What Exactly Is A 5.0 Beer Rating?

I approve this message!

 

If you rate those beers a 5, what do you do when you come across a beer you like better? It’s equal to a lesser beer by the numbers, the only one who would know different would be you. Not being contrary, but it impossible for me to give a 5.

 

If I enjoy it thoroughly. If I keep re buying it. If I just like it that much. It’s a 5 it’s that simple


I do think it’s funny when some say “it’s just ok” and then the review gets a 4

 

I review my beers against the style guidelines (I cross between BA and BJCP), not against other beers in general.

I have a couple 5s because they're that good to-style. Might there be another in that same style I could find to be a 5? Why not? And I'd rate it as such, but that shouldn't discount the other 5 -- they can both be that good.

 

I rarely knowingly buy beers or let’s say ipas and stouts that rate below a 4.25. I understand the bias towards hoppy beers, and stouts Pils, Lagers and such get far more latitude. If I rated an IPA at a 4 it would be a one time buy. Too many really good beers out there to drink subpar beers.

If I was going to give any beer a 5 that one bottle of Pliny I had a week ago was the best single bottle of IPA I’ve ever had. Just a stunning bottle, I’m guessing super super fresh. And I’ve had enough Pliny to know my way around it, what accounted for that one bottle? Not a clue, it was equal to banging Miss America I suppose.

 

Is it possible for you to give any women a 10?

 

Just call him "Dudley."

 

Probably not, plenty of 9.8, 9.9 though, theres always someone out there, lol. Mike Tyson was a 10, in his prime he was the best on earth, unbeatable. I doubt there’s a guy sitting in a bar in Australia who wold step up and win a bar fight. Tyson would kill men in a bar fight with no rules. I cant imagine anyone who would ever give him any shit anywhere, even at his age now.

 

I've rated 7 beers as 5s. A couple are in the questionable department but I will stick with the other 5. I hope that I will be able to add to that number.

I also have 5 beers that I disliked
so much, my rDev for each was +50% in the red.

I actually don't see a 5 as meaning absolute perfection. Just like beers' scores of 100 don't mean perfection.(I'm aware that the scores are calculated differently)

 

This.

I also think the development of a beer nerd's palate has a HUUUUUGE influence on their ratings. I know it does for me. When I first rated Surly Abrasive, I was literally knocked off my feet. It was, for me, without question the best beer I'd had.

That was in 2011. A decade ago (I can't believe that). Hazies weren't a thing (on a broad scale), Arrogant Bastard WAS a thing (oak-aged, anyone?), and Westie XII was an $85 6er and available in the USA. So that Citra/Warrior hop combo was a 2 x 4 between the eyes when it literally leaped from the can.

Today? Abrasive wouldn't make my Top 100 beers, even if Surly hadn't changed SOMETHING about the beer.

 

Agree on Abrasive, the first can I had just exploded with fruits, just a stunning beer, it’s available here , but I’m not interested it’s certainly not the same beer. I rated it at like 4.85 or so right with Heady, but today I doubt I’d rate either one anywhere near that high, because Heady has changed a bit as well, still a very good beer, just not stunning. Abrasive would fall below a 4, I’d still rate Heady depending on the batch like 4.4 - 4.5 or so. The last batch was a bit rough on the finish.

 

Isn't that oxymoronic?

 

No not really, I think it’s understood you don’t use a pool stick, or a beer bottle or any weapon first, you use your hands, and you don’t stomp him when he’s on the ground. That’s how you might win a fight but then you get to go to jail At least most people would abide by that, but Tyson probably not.

 

We've observed different bar fights then. Anyone who goes into a barfight with just his hands is a sucker.

 

You've never even almost been in a bar fight, have you?

I didn't play pool just because I could win beers.

 

Oh how I miss Oaked AB!

 

Pretty much this for me. Would have to be perfect in every category since each is literary separately in ratings. I’ve fully reviewed a little over 1,000 unique beers and have no 5.0. I do have 2 over 4.9, Ithaca Brute and Kuhnheen Raspberry Eisbock. KRE had all 5s except appearance. Perhaps some recall bias but I would say both of those would hold up as close to perfect as I’ve come across. I’ve had a number of other 5 Overall scores but fall below perfect in other categories. I think you can certianly rate a beer 5 for the overall category while it still has say a 4.25 appearance or mouthfeel or whatever.

For what it’s worth my median rating is essentially right at 4.0 with a fairly even bell curve distribution between 3.25 and 4.75. I feel that I am pretty consistent with my ratings and feel that, although close, I’ve never had a perfect beer. I do believe they exist though and think the concept of never giving out a 5.0 solely because one believes there’s always room for improvement is a touch silly.