Very few things in life beat a good tailgating experience, and often times the pregame ritual can be more enjoyable than the game itself. And while the iPhone and tailgating might not seem like natural allies, that’s probably only because you don’t have the right apps — yet.
Using iPhone apps to find tailgate-approved food
A tailgate is nothing without food. That is, unless you prefer stale stadium popcorn and overpriced pizza and hot dogs.
So step one is to bring something to eat. Grocery Gadget is a grocery list utility that will help make sure even the most absent-minded of shoppers get everything they need. You can take pictures of food to make sure you get the right kind, and the app even allows multiple iPhone users to edit a single list.
When you’re ready to cook said food, there are plenty of apps you can turn to.
Weber’s On The Grill might be a little on the pricey side — $4.99 — but it’s got the goodies to back it up. In addition to holding more than 250 recipes and 100-plus grilling tips, this app also includes a grocery list, grilling times and instructional videos. It even includes 40 recipes for rubs, marinades and sauces, enough to please even the pickiest griller.
Grill Guide is a sort of lite version of the Weber app. It’s got grilling tips on how to grill more than 100 foods, and though it lacks the number of features it’s also only 99 cents.
For you steak lovers, iSteak would be a useful app to have. The app is essentially a timer that guides you when to flip different types of steaks, and of course tells you when they are done.
If you’re on a diet or you forgot the grill (more on that later), you’re going to have to turn to Barbecue and iBBQ Fire It Up. Sure, it’s just simulated grilling, but it’s better than nothing.
iPhone apps to find the beer
If food is the most important part of the tailgating experience, then beer is a close second.
Budweiser loyalists will appreciate Bud American Ale Finder. The free app not only tells you the closest locations to find Bud along with addresses and phone numbers, but it also includes a map for those out-of-town tailgating ventures.
Bar Finder: Liquor Frog Beer, Bars, Alcohol Search is similar to the Budweiser app; it’s just not exclusive to one brand. And don’t be fooled by the name — this 99-cent app will point you to the nearest liquor store as well as the nearest bar. Bar Finder also has a neat feature allows users to upload their own locations in addition to the standard search.
If neither of those apps tickles your fancy, then Beer Run is a similar app. iLocate also offers a similar service with their beer and liquor store apps.
Tailgating-specific iPhone apps
While food and beer are great, you’ve also got to provide some sort of entertainment at your tailgate party as well.
If you forget your bags (a.k.a corhole, bean bag toss, tailgate toss) your iPhone can save you. Cornhole Pro brings the game to your phone for 99 cents and has single and two-player modes.
If you downloaded Tailgating, you wouldn’t be forgetting anything. This checklist app allows you to make food and gear lists and does everything short of actually packing the tailgate necessities for you.
Tailgaters will also be interested in College GameDay. This app has maps of stadiums, parking lots and countdown to game times. If you don’t have your tickets, this app even has a feature that helps you find fans who are selling — anything to avoid the dreaded scalpers. There is also an NFL version of the app simply called GameDay.
