third-party services that may collect your information:

Google Analytics

• Purpose: Website traffic analysis and user behavior insights
• Data Collected: Anonymized usage data, demographics, interests
• Privacy Policy: Google Privacy Policy
• Opt-Out: Install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on

Google AdSense

• Purpose: Display contextual advertisements to support site operations
• Data Collected: Cookies, device information, browsing behavior for ad personalization
• Privacy Policy: Google Advertising Privacy
• Opt-Out: Manage preferences at Google Ad Settings

Formspree (Contact Form Processing)

• Purpose: Securely process and deliver contact form submissions
• Data Collected: Name, email, message content
• Privacy Policy: Formspree Privacy Policy

Social Media Integration

Links to our social media profiles (LinkedIn, Instagram) may allow these platforms to collect information about your visit. Review their respective privacy policies:

• LinkedIn Privacy Policy
• Instagram Privacy Policy

5. How We Share Your Information

We May Share Information In These Limited Circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party services (Google Analytics, Formspree, hosting providers) that help us operate the Site. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your data.
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or government request, or to protect our legal rights and safety.
• Business Transfers: If we undergo a merger, acquisition, or asset sale, your information may be transferred to the new entity (you will be notified).
• Aggregated Data: We may share anonymized, aggregated statistics (e.g., "50% of visitors are interested in California breweries") that cannot identify you.
• With Your Consent: In any other situation with your explicit permission.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical, administrative, and physical security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Our Security Measures Include:

• HTTPS Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using SSL/TLS
• Secure Hosting: Our website is hosted on secure, reputable platforms with robust security protocols
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Regular Updates: Software and security patches are applied promptly
• Third-Party Vetting: We work only with trusted service providers who maintain security standards

7. Your Privacy Rights (GDPR & CCPA)

Depending on your location, you may have specific privacy rights under data protection laws such as the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

For EU/EEA Residents (GDPR Rights):

• Right to Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
• Right to Rectification: Correct inaccurate or incomplete personal data
• Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): Request deletion of your personal data in certain circumstances
• Right to Restrict Processing: Limit how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests or for direct marketing
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw previously given consent at any time
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority

For California Residents (CCPA Rights):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of categories and specific pieces of personal information collected
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to exceptions)
• Right to Opt-Out of Sale: We do not sell personal information, so this right is not applicable
• Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights

How to Exercise Your Rights:

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us with your request. We will respond within the legally required timeframe (typically 30 days for GDPR, 45 days for CCPA).

When making a request, please provide sufficient information to verify your identity and specify which right(s) you wish to exercise.

8. Children's Privacy

Our Site is not directed to children under the age of 13 (or 16 in the EU). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

While our content about family-friendly breweries may be useful for parents planning trips, we do not specifically target or collect data from minors.

If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete that information.

9. International Data Transfers

Our Site is operated in the United States. If you are accessing the Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

These countries may have data protection laws different from those in your country. By using our Site, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States and other countries.

For EU/EEA visitors, we rely on appropriate legal mechanisms (such as Standard Contractual Clauses) when transferring personal data internationally.

10. Data Retention

We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law.

Retention Periods:

• Contact Form Submissions: Retained for up to 2 years or until you request deletion
• Analytics Data: Google Analytics data is automatically deleted after 26 months
• Email Correspondence: Retained as long as necessary for business purposes or legal requirements
• Cookies: Expire based on type (session cookies expire when you close your browser; persistent cookies have set expiration dates)

After the retention period, we will securely delete or anonymize your personal information.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technologies, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make significant changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
• Notify you by posting a prominent notice on our homepage (for material changes)
• Seek your consent if required by applicable law

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

12. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please don't hesitate to reach out.

For GDPR or CCPA-specific requests, please clearly state which rights you wish to exercise and provide information to verify your identity.