New Rating System +/-

Not sure if others have commented on this, but when I try to rate a beer with a "precise" rating, the system will usually take the first digit I enter and save it quickly before I enter the full decimal, and the rest of my rating will often not be included on my first try.

For example, I'll click precise and begin to enter 4.6, and it will save after I enter 4 and then I will type .6 after and then check my ratings and I'll see it saved the beer as a 4. I can often correct this, but wonder if some people won't notice and therefore have a different rating inputted than they intended. Perhaps if the field would not save until enter or 'review' is pushed?

 

I agree and have noticed this before. At the same time, I usually write a review so it all ends up getting updated at the end when I submit the full review, but I can see how it might be an issue for the raters who don't write reviews.

 

Still reviewing to what I've been taught by all of the veterans, just wondering if I'm the last of the rookies. To the beer reviewing veterans: (ASTMO), I will do my best to keep it going in where I live. Feel free to any of the vets to pass on any knowledge to me I might need to keep the ASTMO thing going in the best way that I can. I'm young in beer knowledge but have a voice for the PNW.

 

There are a lot of people who have been around for a while and never adopted that style to begin with and others who used it as a starting platform to help brainstorm their thoughts, and now write in paragraph form with transitions instead of defined separations between ASTMO. Whatever method or writing style that helps you appreciate the beer and elevates your ability to convey your point is what I recommend. At this point in time I am just happy to see a review with some sort of formulated thought...

 

Well, I try. That's the least I can do - it's mostly just observations since I feel like I've got a lot to learn about beer. I feel like I know some stuff but there's still so much that I don't know. I take your words as a compliment but please understand that I'll never be the best beer judge.

 

Is anyone really a great judge----we all have preferences and personal opinions and favorites. I tend to watch people with the same tastes as mine, strong, dark, and rich barley wines, stouts, porters, ect. There is always personal interpretation. I liked the ASTMO system because I could rate it and then define in paragraph form what I liked about it dealing with the nuances.

We all have a lot to learn from the veterans as well as the owners of the site who have had quite a few good brew. Does someone know EVERYTHING? Hardly! I met a feller who now works at the Party Source in Ky who claimed to have had everything....named 10 real quick ones he never had or seen before. Last time I was in there he was trying to convince someone else the same gibberish who kept responding exacerbated "I haven't had everything, why do you think you have?" Thus the reason a record is important, memories fade and a braggadocios attitude becomes quite unpalatable.

Beeradvocate is the best site I have found to record and research good beer. Nobody else comes close. Just fact. They are attentive and passionate about good beer and their reviewers and it shows. A good place to stay.

By the way, Alaska may be the end of the world to many, but you are so close to one of the greats---Alaskan Brewing company.....I ENVY YOU!

Cheers!

 

Good point, but at least for me I just wanna be better at this "reviewing" sort of thing and sometimes I feel like I say stupid things in my reviews due to lack of beer knowledge. Sometimes I'll read reviews of some who have been on here a while and think to myself, holy crap how could I ever sound that good. Some of the characteristics that they can pick up is just amazing at least to me. And then I go to write something about the beer I had and then ...maybe blank out. I realize I need a little confidence sometimes but I also want to sound like I know what I'm talking about.

I understand yes there are going to be those people that get a little big headed with certain beers and end up getting some attitude. I hope that never happens to me.

I agree with you Beer Advocate is the best site for the same reason. The Bros were the first and we're here only to assist. For now, I'll pick my torch and keep running the race.

Thanks about Alaskan. Yeah, they've been known to make some good beers. But I hear wonderful things about Great Lakes, Columbus, Jackie O's, and Hoppin' Frog breweries/brewpubs.

 

It's pretty easy; you just write down what you smell or taste. Don't write down what you don't smell or taste. Write down what is familiar to you and ignore what is not. If you don't know what a prune tastes like don't mention prunes. If you are sure that something tastes a certain way don't be swayed against it. Ignore flavor and aroma characters that you read on the label, a website, or another review, and trust your instinct. Don't feel like you have to pick up an aroma or flavor to be justified. No chocolate flavor in this chocolate beer? Write it. Ignore rDev and don't be afraid to slam or praise something to extremes if you feel it deserves it; you might be helping somebody out by being honest. Experiment with foods and drinks you haven't had because it increases your palate repertoire. Give a beer some time and don't be quick to write a review.

