Who Reads Reviews?

There are a handful of reviewers I look to when I want to see what I'm getting into or if I want to see if i'm missing something.
On a side note, there was a review a few years back of some beer I can't remember but it was like it was written by Hunter S. Thompson or someone on acid and it was just great. Really wish I could find that one again.

 

Though I'm responding to you, your position is the general trend thus far, so I'm sort of responding to everyone that hold this belief.

My question is: how is it more relevant? That's not actually a rhetorical question. Say something is rated 4.25 or higher and you read the reviews. They are generally going to be favorable, maybe some dissenting voices. Are you going to look at those dissenting voices and decide whether or not to buy a beer based on their opinions? Or if you have the beer and are drinking it, are you going to say "I'm not sure if I like it ... but I kind of agree with this person, so I'll rate it what they rate it?"

Or, alternatively, are you going to look at beers rated a 3 and look for reviews that like the beer and think "maybe I'll give it a shot?"

I ask this because - SURPRISE - I have an opinion. My opinion is that people are more likely to use reviews for beers that are "on the cusp". 3.6 - 3.8 type beers. Or for beers that seem really divisive / have a high pDev (greather than 10%). Or, for lack of a better word, I'll say "interesting" beers. For example, the only review I've written (shame on me!) is for Upright's Coffee Stout. And I wrote it because I had a point of view that seemed to differ from a lot of peoples. In most cases, we all share a POV or understand the variables - we know what IPAs are like but maybe some people like more malt and others want smack-your-face bitter. But Upright Coffee Stout sort of defied expectations for "coffee stouts" ... it's thin, sour, aged in wine barrels, has a lot of berry and vinous notes. If you think BA coffee stout and BCBCS comes to mind, you are going to be sorely disappointed. And people were. But coffee has a variety of flavor profiles and this way playing with a totally new set.

So, in short, WHEN are reviews helpful? Always, or only in a narrow set of circumstances? Or in different ways when A) you are going to buy something or B) when you're already tasting?

 

Definitely look for actual reviews rather than just scores. Figure they carry more weight, considering the reviewer took the time to write it rather than giving a quick score.

 

I do the same. If I want information on a beer I don't trust someone who just takes a sip and then spits out a number. I want to know some thought was put into that rating. In fact, I really wish that there were two separate ratings, one for reviews and one for just ratings. I'm sure they would often be similar, but it would be interesting.

 

IMHO reviews should have a 10X advantage over "Hads" and no beer should be listed under any best list (like the regional top 50) unless they have at least one written review

 

I read reviews, but I move on as soon as I see someone including overly minute, "catch phrase" language in a review. I don't doubt that some palates are so finely tuned that they can pick out incredibly subtle flavors, but let's face it-- most of those people are probably gainfully employed tasting for a living.

Example-- you might taste dark chocolate and coffee in that stout, BUT when you start claiming that you can taste Belgian dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, mocha, Kona coffee, french roast coffee, chocolate covered coffee beans, dill pickles and lamb's wool in that stout, I'm going to call shenanigans.

 

Hey no problem with disagreeing with someones opinion, but how do you argue with a "taste" 4.5" ?
Oh that tastes like a 4.5! What drivel

 

THIS.
I think some beer aficionados are more on the descriptive side and some are more on the reactive side. I sometimes taste 4-5 different flavors within a beer -- but can't always pinpoint how to describe the exact flavor I'm sensing. It's helpful to see what others think!

 

Yeah I always read reviews, both before (when I'm deciding which beer to review next) and after I've reviewed a beer (to see what others have said about the beer I've just reviewed). There are some pretty damn good reviewers on this site that I look out for too, they definitely influenced my decision to start writing reviews in the first place.

All that said I think I need to take a break from beer- I've acquired a bit of a beer gut over the years

 

If I find a beer I particularly like or dislike I like to read the reviews (usually the Brothers and some "Top Reviewers) to see the impressions of others toward the same beer. I sometimes look when I see a beer that sounds interesting to see what others think before I buy it but that is rare. I use my own reviews as my personal notes on whether I will buy a particular beer again.

 

yes I always read them because I like to know what flavors are in a beer I am interested in

 

It's why I joined BA in the first place. Appreciated the in depth descriptions about a beer I may or may not like. Bottom line, reviews save me money. (Also for those of you who scroll until u see a review there's a show reviews only box you can check so you won't have to scroll).

 

I love to read what other people think about the beers I like, don't like and haven't tried. Rarely do the reviews persuade me one way or the other, just like the perspectives that a broader sample of beer drinkers can provide.

 

I tend to like reading others review after writing my own. Just to get an overall sense of beer itself and what I may have missed. I also use the overall score as a quick guide while buying or even after drinking. If I find my experience is way off then I will wonder if somehow I got a bad bottle!

 

The question is - Who doesn't read reviews?

 

i do. there are so many beers out there a review gives me a heads on whether I should buy/look for it.

they are more helpful than 3.5/5. What does that even mean?


I've actually been thinking of writing my own just for fun.

 

I do read reviews to get a general idea of what other people think however I use my own judgement at the end of the day.

 

All the time! Normally just the intro and conclusion. Rarely do I read them word for word (well known reviewers)

BUT its always interesting to see the BA vs. THE BROS score

 

I care more about reviews than scores for sure.

 

I do not. I just look at the numbers, and I only look if it is something that I am not familiar with.

I just started rating, I had no idea assigning only a number was a "had". That was not my intent.
I log all of my beer on untappd.