Bourbon County Stout: zero head, "5" for look?

According to...?

 

Ive poured a few BCBS in my day and got a nice head on all of them.

BCBS- About 1 finger.
Coffee- 1/2 finger
Vanilla- 1 finger.
Rare- 1/2 finger

Did you just have an off day on pouring? Were you distracted? We all have those days...

Cheers!

 

I think that you're coming close to the realization that beer reviewing is, at its very core, pretty arbitrary.

 

did you check a barometer before you poured? if not, you should really keep track of barometric pressure with each beer you review as it may be impacting your pours. also, were you wearing a short or long sleeve shirt? starched perhaps? how did you sleep the night before? kinked neck? been laid lately? are you stressed?

i don't know - too many loose variables here to really figure out what happened. get back to us with more data and maybe we'll be able to help you more.

 

I think sometimes people just like a beer so much they wanna give it 5's. That being said, I agree no head on a stout should make it a 3 at best (head being only one part of appearance).

I'm sure I've been guilty of giving a 5 for appearance on a beer that technically had flaws.

 

Honestly, if a beer doesn't meet your expectations for appearance then you should reflect that in your score, at least according to Beer Advocate's rating system. Keep in mind that BA's system isn't the only beer rating system out there, but since we are using it then we should be honest with our scoring. If that means giving a 3/5 for Appearance for an otherwise perfect beer, then so be it.

 

I gave Heady Topper a 5. To each his own. I could do without the floaties, but the color of that beer looks like a beautiful sunset or some awesome nectar. The head is important, but there are other things that are important too. Also, knowing that it's only 5% of the score it's not super important.

 

Didn't this breakdown used to be 20/20/40/10/10?

 

D this is so simple, if a person gives a low mark for sour taste in Berliner Weisse style, or uses the over the top taste of hops to lowball a IIPA, I am sure you would see a problem, no?

The best Imperial Stouts look like motor oil and are just this side of still (or they probably are too carbonated).

Of course this is my opinion, and strictly speaking you cannot rate poorly a 14% uninfected stout with heavy lace and large, lasting head (the kind you submit as the perfect example), and there is no requirement a big stout have very low carb.

Just understand that ones of that kind, huge thickness, oily alcohol legs, almost still, appearance of 10W40 in need of a change, are 4.5 or 5 in appearance for style in many minds, myself included

 

I've given the same rant many times over.

People just seem damn determined to give something the overall score they want it to have, regardless of criteria.

 

I gave it a 4 for appearance well, because I gave it a vigorous pour and there was a small short lived head of foam and lacing. Cheating? Could be. A regular slow pour and I'm guessing I'd have given it a lower score.

Edit: Here's the kicker. I gave Utopias a 4.5.

 

how about someone like me who just gives every beer a default '4' score for appearance unless something looks out of the ordinary?

 

The original poster gives a bullet-proof explanation of his rating and his differences with people who rate this beer higher with respect to appearance. I also agree that people rate beers based upon overal impression without respect to each individual component of the beer. And Hopslam whups Heady Topper every time. Even old Hopslam. Wowza.

 

BJCP lists the entire range of head and carbonation as within style guidelines. Those who prefer one end of the accepted spectrum over the other understandably will rate accordingly. Higher alcohol will produce less head. As I said, simple.

"Appearance: Color may range from very dark reddish-brown to jet black. Opaque. Deep tan to dark brown head. Generally has a well-formed head, although head retention may be low to moderate. High alcohol and viscosity may be visible in “legs” when beer is swirled in a glass."

 

I think a default, or "base", score should be 3, then rate up or down depending. By using 4 as your base, you're saying that the average beer is above average, and a below average brew is average. Also, as far as alcohol and head, what about the bigger Belgian styles that have as much alcohol and yet still produce sizable heads? I agree with the OP, the beer in question would have lost points in my view for not having a noticeable head.