Dowser

Dowser iPhone Screens

Dowser is no longer available in the App Store. There were issues with maintaining the accuracy of the store data, and it was the one and only app on my Apple developer account, which costs $100+ a year. Paying the fee to keep alive a free app with stale data seemed a bit absurd.

Dowser for iPhone shows you where you can buy booze in Ontario (LCBO, The Beer Store, Grocery Stores) and Quebec (SAQ). One app for two provinces. Oh, and it's free.

OVER 2500 STORES
  • LCBO (+LCBO Agencies in rural areas)
  • Beer Store
  • Grocery Stores
  • Craft Beer Brewers (some locations in Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa)
  • SAQ (+SAQ Agencies in rural areas)
FEATURES
  • Fast: Built-in database provides speedy results
  • Up-to-Date Opening Hours: Store details for LCBOs, Beer Stores, and SAQs are automatically updated, without the need for an app update
  • Filter by Store: Control which kinds of stores to search for
  • See what stores are open at the tap of a button
  • Store Details: Complete store hours, phone number, address
  • Closing Time Alerts: Use the “Last Call” option to set notifications and never miss a closing time again
  • Holiday Hours: Dowser does its best to provide accurate holiday hours

Dowser is not associated with the LCBO, The Beer Store, the SAQ, or any Ontario grocery stores or craft beer brewers.

Acknowledgments

Dowser initially came to life in the fall of 2013, as an internal company project when I was working at Plank. It would not have technically been possible, or have had a slick aesthetic (in my opinion!), without contributions from Patrick McFern and GW Brazier, respectively. And their work was made possible by Plank owner Warren Wilansky, who gave the green light for project hours.

Dowser used lcboapi.com for its LCBO data.

Readings

What? Readings? About an app? Well, just one. An origin story and cautionary tale, called “The Woman Who Bought Dowser”.

Privacy Policy

The only information Dowser collects and uses about you is your location, for the sole purpose of showing you stores near you. It uses the built-in location services that come with Apple iOS.

Version History

Final Version: 3.3.2 — September 2019

Minor updates to the info page.

Previous Versions