The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, the Destination Marketing Organization for Montgomery County has refreshed the Montco Makers Passport, a free, gamified program that aims to support local craft beverage producers.

Beginning November 1, 2024, the updated pass will be available for download.

In partnership with Bandwango, Montco Makers showcases the area’s breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Montgomery County ranks second in most breweries in Pennsylvania (behind Allegheny), and the board is enhancing visitor experiences through the pass.

With 18 local businesses participating, it showcases the county in an easy, mobile-friendly way. The new passport is a program that residents and visitors can easily sign up for.

To further promote the local craft beverage scene in Montgomery County, the VFTCB partnered with Eagles player D’Andre Swift on several video content pieces. Video content was shot at Bald Birds Brewing, located in Audubon, with owner Abby Feerrar. Bald Birds Brewing is one of 18 participating locations.

The refreshed passport will be points-based, with users earning points for each Montco Makers location they check-in at. Each check-in counts as 100 points and repeat check-ins are allowed. Redeem 900 points to win a Montco Makers pint glass.

“We’re excited to continue our partnership with Bandwango and launch the new Montco Makers Passport,” said Courtney Lynch, VFTCB’s Digital Marketing Manager.

“The Passport has proven to be a successful tool when it comes to marketing Montgomery County’s growing craft beverage scene. It’s a great way for consumers to support local businesses while discovering their new favorite drink.”

To activate and redeem, users visit a dedicated mobile passport landing page on www.montcomakers.com where they can sign up for their passport by providing their name, e-mail address, and mobile phone number. A link is then sent to their mobile phone, which opens the passport and directs the user to add the button icon to their home screen, where they can access it at any time.

When visiting a participating business, users can simply ensure their location services are turned on to check in via GPS.

The Montco Makers Passport has seen almost 700 sign-ups and more than 300 check-ins since its original launch.

Merchant onboarding is still in progress. All breweries, wineries, and distilleries wishing to be a part of the Passport can click contact the VFTCB directly.

Montco Makers Passport participants include Artifact Brewing, Bald Birds Brewing Company, Five Saints Distilling, Workhorse Brewing Company, and many more.

Read more about the Montco Makers Passport and download it if you are 21 years or older at www.montcomakers.com.