Affiliate Disclosure
How we earn revenue, in plain language. Transparency matters.
Phantom Ales is committed to transparency about how we earn revenue. This page explains how affiliate links and advertising work on our site.
What are affiliate links?
Some links on phantomales.com are affiliate links. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase from the linked merchant, we may receive a small commission — at no additional cost to you. The price you pay is the same whether you use our link or not.
Which links are affiliate links?
Affiliate links on our site include, but are not limited to:
- Links to purchase products directly from producers (where those producers offer affiliate programs)
- Links to retailers, bottle shops, and craft beverage marketplaces
- Links to subscription services (beer clubs, wine clubs, etc.)
- Links to travel and booking services for brewery/winery visits
- Links to related products (glassware, books, equipment)
Not every outbound link is an affiliate link. Links to news articles, social media profiles, and producer websites themselves are generally not affiliate links.
How this affects our editorial content
Affiliate relationships do not influence our editorial coverage. Decisions about which producers to feature, how to cover industry news, and what to recommend are made independently of commission potential.
We cover producers, products, and events based on merit and relevance to our audience — not based on which ones pay the highest commission. If a producer we cover doesn't have an affiliate program, we still cover them.
Third-party advertising
In addition to affiliate links, we display third-party advertising on the Site, including advertising served through Google AdSense. These ads are selected automatically based on page content and visitor information. We do not directly control which ads appear.
We don't accept direct paid placement for editorial content. If we ever publish sponsored content, it will be clearly labeled as such.
Amazon Associates disclosure
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This applies to any links on the Site that direct to Amazon.com and other Amazon properties.
Why we use affiliate links
Running an independent craft beverage discovery platform takes time and money. Affiliate links help us:
- Cover hosting, development, and operational costs
- Produce original editorial content
- Maintain and expand our producer database
- Keep the Site free to use with no paywall
We're transparent about this because we think it matters. When you click an affiliate link and make a purchase, you're supporting independent coverage of craft beverage. Thank you.
FTC compliance
This disclosure is made in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's guidelines on endorsements and testimonials. In plain terms: you should assume that any outbound commercial link on this site may be an affiliate link, and that we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through it.
Questions?
Have questions about our affiliate relationships or editorial standards? Contact us at contact@phantomales.com or through our contact page.