How much does the reputation influence the beer's taste?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by nerdboy19, Feb 5, 2016.

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  1. nachos

    nachos Initiate (0) Jun 4, 2012 Michigan

    About 7.85 %
     
    #21 nachos, Feb 5, 2016
  2. Beersnake

    Beersnake Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,884) Aug 17, 2013 California
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Reputation definitely impacts the taste. However, having a great reputation could actually make the beer taste better. Physiologically, expensive wine actually tastes better when someone is told how much it costs. See https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/baba-shiv-how-wines-price-tag-affect-its-taste for more info. So, perhaps a beer with a better reputation (or that's rare) will actually induce a greater response in the pleasure regions of the brain. Perception matters.
     
    #22 Beersnake, Feb 5, 2016
  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    From my perspective this is a two edged sword. Some beer drinkers will be swayed by the reputation to enjoy the beer even more. There will be a subset of folks who have an expectation when they drink a hyped up beer that there will be a nuclear explosion of flavor in their mouth and they will be hearing the singing of a Celestial Choir. For that subset of folks I doubt that any beer will meet their self induced level of hyped expectations.

    Cheers!
     
    #23 JackHorzempa, Feb 5, 2016
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  4. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    Maybe the better question is do you care. If hype makes me think this beer is unbelieveable then the beer IS unbelieveable. Does it matter if my enjoyment comes from hype or taste? My gut response to this question is yes, my analytical answer is no. This whole premise is based on the assumption that you actually enjoy the beer as opposed to just giving in to peer pressure. Again my gut tells me that the enjoyment is real in most cases.
     
    #24 bluehende, Feb 5, 2016
  5. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Actually the data collected on this question suggest otherwise. The size of the effect may differ from individual to individual, but everyone is susceptable to such biases. Even highly experienced professional tasters have been shown to be susceptable to such biases.

    Edit: You might enjoy watching the video here.

    http://blogs.scientificamerican.com...n-taste-deceiving-how-color-can-affect-taste/
     
    #25 drtth, Feb 5, 2016
    Last edited: Feb 5, 2016
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  6. Angerhaus

    Angerhaus Pooh-Bah (2,020) Oct 1, 2015 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Reputation infused porter, on sale now...
     
    #26 Angerhaus, Feb 5, 2016
  7. Monkeyknife

    Monkeyknife Grand Pooh-Bah (5,873) Jan 8, 2007 Missouri
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It definitely raises expectations for highly-rated beers and lowers them for lower-rated. When it's all said and done, it comes down to whether you liked that beer or not.
     
    #27 Monkeyknife, Feb 5, 2016
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