How Many Perfect 5s Have You Given?

That's the way I look at it, too: how successful is the beer at what it's trying to be?

I didn't review the Andechs Doppelbock last year when I had a good chance to do it, but would give it a 5 easy. I also have Celebrator at a 5, but that's OK because they represent two different takes on the style, each one being as good as it gets.

 

I've only given one or two and I don't think that's enoigh. I rate by style and I think there is a perfect beer for each style. I don't live by the idea that there is no perfect beer.

 

Founders Dirty Bastard
Alesmith Wee Heavy
Bellhaven Scottish Ale
Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA
La Fin Du Monde
Great Lakes Christmas Ale
Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale

 

Knew the answer before checking- Zero.

Of the 400+ beers I've rated on this site, only 8 have achieved 4.5 or above..

Arbor Brewery's Artisan - Munich Malt v American Hops has my highest rating of 4.64

Perfection is in my eyes almost impossible to achieve, because it means that there will always be surprises.

 

3

Db huna
Bcbcs
Pannepot with 4 years on it.

 

Alpine Nelson? If I come across one soon, I'll send it to you.

Cheers @surfcaster

 

As good as Heady, Pliny and many other beers are I don't think I'll ever give out a 5. I think you have to leave a little room for the day something better comes along!

 

I don't write beer reviews because I wouldn't have enough time to other things because I'd probably be too deliberate in my writing, and keep editing too much. However, I visit many breweries and I write Place reviews. My own beer-scoring system allows me to score beers from sampler glasses (usually I can order a flight, but sometimes breweries don't offer one) on a scale of 0-5. I've given several 4.5 scores after drinking an estimated 3,000 beers, but never a 5.

 

DB is way too heavy for my liking. I think Lukcy Basartd blows it out of the water.

Are you in San Diego? Where do you find it?

 

I have given ONE perfect 5, and it was done sarcastically.

To be honest, there are just not that many perfect beers or bars or packies...

 

Zero out of about a thousand rated and still none I can think of out of 11,000+ actually tasted. I guess it's hard for me to think "this couldn't possibly get ANY better."

 

1 out of 506. 2011 batch of Pliny the Younger

 

Honest question: Nothing has changed with those beers since you rated them, right? What would be the reason for changing the score now?

 

Honest answer: I feel like they are the best ones that I have had in their category. to me they are incredible beers. I think that they may deserve a five. I have changed a few of my reviews after having a beer again (sometimes lower). The next time I have those two on a fresh palate, I might change their ranking to a 5. Good question, I could see where the way I first said it may seem strange.

 

Exactly. This reminds of the benchmark thread that someone posted a few days and Dogfish Head 90 minute was put down for dipas. Yes, it good/great beer but its flavor goal is completely different than that of something like FW Double Jack. However, I don't know how much weigh in the "isn't missing anything its going for" because 90 minute clearly succeeds in its goal of of making a malt heavy/ sweet fruit dipa whereas double jack succeeds in making a tropical fruit/dry dipa (at least those are my half-ass takes on the beers) and I have Double Jack ranked way higher because I prefer that style of dipa more. I definitely think its important to take into consideration the goal the brewer had in mind, but enjoying the beer is ultimately the most important aspect, for me.

But I think I get your last point, that a 5/5 are beers that have nothing more that you think could have been improved on without really changing the brewers intended goal for the beer. If so, I agree, and apologize for being long-winded.

 

I counted 1 page of 50 and stopped after that. I've had a lot of beers that nail style, flavor, creative amazingness etc. When you think, "could this beer actually be any better?" (aka- is there anything else I could possibly want out of a beer) - and answer no? Than its a 5. I think people who brew beer are more likely to appreciate how difficult it is to actually make world class, crazy beers, or at least that's what I'd like to think. There is no magical unicorn of a beer that will be your 5 someday in the future either. If you can drink something like BCS of KBS and think it should be better you should start brewing and show us better.

 

1, over 3500 I didn't. That is kind of sad, as I try to only buy beer I think I will like. Having said that anything over a 4.5 to me is close enough to perfect that it really doesn't matter...

 

None. I've given three 4.5's and that's the highest. Maybe I rate too low.

 

I have 5 but some of those are "hads" and the 4.95 in 6th place is effectively their equal.

I think "what percent of beers did you give a five" is a better question than absolute number, I've given it to 1.8% including the 4.95.