Should we bring back New Beer Sunday?

It's more about the cohesiveness and collection of NBS's thread of topics. I'd liken it to sitting in a brewery with a group of friends, with topics around the table ranging from: beer and beer history, to music, to recent events - all with an active and engaging conversation. Now that lounge is gone. You all can continue to argue that these other topics are still available in other aspects of the forum, but in doing so, you're failing to grasp the depth NBS contained every week. The fact that that one thread contained all those topics, including beer reviews, and was so heavily trafficked is evidence that the format was enjoyed.

FWIW, I did finally vote, and voted to keep it NBW. Change can be good and powerful, but flip-floppy on an idea a less than a year old seems premature. A decision was made, so own it. NBW is here. Let is grow. It sounds like changes are being reviewed to improve NBW.

 

Trafficked include 'likes', or simply posts?

Another user lamented on the fact that s/he isn't getting the same amount of likes now, despite there being the same number of posts. Less viewers?

 

"Likes" is difficult to translate, but I would think it would line up more with 'views', which would provide revenue for BA. Interesting to see it broken down. Do you have the numbers for view / replies / likes averaged out over NBS vs. NBW?

 

I agree with this. It is too soon, in my view, to shoot NBW in the head.

Relax the rules to allow "pub talk" so to speak.

If you don't want designated hosts, then fine, and it seems to me that the NBW thread starters have been by-and-large following the guidelines you mentioned, @Todd.

As to cross-posting, I arrange the order of my beers when we have on-line tastings, such as the Wheat Beer Tasting starting Friday June 18 so the new-to-me beers are on Saturday and Sunday, and I do cross-post them on NBW.

I'm just trying to participate in NBW to keep it going while also spreading the publicity about the on-going tasting (like I just did, link included!).

I did cross-post to WBAYDN once. as I mentioned earlier, but that was for a special occasion.

 

I always made an attempt to match the music with the beer and my text. That was great fun.

 

My neighbor has a beautiful Golden named Ranger and Zach (my neighbor) and his daughter are Purdue grads. Their 15 year old son intends to become a Boilermaker as well.

 

I think this is helpful (at least to me) to hear. I think what many of us have been trying to articulate is that whether or not it was intended, it has felt like anything not completely focused on the beer / beer review was frowned upon, which may have impacted overall engagement.

I love the thread regardless (I think some of the other posters have forgotten more about beer / beer reviews than I'll ever know, and I've definitely identified "wants" from other reviews), but I also really enjoy getting a glimpse into the people behind those reviews.

Not sure where the line is between staying so hyper-focused on the reviews that it impacts overall engagement vs. allowing anything to fly where the whole point of the thread is lost. For me, if in an average week 75% of the posts are reviews or conversations about the beer that was reviewed and 25% are "other stuff", I'd feel like we were still within the spirit of the thread. Some weeks might be 90%, some might be 60%, but on average. That said, that's just one random dude's opinion. In the mind of others, maybe it's 95% beer / 5% other that's ok.

There's no single answer that will work for everybody, but I'll reiterate something I said earlier in this thread....I genuinely appreciate that people chiming in here are keeping things civil and expressing their points of view without getting (too) personal.

 

SO. MUCH. THIS.

 

Perhaps the "opportunity" has increased, but has actual involvement increased?

 

Let’s try it this weekend wether NBW or NBS. Let’s have a host intro (a moderator to start) let see some beer reviews for all, let see backyards , pools, patios fire pits food on the grill, pets and family. All in the name of Beer and BA

 

We drink lots of iced green tea. The new format is like a glass of tea where the ice has melted, you put more ice in and it is slightly diluted, but it is still good.

 

I read this to Ranger.

He is growling like Cujo. IJS.

 

I've seen a lot of comments about people wanting to bring back discussions, but it is also understandable that some people don't want to read them or that they can clutter up a thread. I have seen other forums offer nested replies. A new reply to the OP shows up normally but individual replies to a specific person show up nested underneath and can be collapsed/expanded (similar to reddit). That way if two people are bantering about sports teams or some side-conversation unrelated to the main thread content it can be expanded or collapsed at the discretion of the viewer. It also helps when trying to read a reply chain rather than having to bounce from page 6 to page 2 if you are interested in following a conversation.

I know that's no small task but it seems like it could accommodate both preferences. I'm sure a change from linear to nested forum replies would incur its own set of opinions (unless both options were offered) but that would be another poll for another time.

 

Not directed it you, but I really don’t get the “too much banter,” “too many songs,” “too much cross posting” comments. If someone just wants to read recent beer reviews and get ideas on beers to seek out, click “beers” in the navigation. There are tons of recent reviews, sortable in interesting ways, available all weekend long and five other days a week.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/

 

I haven’t participated in a while for several reasons. The W tends to suit me more than the S, but feel like those that participate regularly should have more of a say.

 

I’m very noncommittal.

“Back in the day,” I liked the communal feel of everyone getting together for a virtual brew over a single day.

That said, my “go to” bottle shop is closed on Sundays, so I needed to be sure I had something in stock on Saturday night. I kinda like the flexibility of including the entire weekend, even if it means I feel less engaged with the thread.