Regional Rating Bias

Reverse-homerism eh Op? A rare breed.

In the NYC area, I don't think homerism is a major issue. Yet.

 

It's kind of why locals almost try to downplay Hop Venom and Notorious. While other regions maintain their brews are made of virgin tears and rainbows, the PNW tries to keep it lowkey. Love it.

 

I make a point to not overrate local beers...i also make a point to not overrate hyped beers

Sometimes u gotta give credit where credit is due, though

 

I only notice this in my own ratings/opinions with respect to IPAs. I've noticed that I typically enjoy local IPAs the most, and I can't help but think that it's a freshness issue.

EDIT: And obviously I don't live in IPA country...

 

Have no idea what the OP is talking about. Oregon beers are very mediocre, borderline shitty... Other parts of the country have it much better with much better beer. Don't come here.

 

I don't think its so much homerism local bias (but there is some of that) as a few of the following factors:
1) huge population in SO CAL inflating many California beers on the ratings and board promotin
2) only having access to regional beers (more of this for a lot of Midwesterners)
3) freshness factor of local/regional beers over those beers traveling further (anywhere).

 

I definitely am harder on my locals and regionals.

 

I conquer with everything said here. I just moved to Denver from Portland after 12 years. The beers there are rated lower than they should be and I am probably guilty of that. Having grown so accustom of the beers there I took them for granted and I was harder on Local beers.

Also living in Portland you have to compare amazing beers to other amazing beers. I don't think you get that in too many parts of the world.

 

Good to know that you're finding success conquering with words. As they say, the pen is mightier than the sword!

 

God Dammit! I concur

 

Lol. My thoughts exactly.

 

If what you say is true, then breweries with large local BA populations would tend to do better in the rankings. I live in Boston, which is most likely such a location. I can't say that I am witnessing a significant gap between how I would rate the beer and how BA rates the beer. I have deviations like anyone would, but I don't see this as a pervasive trend.

 

How about breweries inflating their own quality? Let's see... THE BRUERY? When you have a Reserve Society AND a Hoarder's Society, and make those releases around $40... yes, I believe that brewery is greatly influencing their own ratings. And honestly, it's brilliant, and it clearly works. I think The Bruery makes some great stuff, and I've had most of their "big beers." But no one is going to convince me that they're worth literally twice as much as other big-name stouts and sours.

 

I think Grey Monday holds it worth well against two Parabola.

I haven't ventured too far outside of California but when it comes to sours, I think California has some of the best and I don't think the ratings are overrated. I'll take most Bruery or RR sours over most Cascade sours. I honestly do think they're better. Does that make me a homer?

 

In my opinion, it's because a local brewer is typically in touch with the styles and qualities that are popular within its region. In Alabama, we tend to favor Straight to Ale and Good People not simply because they're local, but being in the same community of craft beer drinkers, their styles tend to reflect the preferences popular within the local area.

 

I think this also plays out in Florida with CCB.

 

I enjoy reviewing locals because there is no hype factor involved.

One of the best IPAs I have ever had was from a small local brewery. 6 hours from the hops being picked to it being in the kettle. Cascade and Centennial hops with it being cascade dry hopped. And I had it the day it was released. The cask version was even more amazing.

 

Not necessarily, but that's not really the point I was trying to make. I'm just saying that The Bruery artificially influences their own perceived quality by pricing their beers so high. If you look at a trade and see Black Tuesday trading for two of another world-class beer, it's really because two of the other beer is required to make up the $4$. But to a lot of people... they just see that everyone is willing to give up all kinds of quantity for one Bruery bottle. I think it has a pretty significant effect.