Beer Lovers: This Company Will Pay You to Try New Breweries

The internet may not have lived up to the utopian expectations foisted on it in the early '90s -- unless we can all agree cat videos have made us kinder, more globally minded people -- but it has recently made some beer lovers very, very happy.

Secret Hopper, a mystery shopping service, connects people who drink beer with breweries that want to maximize the beer-drinking experience. If you are selected, Secret Hopper will send you to breweries in your area, ask you to order beers, and pick up the tab so long as you rate your experience.

Yes -- this is literally a company that pays you to drink beer. You might not get rich, but the experience will at least pay for itself.

How does Secret Hopper work?

Secret Hopper is a mystery shopping service focused on improving taproom experiences for breweries that have joined its network. The company collects data from surveys and questionnaires, then works with breweries to make the beer drinking experience more pleasurable.

To do this, Secret Hopper needs undercover beer drinkers -- aka, you -- to evaluate how the brewery feels on an ordinary day. To be clear, you're not judging the brewery based on its beer. Rather, you're evaluating the taproom experience: the friendliness of the bartenders, the bar's ambiance, the smell of hops in the air...

After your brewery visit, you'll fill out a questionnaire, and Secret Hopper will then pay you via PayPal.

How do you join Secret Hopper?

To join, hop over to the company's website and fill out an application. If Secret Hopper decides you're the right fit, it will send you assignments in your area when they are available.

Secret Hopper is very selective about who it sends to breweries. If you want to increase your chances of being chosen for a "secret hop," the company advises you to put your best effort into the written responses on the application. Since the company relies on written data in its questionnaires, these responses can show Secret Hopper you have what it's looking for.

The company limits you to two beers per taproom experience, so you should be a responsible drinker and -- obviously -- over 21. After you submit your experience, you might also need to make time later for questions and clarifications.

How much can you make?

Your compensation will depend on the complexity of your assignment and will typically be stated upfront before you visit a brewery. Often, Secret Hopper will compensate you for at least the price of the beers it asked you to order, plus a little extra. This could be roughly $20 to $30, sometimes more.

If your bill is more than what Secret Hopper's upfront compensation, you'll have to pay the difference.

Keep in mind, you won't be an employee for the company, but rather an independent contractor. As such, Secret Hopper won't withhold taxes from your pay. Be sure you understand the tax implications of contracting, as you might be on the hook for paying taxes on what you earn.

How can you earn more from drinking beer?

Secret Hopper will likely compensate you for two beers, which could cost roughly $20 to $30. If you want to earn a little extra, charge those beers to a cash back credit card designed for restaurants and dining out. These cards earn between 2% and 4% at breweries and give you a little bump on a beer tab covered by Secret Hopper.