 

Just read through some of your reviews and they are "good enough for the women I know!"....which is just one and she loves the same stuff I like. Seriously though, your reviews are what you taste and know, and from what I have seen spot on for the ones I have had. That said, there are some who taste things that almost makes one wonder if they are more into the intricacies of language and flowery prose than the actual thing in front of them...rose petal water with light ginger blah blah woof woof......whatever. I prefer the KISS principle...keep it simple stupid. Some things can hit you and you can expound on greatly, while other things are just monikers to indulge those who perhaps live in the bubble known as college....no offense to anyone by the way. Keeping ones head level and adding good thought to a good review is what makes this such a great site, yours included just like the bro's reviews. Good and simple. A head as big as an overly carbonated ale is not possible when you keep it simple.

The beauty of the time in which we live is that there are SO MANY brews to try and review it is mind boggling. Yeah, love hoppin' frog and am getting into Jackie O's as well, but what you have there...well....the grass is...you know.

Keep on keepin' on! Cheers!

 

Yeah I mean this is not intelligent, to say the least. That's why we have "Hads," no? If you're going to write a full review, why would you take away that option. Sometimes a beer is great in smell and taste and horrible in mouthfeel, or horrible smelling but tastes great (just drank one this weekend like this). Doesn't make sense.

 

I feel like beeradvocate has "undistiguished" itself from sites like ratebeer.com and untapped. I know many users had moved away from full reviews in favor of the simple ratings system.....I devalued their input appropriately. A rating is only as good as the reasoning behind it. In addition, the fact that the full review box is still on the same screen as the beer's page, I feel like even more bias is introduced as you can see the score when you are rating the beer. I'm sure I will get used to the new system, but I think I will always like the old system better. I liked the focused rating on each aspect of the beer that got averaged in with the overall rating. Just my two cents.

 

Ooops! I read all but the last update before posting. See what happens when you change something people are passionate about, even if it is with the best intentions. We get too upset to fully understand the changes before we respond. My bad.

 

"good enough for the women I know!".... haha, I dig it, . Thank you for the teasing, I don't mind so much.

I appreciate it a lot, thank you. I want to be better and am willing to listen to those who know how to say things better. Cheers.
Steve.

 

Okay, fair enough, I can dig this and go with taking my time a bit more. I think when I first joined, I wanted to tick for the beers that I did have before I joined and just quickly ticked them once I joined. Now, I'm realizing that was pretty stupid as I'm thinking I didn't exactly do the beer its full justice. I recently deleted a whole lot of ticks and am trying to go back and re-drink what I can to write down thoughts. Some ticks are left to remind me - go back and say something about it. I will get there and thank you, I'll trust my instinct and those who have helped me out on this website. Thanks for helping a rookie, I appreciate it.
Cheers.
Steve.

 

I'm no great reviewer, and I know this isn't quite what you mean, but DO write down what you DON'T smell or taste. If you expect something given style conventions but it isn't present, that's important information.

It goes back to Newton's quote about eliminating the wrong ways to do something, only we have to factor in that Newton wasn't really doing anything, and it was actually Tesla...

 

The best way to say things is with your own opinion---it is never a bad thing to look back at your mentors or idols---just don't stare (borrowed from Mark Lemhouse by the way, great musician if you like blues).

A monstrous vocabulary does not make one a great reviewer....it is what is in front of you and your opinion that matters. Others opinions mean little if it does not reflect what is obviously in front of you. Believe me, your doing fine.....wish I would of started doing this about 10 years ago or so. Thing is, the variety today is just mind numbing compared to 10 years ago, although there were a lot back then I wish I could of had again.

Cheers!

 

so... like... what's the status now? no offense intended, but i just want to make sure inertia doesn't start building up...