When will Heady Topper be overtaken as #1?

True, but it'll only be #1 while it's impossible to get. The moment it starts to become easy to get, someone out there will accuse it of being all hype.

 

They've sort of done that already. One list is the 250 (beers that don't require widespread distribution to make the list and their popularity motivates folks to try and find them) and the other list is the Beers of Fame list (mostly beers that have been around for a while and are generally much more widely available). Also the the Beers of Fame list is "safer" for new folks in that they can have confidence that lots of people think highly of them.

 

Really? The numbers say its #1, and if its "over-rated" where is that set of scores that are ground truth to compare the ratings to that allow us to determine it is over-rated?

 

But the methods aren't arbitrary so where does that leave us? Also, numerical ratings are a perfectly legitimate way of converting peoples subjective reactions into a numerical score. Been around for a long time and widely used for a number of purposes long before BA came on the scene.

 

I traded for it. And I want to keep trading for it. It's amazing.

 

AMEN!

 

Please excuse my blasphemous statements, I drank to much miller liter this weekend.

 

In your opinion of course. Because a majority of people have placed it number one.

 

Not all beer drinkers do.

 

Well aware of the Beers of Fame list but even from that list, just looking at top 10 only #9 (Founders Breakfast Stout) and #10 (Rochefort 10) seem to be in a larger distribution volume and easily obtainable in a wide range. Even if a newbie printed this list off and walked into a store and asked for any off the top 10, they wouldn't be able to get many of those. Doesn't necessarily have to be year-round beers, but if its a seasonal or special release, it needs to be in large enough volume and at least a regional footprint.

 

I kind of see it the other way: no widely available beer will be #1 because it will be too easy to get. I think part of the reason HT is number one (tho I don't care which beer is where on these lists) is the whole trip-to-Vermont part about acquiring it.

 

Well, it's only taken KBBS three years and two months to accumulate 400 ratings. So at that rate, we can expect it to generate 120 more and overtake Heady on about March 25th, 2016.

Set your calendars everyone.

 

Which is where the top rated by state and top rated by style lists come into play. For example, looking at Idaho, I can for sure tell you if I was new to beer or planning a visit to Idaho I'd for sure be spending a lot of time with Grand Teton beers and if I wanted a Maibock I'd be surely looking at that list to see what gets well rated and then looking at my state ratings to see if it makes it into my state. Not a perfect system, but works pretty well.

 

I remember when it was inconceivable that Westy 12 could fall out of the top spot.

 

Any beer that anybody says is #1 is 100% bullshit..you can't rate something as subjective as taste..one guy may think Heady is the best thing he's ever tasted..another may say same thing about Bud..all bullshit..you like what you like..personally..Heady is really good but there are better IPA'S & DIPA's out there.

 

I don't think the majority placed this as number one. Remember it is about rankings not which beer is number 1. I rated Heady 4.46 and I think it is good just not number 1. It isn't even the best IPA out there. There are so many others that are better.

 

Not in my lifetime.

 

But thats 100% bullshit because taste is subjective, right?

 

If Heady slips from the #1 position, it's time to:

1. Sell out to ABInBev
2. Boycott all Alchemist beers
3. Moan and groan on BeerAdvocate
4. Cry in your beer