Obsession with BA ratings

As someone who is really new to this, I almost always refer to BA when I'm in the store before I buy something.

But, if something sounds really good,and I know it's up my alley based on previous experience, I'll usually buy it anyway.

 

I would hope someone would have the courtesy to give me a swift kick in the ass if I passed up on Dale's just because it was in the "80's."

 

That was me in the store.

 

Well, I cant imagine they were going up and down the aisle checking out every beers rating and buying the higher rated ones. At least I hope they were only checking ones they were unsure of. I do the same thing if it's something I've never had, is at a price point I'm not comfortable risking, or is a brewery I'm not totally confident in. However, when I do check ratings, I don't go announcing to everyone around me that I'm doing so. Total newbs. Or is it noobs. I dk...

 

I always check the rating before buying something new. There are just too many choices out there these days, and too many of them are overpriced swill.

An 88 wouldn't stop me from buying but <80 (with a large # reviews) probably would.

 

A few stores I shop at have the ratings on the cases. Ironically enough these places don't have prices for these cases unless you ask.

 

I saw the same thing yesterday! I knew right away what he was up to. I mean whatever, if something is really highly touted here, yes, that will probably make me more likely to seek it out, but some of my personal favorites are rated in the 70's and 80's. It's so subjective...you are going to miss out on a lot of beer you would really like if you only want to try A-rated stuff.

 

Victory Festbier is in the 80's and i'll be damned if thats not one of the best marzens out there

 

Walking around a bottle shop with an ipad says it all.

 

I always check BA before I buy a new beer. I might not like every highly rated beer, but the ratings are spot on to me and I like to buy higher rated beers. Also, when shopping for extras for trading partners I use my iPad or iPhone to make sure I am sending something of quality.

 

Agreed, but isn't there a price threshold you're not willing to cross blindly? For me, if a bomber is, I'd say, more than like $12, and it isn't a brewery I have all that much experience with, I'm going to do a little research on BA first. However, this is kind of a new tactic for me. I used to buy anything really. I think this is just me trying to save some money so I can stop sleeping in a room across the hall from my dad...

 

I'm with you. If its a $12 bomber from a brewery I am not familiar with, yes, i will do a quick background check on my phone. But to me that's different than walking in a shop with an iPad and turning up your nose at 88's.

 

If it is a beer in a style that I like and I'm really familiar with I do not put too much stock into the ratings, for example Hanssens experimental raspberry is below 80 but I absolutely love it. If I am trying something new I rely more heavily on the rating system to kind of guide me toward what I should be trying or looking for, however.

 

I buy extras based on BA score, but for the most part, I'm willing to buy just about any single regardless of BA score. Anything below 75 I think twice, but normally I don't mind trying anything at least once.

 

I understand trying a $10 six pack or something without knowing how it is rated..but sometimes the BA/ratebeer ratings really come in handy. For instance, the other day I saw a $13 IPA from New Zealand in a 330cl bottle. An 85 rating in this situation equals a definite no-buy. As someone mentioned above..an 85 rated marzen would be a different story. I often make a mental note of a beer to check it out later, and if I had an ipod phone I'd probably do the same thing that the OP is whining about all the time.

 

I must admit...I will tend to buy 90+ brews...and shun <80 brews...but I'm not a slave to the numbers...it's just a guide for me...not a bible...nahmean?