Poll: Why I Don't Review Beers.

Other. I have horrible allergies and sometimes I just can't articulate finer details of smells and tastes. I review when I am having a medicine free/nasal spray free day and someone isn't eating popcorn around me. I owe a few beers a revisit because I didn't realize that was affecting my review...live and learn!

 

I review some beers and only rate others. I usually review beers that make a big impression on me one way or the other, or just when inspiration strikes. Sometimes I just want to rate a beer so I remember how impressed I was with it.

Cave Dave has me on ignore for some reason but the rest of you will read my post, for what it's worth.

 

But there are so many people on this site! There must be some people that you trust.

 

I really do not have the time.

I used to enjoy it - I enjoyed it less and less.

 

I don't do it because I just don't feel like it. Call it lazy or whatever, but sitting down trying to enjoy a beer and take notes is just to much for me when I'm trying to relax.

 

Not a fan of the new ratings system in the slightest, but I understand why it's been put in place.

I've started reviewing a lot more within the last year or so, but I notice a lot of my reviews are interchangeable. My palate only picks up a handful of notes. Same with my nose.

I don't know, I'd love to do more in-depth reviews but I honestly just don't have the time (or the palate).

 

For me, it's kind of like taking your new video camera (in the 1980's) on vacation.
You're so busy "filming" that you miss the enjoyment of your vacation.
I'm more of a casual BA. I love beer, and don't want to analyze it too much, while I'm busy enjoying it.
Same goes for my home brews. I have enjoyed many without much analysis, just joy. Cheers!

 

Dave, this is the closest analogy I could think of.
I love mountain biking, and have been doing so since the 80's. Before designated trails, gps, full suspension, and lycra. Real grass roots, duct tape kind of feel.
20 years later, it's a rage everyone is into. Correct clothing, $$$$ bikes, magazines and Red Bull. To hang with my new buddys (all 20 years younger), I entered a race at my local favorite ride spot.
Worst. Ride. Ever. Sharing the quiet woods with 300 other riders, running bikes up hills, clogging choke points. It was all about lap times, age divisions, and sponsored riders.
No feel to the ride, no fun being had, no taking breaks to enjoy a nice view, no being in the moment.
The seriousness to which peeps here apply to "mandatory" reviewing, and the derision of those that choose not to, reminds me of mtb racing.

 

I voted " I don't use them". I like movies people hate, I eat food people wont, I listen to music people don't understand. Reviews to me have always been "meh".

 

I almost exclusively review when I'm at home and have time to dissect a beer. I don't do tasting notes out at the bar(where I do the majority of my new beer drinking), but I do at bottle shares. I have a bad recall for stuff like this, so I need to keep notes or review while tasting.

 

I don't review because I'm new to this craft beer thing. At the moment anyway I don't feel like I can contribute something useful to someone else looking for information on a particular beer.
As a consumer of reviews I don't feel like you need to write a novel or pick out 12 unique flavors in order for your review to be useful to someone like me. It would be helpful if their was a way for people to choose the method of their review when submitting. ie. (taste vs style). Then you could sort that way for those who wish to only see style specific reviews. For those who rate to taste it would be helpful to know your palates preferences. This would help people find reviewers with tastes similar to their own and add value to the "to taste" reviews. Anyway just a couple of thoughts that I had while reading this thread. Great thread by the way, thanks @cavedave.

 

OTHER:




Because I'm rebelling against the latest changes made to BA, removing 'hads' from contributing to overall scores. Now I'll never write a review

 

I'm an "other" -- I'm a "picky eater" in general, and don't want to be unfair to anyone. Also, while I definitely know what I like and what I don't, I don't feel comfortable trying to verbalize it -- I can pick out things like coffee (usually good), chocolate (usually good), vanilla (usually good) , and spruce (yuck), but don't know how to really describe them. And if it's something I DON'T particularly enjoy (like coconut), I would probably rate something with very subtle coconut higher than something with an obvious strong (and I assume preferable) coconut taste. I also think maybe I'm a little intimidated by the people who ARE good at it?

 

What about an option for "sometimes I write them, sometimes I dont"

 

Yeah this is pretty much me too. Plus everyone has such different tastes I can't really go on what other people say to have any idea what I will think of a beer.

I have developed a pretty narrow window of beers I fine amazing, but I still don't dissect what I have. I drink beer for the enjoyment and because I like it, I try not to think too much about it.

 

i'll admit, i am much more of a ticker than a reviewer, i have close to 3100 ticks using some other app that will rename nameless so i don't get a warning or a ban. i only review a beer if i feel that people should seek it out immediately (5) or if it should be avoided at all costs (0.5). other than that, i just enjoy trying as many different beers as possible while tracking them to avoid unintended repetition. that's just me though and i have nothing but respect for those who choose to do a full sensory analysis of every beer they drink

 

I voted for other just because it's a hobby not a job. I review when I feel like reviewing not because I feel the need too.

 

I've generally done reviews for myself, primarily, so the first time I have a beer, even a half pour I would do a quick review if I felt like it (exception is if a beer is newer and there are very limited reviews). I am finally at the point of revisiting these reviews more often to refine my reviews, like...

I especially find it interesting when I have a different opinion the next time around on some aspect or the whole beer.


All that said, I've slowed my reviewing a tad and found that the back and forth of discussions (limited as they are in forums) with friends is enlightening as well.

 

Just want to say I really appreciate all the reviewers out there. Truly the greatest resource of BA. But here's the deal - not all of us want (need) to record every minute of our life. Like with a camera, although it allows me to relive the experience later, I feel like I was not immersed fully in the present if I'm busy framing the next shot. Nevertheless the reviews are a priceless resource for everyone. Hey man not all of us are historians