Terms of Use

Legal Agreement for Website Use

Please read these terms carefully before accessing or using our brewery tour guide and travel resources

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Terms of Use Agreement

Effective Date: January 1, 2010
Last Updated: January 15, 2025

Welcome to Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide (the "Site"). These Terms of Use ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you (the "User" or "you") and Michael Thompson, operator of this Site ("we," "us," or "our").

By accessing, browsing, or using https://bestamericancraftbreweries.com, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, as well as our Privacy Policy and Disclosure Policy.

Important Notice

If you do not agree to these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of this Site. Your continued use constitutes acceptance of any modifications to these Terms.

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using any part of this Site—including browsing brewery listings, reading travel guides, using our contact form, or clicking on any links—you agree to comply with and be legally bound by these Terms in their entirety.

These Terms apply to all visitors, users, and others who access or use the Site, including but not limited to:

  • Casual browsers seeking brewery recommendations
  • Travelers planning brewery tours using our planning resources
  • Industry professionals researching craft beer tourism
  • Media members accessing content for reference

If you are using the Site on behalf of an organization, you represent and warrant that you have authority to bind that organization to these Terms.

2. User Eligibility

This Site is intended for users who are at least 21 years of age (the legal drinking age in the United States) or the legal drinking age in their jurisdiction, whichever is higher.

Age Requirements:

  • Primary Content: Information about breweries that serve alcohol requires users to be of legal drinking age
  • Educational Content: General travel guides, historical information, and family-friendly brewery information may be accessed by parents and guardians planning trips with minors
  • Parental Supervision: If you are under 21, you may only use this Site with parental or guardian supervision for legitimate educational or trip-planning purposes

By using this Site, you represent and warrant that you meet the age requirements and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

3. Acceptable Use Policy

You agree to use the Site only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these Terms.

Prohibited Activities:

You agree NOT to:

  • Violate Laws: Use the Site for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any local, state, national, or international law or regulation
  • Infringe Rights: Infringe or violate the intellectual property rights, privacy rights, or other rights of any third party
  • Unauthorized Access: Attempt to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Site, computer systems, or networks connected to the Site through hacking, password mining, or any other means
  • Automated Extraction: Use robots, spiders, scrapers, or other automated means to access the Site or extract content without our express written permission
  • Malicious Code: Upload, transmit, or distribute any viruses, malware, or other malicious code
  • Interference: Interfere with or disrupt the Site's operation, servers, or networks, or disobey any requirements or procedures
  • Harassment: Harass, abuse, intimidate, or harm another person or entity
  • False Information: Provide false, misleading, or fraudulent information through contact forms or other submissions
  • Commercial Exploitation: Use the Site's content for unauthorized commercial purposes without proper licensing

We reserve the right to terminate or restrict your access to the Site if we determine, in our sole discretion, that you have violated these prohibited activities.

4. Intellectual Property Rights

All content, materials, and intellectual property on this Site—including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, images, photographs, videos, software, data compilations, and the compilation thereof—are the exclusive property of Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide or its content suppliers and are protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

Our Intellectual Property Includes:

  • Original Written Content: All brewery guides, articles, and travel recommendations written by Michael Thompson
  • Photographs & Images: Original photography from brewery visits
  • Site Design: Website layout, design elements, and user interface
  • Compilations: Curated brewery lists, rankings, and regional guides
  • Trademarks: "Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide" name and associated branding

Limited License for Personal Use:

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:

  • Access and view the Site for personal, non-commercial purposes
  • Print or download individual pages for personal trip planning
  • Share links to specific pages via social media or email

Restrictions on Use:

You may NOT:

  • Copy, reproduce, republish, or redistribute Site content for commercial purposes
  • Modify, create derivative works, or reverse engineer any Site content
  • Remove copyright notices, attributions, or proprietary markings
  • Use Site content in any way that competes with our business
  • Frame or embed Site content on other websites without permission

Commercial Use & Licensing

For permissions regarding commercial use, content licensing, or media requests, please contact us for written authorization.

5. User-Generated Content & Submissions

The Site may allow you to submit information, questions, or feedback through our contact form or via email correspondence ("User Content").

Your Responsibilities:

By submitting User Content, you represent and warrant that:

  • You own or have the necessary rights to submit the content
  • The content is accurate and not misleading
  • The content does not violate any third-party rights
  • The content does not contain unlawful, harmful, or offensive material

License to Use Submissions:

By submitting User Content, you grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable license to:

  • Use, reproduce, and display your submission solely for the purpose of responding to your inquiry
  • Feature anonymized feedback or testimonials (with personally identifiable information removed)
  • Aggregate data from submissions for site improvement purposes

You retain ownership of any content you submit. We will handle your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

No Obligation to Use:

We have no obligation to monitor, edit, or publish User Content. We reserve the right to remove any content at our sole discretion.

6. Disclaimers & No Warranties

⚠️ Important Legal Disclaimer

THE SITE AND ALL CONTENT ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.

No Warranty Regarding:

  • Accuracy: While we strive for accuracy, brewery information (hours, prices, tour availability, accessibility) may change without notice. Always verify details directly with breweries before visiting.
  • Completeness: The Site may not include every brewery or contain all relevant information for your specific needs
  • Suitability: Information may not be suitable for your particular travel circumstances, preferences, or requirements
  • Uninterrupted Access: The Site may experience downtime, errors, or technical issues
  • Security: Although we implement security measures, we cannot guarantee absolute security of data transmission

Disclaimer of Specific Warranties:

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:

  • Warranties of merchantability
  • Warranties of fitness for a particular purpose
  • Warranties of non-infringement
  • Warranties arising from course of dealing or usage of trade

Not Professional Advice:

The information on this Site is for general informational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute:

  • Professional travel consulting or trip planning services
  • Medical, health, or safety advice
  • Legal advice regarding alcohol consumption laws
  • Financial advice or recommendations

You acknowledge that any reliance on Site content is at your own risk. You should exercise your own judgment and conduct independent research before making travel decisions.

