Who Reads Reviews?

I feel the numbers are a part of the review. You read the numbers, so you read part of the review, but what do I know...not much.

 

When I see a new IPA or a stout that gets 90 or more I am usually confident enough to buy a six pack.

I am a numbers guy, and it would take me forever to put my thoughts about a beer into words. Cheers!

 

I was "trained" in the fine art (lifestyle?) of beergekery back in the 1980s* while still a whippersnapper-of-a beer can collector, before I even started homebrewing. So it was sight and sensory note-taking and description writing straightaway for me, all of which became more critical as I got into homebrewing in the 1990s. It's a tough habit to break!

I do also read reviews, and in the very early Oughts, there were some fun reviews -and reviewers!- to read hereabouts. Most of those oldtime users are no longer active on these forums, but their reviews are worth seeking out for an entertaining and often even somewhat educational change of pace.


*Beer Judge Certification Program was around then, right?

 

But you just put your thoughts about reviews into words in a succinct way, try that with a review!

 

I couldn't agree more. At one point you had to type a certain number of words for your review to be submitted. Now all there are are basically reviews with no comments. It's just the dumbification and lazyification of society (to make up two words). Why take a minute or two noting some characteristics of the beer you are rating when you can hammer in a rating/review in 5 seconds instead..what good are those? All these ratings sites are going this way to appease that lazy, thoughtless group and I am not happy with that direction being taken..

 

For every beer I drink.

 

I sure do read those reviews OP. I am impressed by well written reviews and how many things people can taste or smell in some of these beers. Sometimes I read reviews just for amusement sake even.
I try to write them and be specific and objective. I've taken to (much to everyone else's annoyance) bringing a little notebook with me when I think I might have a beer somewhere just in case.

...
Then again I have a spread sheet of beers I've tried with my spouse, our respective ratings, BA's rating, IBUs, ABV, cost and where we got it.

 

Mostly the previous half dozen reviews or so, especially if it's a rotating , limited, or seasonal. I also look for the really low and really high reviews, just to get a feel for what ticked [people off, and what blew them away. Sometimes after having the beer, if I'm struggling with a particular nuance, flavor, etc, I'll check reviews again for some help.

 

Amen.

 

I love reading reviews and wish I could review in a timely fashion. 2 problems, I don't write so good and lack the confidence in articulating my thoughts for beer. Thank you @UCLABrewN84 and @RaulMondesi for some reason I always read your reviews, one for great description and subtle nuances and the other for the poetry of our times...may i one day dig a beer as much as the Kardashians dig NBAers.

 

Yes, I do read the reviews. Primarily for beers I have, or am drinking. The reviews help me to fine tune my pallet, and better understand what I am experiencing. There is of course no substitute for my personal opinions or experience.

Also, the reviews can be helpful when considering a purchase, because, as others have noted, after some time, one notices a tendency for personal preferences to follow certain reviewers. There is no substitute for the spontaneous discovery, so it is important to just wing it from time to time too.

 

Thanks, playa. I'm nothing without my peeps.

And I would also like to give a shout out to @UCLABrewN84 ; whenever I really want a precise beer review, I know where to go. ...It's also nice that we are in the same beer distribution area so I can get a detailed look at the smaller release, local stuff.

 

Well mr numbers guy, maybe you's like to tell me something about this "world class stout" http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/20680/116702/

 

Yes I read reviews after I try a beer. I like to see what others take on a beer is by seeing what they pick up on.. Used to read them before I would buy a beer, but now I wait to look at reviews until after I have tried a beer. I like to go into a beer completely unbiased. Looking at scores as led me astray before.

 

I usually will check reviews when i am clueless at what beer it is. Just to get an idea. Ratings are something I somewhat take into consideration, but not always. Everyone's palate has a taste all it's own, so to really judge a beer based on everyone else's opinion, isn't the same as trying it yourself

 

I am mostly in this camp. I buy a lot of mixed six packs, and therefore the risk of getting something truly heinous is pretty small. I will take my notes, form my own opinions, then scan the reviews to see what others think. I just ignore the overly sensational material.

The hads...I have started using them since we have been doing tastings and such where I can form a general idea of whether I like a beer or not, but not consumed enough to write a full review. Some tastings are more than generous, some not so much. In store itty bitty pill cups? No, that is barely enough to drive a purchase decision. But a three ounce pour or a five ounce pour where I can do more than wet the tip of my tongue, yeah. I am usually not too far off the average when I just use the numbers, but have been mystified a couple times. For me, I do put thought into marking that number score simply because I think I should.

Bottom line, I don't read the reviews to guide selection. I read them afterwards out of curiosity and the possibility I might learn something.

 

Yep, me too. Don't care too much about the number, love the reviews.

 

I read them pretty much for every beer that I taste. I write mine up first and then read the rest of them. I don't look at scores, just actual reviews.

 

Yes, I find it helpful in identifying flavors and I like to hear what people think of a brew.