Rating an infected beer

As a rule of thumb, you shouldn't review it.

Don't Review Bad Beers
Not a beer that you simply don't like, but rather a beer you know to be spoiled due to reasons outside of the brewer's control. If you come across a beer like this, alert whoever you purchased it from and send a note to the brewer. Using a review to bitch about it won't help anyone.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/how-to-review-a-beer.241156/

 

I typically check it in on Untappd so the brewery's aware, but don't rate it (no rating on Untappd is not the same as a zero star rating - people have asked before).
Cheers!

 

If you're talking about a brewery screw up that's led to an actual infected beer, absolutely, positively, review it every time.

If you're talking about an old beer, or a beer skunked due to light, or something that is "outside the brewer's control" then it's certainly not fair to review a beer like that.

But infections? If a brewery releases a beer that's fouled by organisms that shouldn't be there, & you get a tart-bomb instead of a delicious bourbon barrel stout (for instance), then REVIEW IT. This helps out others who may be looking for the beer. Several times I have turned down a trade offer or passed on a shelf beer because of questionable quality control by the brewery, & a lot of that knowledge was gleaned from reviews here.

Not reviewing a horrible beer that the brewery botched helps no one.

 

Honestly, I rate it really poorly and explain why in my review. If I get a rotten beer, others should be warned of it, especially if it has become a common occurrence (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/25436/69636/).

If I get a second chance at the beer I will rate it accordingly and make note of the original infection.

 

The key is "outside of the brewer's control".

 

Which to me says that reviewing infected beers is perfectly acceptable.

 

Agreed 100%. Not fair to rate a beer you know is past it's shelf life or was cared for poorly. But an infected beer? Absolutely.

Also, a beer that I'm 99% sure is old but the brewery doesn't stamp any dating whatsoever on will also get reviewed as is.

 

"Using a review to bitch about it won't help anyone."

Except everyone who reads the review.

 

If it's infected it's the brewers fault and they deserve any criticism in the reviews. Plus I look to reviews to be informed before purchasing so knowing about infection issues is huge

 

I would alert the brewery and retailer, see if its corrected, then give it a chance to review (or re-review if you reviewed it already). Gotta side with the Bros here on the principle, but I must say seeing a review of an infected bottle is a good heads up if nothing else.

 

Write a review and specify that it's a bad bottle. I've run into a handful of beers that got very mixed reviews due to infection, and that helps me (and others) decide whether or not they want to buy or trade for a particular beer.

If it's a rare occurrence for that particular beer or brewery, then the random bad review from someone isn't gonna weigh heavy on anyone' else's thoughts anyway. The benefit for "us" as users of this website, is that reviews of infected beers can serve as a warning for other people who might consider buying it.

 

Infection is not outside of the brewer's control. Improper storage after it leaves the brewery would not cause an infection.

 

The Brothers A specify outside of the brewer's control. Infection is completely within the brewer's control.

 

A review is a reflection of your experience with that beer, at that time. Be fair, be accurate, and review away.

 

I would rate it poorly. I would also make sure my review reflects the fact that the review is of an infected bottle. If I am looking at a review for a beer I definitely want to know if they have a problem. My only exception may be a beer that has very few reviews and mine would seriously change the over all rating.

 

Infected beer usually indicates an issue at the brewery - unless you are drinking beer out of bad tap lines. If the infection most likely comes from an issue at the brewery, I will review it. If the problems is from infected tap lines, poor handling, poor storage, too long on the shelf, light struck, etc. I pass on reviewing it but I will let the retailer or bar know.

 

With an infected bottle of beer, whether you review it or not, you should also contact the brewery to let them know they have a problem. Sometimes an infection does not develop until a while after the beer has left the brewery and that may actually mean there's an unexpected problem (e.g., with the bottle fill lines) that quality control did not catch simply because it had not shown its ugly head yet. In that case we learn a lot about the brewery by how they deal with the situation. Some recall the beer. Some claim its not a problem or ignore it.... Guess which one I'm willing to cut some slack in the future.

 

I agree 100%