Lets talk about your perfect 5s

1) Pumking - The first couple of times that I had this beer, I was blown away. It tasted so sweet, so full of autumn spices, so balanced, and unique. The more I had it, however, it started tasting a little too strong. Some of the sweet flavors are just overpowering to me. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great beer and one of my favorites, but it's no longer a 5 for me.

2) Backwoods Bastard - I seriously look forward to picking some of these up each year. It's the perfect combination of bourbon, vanilla, caramel, molasses, booziness, etc. The first time I had it, I fell in love with it and each time that I continue to have it, I fall in love with it all over again.

3) Grapefruit Sculpin - Initially, I enjoyed this beer, but not as much as others. The more that I had it, however, I found the balance between the grapefruit and the hoppiness of the Sculpin to be quite spot on. I've had some other grapefruit beers since then, and none of them have quite lived up to this one.

 

The highest score I have given a beer on BA is 4.9 for Parabola- I think this is very deserving of a high mark but not perfect. I don't know of a perfect beer out there. I don't look down on perfect fives but I'd question how closely we are reviewing EVERY aspect of the beer. Is the color/clarity perfect? the head retention? mouthfeel?

 

~3500 reviews and only 1 perfect score: southampton berliner

I havent opened my other bottle yet to add additional information whether I still consider it perfect or not.

Other beers I probably should have gave perfect 5's to but didnt were lairds apple brandy hunahpu, voodoo pappy black magick and a couple odd ball batch variations of Fantôme.

 

Interesting how many people in a general sense do not think a 5 exists, and/or think a 5 means it is the "perfect" holy grail type beer out of xxxx number of beers, and may never rate a 5.

 

Surely I can't be the only one who doesn't view beer ratings in terms of perfect and imperfect. I view it as a matter of personal preference instead. I'm of the belief there is no such thing as a "perfect" beer.

 

Never given a "5" either but not because I believe there is no such thing as perfection, I'm just a picky bastard.

 

So. Nelson from the source > the GF

 

The only 5 Ive given is Good Morning.
About 75% of the beers I buy are stouts and its the best one ive had. Damn thing tasted like dessert.

Keep in mind taste is personal preference, so there is no right or wrong.

I do admit im a bit generous in a lot of my ratings. It has to be pretty bad to get a 3 or below. 3.5-4.2 is a good beer to me. The very best I usually give 4.2-4.8 range.

I also slightly adjust ratings as I try more and more.

 

I've never given an overall 5 and doubt I ever will. A 5 is a perfect score and therefore requires perfection to achieve it. I've yet to see anything perfect.

 

I avoid being that guy where old the old stuff was better, should've had it then, last years was better.....

I find the GF Alpine to be great and have not done a side by side. Is it a 5? Perhaps I have changed? I don't know if it is exactly the same but will trade my ability to get it readily every day for what I may have perceived it to be.

 

I've given out 3 5's: Aventinus, CBS, and Gumballhead. Had more to do with personal preference that trying to find a perfect beer; objectivity doesn't abound in my reviews typically, although my ratings have definitely settled down a bit from the days when I was raving over everything.

 

Maine Dinner I gave a 5 to the first time I tried it. On subsequent tastings I've lowered my grade somewhat significantly. I think I was a little blinded by what I was drinking instead of how it actually tasted. On the other hand the first time I had Julius I rated it fairly low. On subsequent tastings though it's worked it's way up to a 5 star beer for me.

 

DB Huna
Vanilla Rye
OG Rare
Kuhnhenn Blueberry Eisbock

Those are definitely the closest beers to perfection I've ever had. For IPAs, I would put Abner and Double Sunshine pretty damn high... around 4.8-4.9 at least. Another honorable mention for the stout category... BA Vietnamese Speedway.

 

Duvel (best beer in the world IMO) and the traditional Bourbon County Stout.

Both beers are the best I have ever tried in the style. Perfect in my book... until something even better comes along

 

Brother, I thought you were making a joke in your first post, with "GF" meaning your girlfriend, which I thought was hilarious (and still do, even if you didn't intend it that way

 

I haven't given out the "perfect" straight-5s to any beer yet. Similarly, I haven't given out any 1s -- an "awful" 2.5 is low enough to describe the worst I've had, to get straight-1s something would have to be closer to toxic waste than beer.

The only 5 score I've given in any of the individual areas so far has been my taste score for Bourbon County, because... well, it tasted as good as or better than the idea I'd built up in my head of "what a really, really ridiculously good stout might taste like" based on previous stouts I'd had and reading people's descriptions of various beers on this forum. It literally was better than I imagined it could be. Sounds about right for the highest score possible, I'd say.

 

I drank King Sue last night. Hands down the best beer I have ever had. Can not imagine a better beer. However I gave it 4.75 across the board. Afraid that if I gave it a 5 I would stop wanting to chase beer as how could there be another perfect beer. When I do drink what I consider a 5 it will be the most glorious day of my life!

 

I don't think i have ever had a 5 even before I started reviewing my beers here and tracking them, there is always something in one of the areas that was not perfect.

 

I've had the same pleasure and completely agree. Especially after it took me about 15 minutes to find that tiny street De Garre is down.

 

1) None. I've adjusted non-perfect beers higher or lower on subsequent ratings but the perfect ones have stayed there. I tend to adjust my Untappd rating (going forward) to match my Beer Advocate review after doing after one and posting it here. Untappd is sort of my repository for snap judgements and here on Beer Advocate my considered opinions.

2) I have given Ayinger Celebrator, SN Oktoberfest - Brauhaus Riegele (2015), Ten FIDY, and Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro perfect scores. It wouldn't surprise me if all of them got knocked of their perch of perfection if I reviewed them. I rated them on Untappd and due to the 0.25 gradation it's easier to earn a perfect score there than reviewing/rating on here. Since fresh Oktoberfest - Brauhaus Riegele (2015) simply doesn't exist anymore it'll always have the advantage of being Untappd rated and non-Beer Advocate reviewed.

If you wanted just the Beer Advocate side of things; I have yet to give anything a perfect rating here on Beer Advocate.

3) Nope.