Beer Rating Categories

Another thread recently posted got me thinking about the five categories for rating beers on here (look, smell, taste, feel, overall). Personally, I don't get the point of "look." To me (and I know this is subjective), I think almost all IPAs look the same, all stouts look the same, all wheat beers look the same, etc. So if the beer looks like what it's supposed to look like it gets an automatic 4-5. Say you give a beer a 3 on smell, taste, and feel but you give it a 4.5 on look because it looks like you would expect it to. Your beer which really should be a rounded 3, now has a 3.38. That's a significant different if you ask me. Also, I don't get the point of overall. Isn't that why we rate the first four aspects? To get an overall score?

What I'm getting at here is mostly this: if you could change the current ratings scale, what would you change? Would you take categories out? If so which ones? Would you add something? I think it would be interesting to add categories that only show up on specifically labeled styles. For example, if a beer is created as a Wild Ale maybe it adds the option to rate tartness. Just curious to see what others think.

 

I was unaware of this. Are the different ratings categories weighted differently from one another when it comes to the actually rAVG calculation?

 

I think the 6% is pretty solid, but the 10% mouth feel seems a bit low. Overall, good system. I was unaware that the different categories were weighted so I stand corrected. What is the reasoning behind the new 150 or more character count reviews being required for your ratings to mean anything? Just because one doesn't have the time or desire to type out a few sentences doesn't mean that our opinion on the beer should be null and void. I feel like there is a point where drinking and rating a beer goes from enjoyable and educational to tedious and too chore-like. Just my .02! I personally have rated almost all the beers I've tasted since creating my account but I have never left a review (unless required due to an outlier).

 

I always felt that a big influence on how you perceive taste is how you perceive the aroma. Ever try a few of your favorite beers while blindfolded and with your nose clothes-pinned? We did an experiment with it about a year back. It was crazy. None of us could tell which beer was which, and none of us were particularly impressed with what we were drinking. We had my buddies girlfriend do blind pours for us and it was really interesting. I like your thought process on appearance however, you seem to be a more strict grader than myself lol.

Not looking to derail, just add to the discussion. I would like to say Kudos to you for participating in threads like these to begin with. I think it says a lot about a company when the founders are actively involved in the community they serve and chime in about topics. I'll have to do some searching about the changes. I was just speaking for myself because in a way, it now feels like all the ratings I have ever posted on this website are meaningless because I didn't put reviews alongside them .

 

I had an Omega Point not long ago and it was real bubbly and thin looking. Before I had even taken my first whiff or sip, I was already expecting to not like on based on the appearance alone which probably influenced my perception of it regardless. So I see where your coming from.