Responsible Drinking Reminder:

While we provide information about breweries that serve alcohol, we strongly encourage responsible drinking practices. Always arrange for designated drivers, use ride-sharing services, or plan overnight accommodations when visiting breweries.

7. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL ULTIMATE AMERICAN BREWERY TOUR GUIDE, ITS OWNER MICHAEL THOMPSON, OR ANY AFFILIATES BE LIABLE FOR:

  • Indirect Damages: Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
  • Lost Profits: Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
  • Personal Injury: Personal injury or property damage arising from your use of the Site or visits to recommended breweries
  • Travel Issues: Travel delays, cancellations, poor experiences, or safety incidents at breweries
  • Third-Party Actions: Actions or omissions of third-party breweries, tour operators, or service providers
  • Technical Issues: Errors, omissions, interruptions, defects, delays in operation, or transmission

This limitation applies whether the alleged liability is based on contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or any other basis, even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.

Maximum Liability Cap:

In jurisdictions that do not allow the exclusion or limitation of liability for consequential or incidental damages, our total liability to you for any damages shall not exceed $100 USD or the amount you paid to access the Site (whichever is less).

Basis of the Bargain:

You acknowledge that the Site is provided free of charge and that these limitations of liability reflect a reasonable allocation of risk and are fundamental elements of the basis of the bargain between you and us.

8. Indemnification

You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide, Michael Thompson, and any affiliates, employees, contractors, and licensors from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, or debt, and expenses (including attorney's fees) arising from:

  • Your use of or access to the Site
  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights
  • Any User Content you submit or transmit through the Site
  • Your violation of any applicable laws or regulations

This indemnification obligation will survive termination of these Terms and your use of the Site.

9. Third-Party Links & Services

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources, including:

  • Official brewery websites for Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, and other featured breweries
  • Hotel booking platforms and accommodation services
  • Transportation and ride-sharing services
  • Tour booking platforms
  • Social media platforms

No Endorsement or Control:

These links are provided for your convenience only. We do not:

  • Control, endorse, or assume responsibility for third-party content or services
  • Guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of third-party information
  • Monitor or verify third-party websites
  • Assume liability for any damages or losses resulting from third-party interactions

Your use of third-party websites is at your own risk and subject to the terms and privacy policies of those third parties. We encourage you to review their policies before engaging with their services.

Affiliate Relationships:

Some links may be affiliate links, as disclosed in our Disclosure Policy. This does not affect the price you pay or our editorial independence.

10. Termination of Access

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to:

  • Terminate or suspend your access to the Site, in whole or in part
  • Remove or disable any content or User submissions
  • Take appropriate legal action for any violation of these Terms

Grounds for Termination:

We may terminate access for any reason, including but not limited to:

  • Violation of these Terms or applicable laws
  • Fraudulent, harassing, or abusive behavior
  • Unauthorized commercial use of Site content
  • Automated scraping or data extraction
  • Any activity that threatens Site security or operation

Effect of Termination:

Upon termination, your right to use the Site will immediately cease. All provisions of these Terms that by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including but not limited to intellectual property provisions, disclaimers, indemnification, and limitations of liability.

11. Governing Law & Jurisdiction

These Terms and your use of the Site shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and the State of [Your State], without regard to its conflict of law principles.

Exclusive Jurisdiction:

You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Site shall be instituted exclusively in the federal or state courts located in [Your County], [Your State].

You waive any objection to the exercise of jurisdiction over you by such courts and to venue in such courts.

12. Dispute Resolution

Informal Resolution:

Before initiating any formal legal proceedings, you agree to first attempt to resolve any dispute informally by contacting us directly. We will make good-faith efforts to resolve disputes amicably.

Time Limitation on Claims:

You agree that any claim arising out of or related to these Terms or the Site must be filed within one (1) year after the cause of action arose. Otherwise, the claim is permanently barred.

Class Action Waiver:

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action.

13. Modifications to Terms

We reserve the right to modify, amend, or update these Terms at any time, at our sole discretion. Changes may be necessary due to:

  • Changes in applicable laws or regulations
  • New Site features or functionality
  • Security or technical considerations
  • Business model adjustments

Notification of Changes:

When we make material changes to these Terms:

  • We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
  • We may post a prominent notice on our homepage
  • For significant changes, we may notify registered users via email (if applicable)

Acceptance of Modified Terms:

Your continued use of the Site after the effective date of modified Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must discontinue use of the Site.

We encourage you to review these Terms periodically to stay informed of any updates.

14. Entire Agreement & Severability

Entire Agreement:

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and Disclosure Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide regarding the use of the Site and supersede all prior or contemporaneous understandings and agreements.

Severability:

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect. The invalid provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

Waiver:

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. No waiver by us of any term or condition shall be deemed a further or continuing waiver of such term or any other term.

Assignment:

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign our rights and obligations under these Terms without restriction.

15. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms of Use, please contact us:

Legal & Terms Inquiries

Email: [email protected]

Contact Form: Submit an inquiry

Subject Line: Please include "Terms of Use Inquiry" for faster routing

For general questions about brewery recommendations or trip planning, please visit our main contact page.

Thank You for Using Our Service

By using Ultimate American Brewery Tour Guide, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Use. We appreciate your compliance and hope you enjoy exploring America's incredible craft brewery scene with our guidance.