Rated a 5. Anything else is crazy.

I don't think it's absurd to want or not want to give a beer a perfect score. I can see both sides.

But to play devil's advocate - since you believe Pliny is a perfect 5, then you believe it is a perfect DIPA. So you are saying that no other DIPA could possibly be better?

 

I'm noticing a pretty big difference in rating among BAers, which is really interesting. I personally am more with the crowd of "If I really love this beer for reason A, I'll give it a 5, if I really love this beer for reason B, I'll give it a 5 too! I don't like this beer for reason C, so I'm going to give it a 1". For me personally if a beer really stands out in flavor (this can also be affected by the situation I was in at the time) I will give it a 5. Then there is the group that will REALLY examine a beer and only gives a 5 out to perfection, but would you only give out one 5 ever?

For me I believe the biggest ones I have given a 5 to are Victory Golden Monkey (my go to), DFH 90 Min, Riverhorse Trippel Horse. There are probably others out there as well.

 

Nah it's just an appreciation of the product. I'd rather make the brewer happy with a nice 'thank you' than you by being hyper critical.

 

Clearly I'm doing numbers wrong.


I don't rate because it gives a false sense of precision to something that's a bit fuzzy. How does the appearance of a dark beer compare to the appearance of a light beer? What am I even rating? Quality? Storage conditions? Enjoyment?

But if you do assign scores, then the point is to score higher for better. If you saturate, then you're not contributing meaningful ratings. You're giving beer a pat on the back. I love beer too, but I don't think it lacks for encouragement.

 

If I really like it then I'd give it a 5. The Abyss would be my staple but this year's batch needed some age more than I remember the last few years. So I'll rate it after the date on the bottle.

 

BTW most of these opinions are why I'm hesitant to rate beers here. But I do use the ratings at the store when it comes to something I had not heard of.

 

I didn't notice how good FIS was until I had one right after an Old Rasputin. I really believe your mindset and other brews you are comparing them with at the time make a world of difference.

 

A beer is a 5 if you truly believe that there is no way that it could be improved upon. I think it's stupid to rate something a 4.96, even though you find it to be perfect, just because you might find something you like better later on.

Rate the beer on its own merit at the time you are drinking it.

 

To me a 5 is a perfect rendition of a style. I have many

Stout - Bourbon County Vanilla Rye, Reg. Bourbon County, BA Silhouette
DIPA - Abrasive Ale
APA - PsuedoSue

 

OK, fair enough.

Actually the tone of that post is a bit off. I'm not bothered by what numbers you guys give to beers---just pointing out that if you're rating beers then it's tricky to rate a 5. If you're reporting your experiences, '5' away.

 

yeah see I'm no expert and agree with you and it's why I'm just here to read, learn, converse and trade

That first Abyss I had in 2010 was definitely a 5 though.

 

Me either. BVDL is closest.

 

That first

Shared a 2011 Abyss a couple months ago too that I had aged the 3 and a half years. I believe it was a 5 as well.

 

Great topic.

Definitely a 5 for CBS. There may be others but it is the one top of mind.

 

<<< This 5 outta 5 for BB aged beers in my book. Have not tasted anything that even comes close to this beer and believe me I have looked and tried alot of them out there. CWBBBW #1 in my book.

 

Three beers I'm much closer to than you are, but haven't had. Man, I'd have loved to make it up for the Aaron release.

 

I would say if you give a certain beer a 5 than it's not so much 'better' than any other in that style, but the bar that is set in the comparison and your reference point for all others you try.

 

Looking through my 202 reviews, and the highest scores I've given anything are both 4.87, to Black Tuesday and Pliny the Younger. Surprised that I haven't given anything a 5.

 

Miller, Coors, Bud, PBR all 5's!!!

 

Jack's Abby Hoponius Union