Taking a break from reviewing beers.

I sometimes feel like this, but I often can't help but take short notes on new-to-me beers even when I'm feeling that way. Sometimes I'll keep the notes with me for a time before submitting, and anyone that's seen my reviews would be able to tell in those instances where it's a pretty bare bones list of attributes, versus a fully worded and described experience.

I try to balance life and fun with beer notes and give myself an opportunity to not miss out on a good time, so sometimes I'm unable to review a beer and just don't even bother until I get another crack at that beer. Most times I end up with a substantial list of beers with short notes that I end up transcribing later, enjoyably so because I'm usually doing that at work on a Friday or some other slow period.

I love going back and seeing my thoughts on beers, especially for those beers that are on the extremes of good or bad, or for beers that aren't brewed regularly and may have changed. Certain dates in my review history also indicate to me when a major event or slow period may have occurred in my life.

I can understand wanting to pump the brakes on it though, but if you want to still put a minimal stamp on a beer for your own reference, a quick list of the most pertinent attributes is always helpful. A lot of people love those economical reviews when they're in a pinch anyway.

 

Yea, my reviews are there to give me a recall on what I've tried, so that if I buy them again, I can see where my head was at, at the time. They are boring AF to read, but, I realize that if someone is looking to purchase that beer, they might come across my dribble, and so, I try to at least be coherent, for their sake. I do understand the need for a break from anything. A break can sometimes make you notice things you had not noticed in the past; upon your return, that is.

 

I have. I think it's only normal. I mean the excitement of all that is new is very tempting and then a bit daunting. You have to come to a kind of equilibrium because of budget and time and calories anyway. I was reviewing every day for years. Lately I am doing it about once a week. Taking a break form posting reviews can do two things for you mentally. One, it can show you that you do not have to have a new beer every day. In other words no more ticking or keeping track of a number. I have met people who like to say that they have done 2000 reviews. Not only have I done as many I also did food parings. BUT by not keeping track I stay in the camp that will say that anyone can do it. I love reading reviews and I love New Beer Sunday for reading reviews.

Reviewing is a skill. You don't have to count each one.

 

From a blog post I wrote announcing the switch from four-packs to six-packs:

"Sooo, I’m paying more for Tank 7 than I was before?
Yes and no, or maybe, no and no. Upfront, sure, you’re committing to purchasing six bottles instead of four, but the price per ounce when purchasing a six-pack is actually lower. If the average priced four-pack is around $10.99 and includes 48 ounces of beer, you’re looking at a cost per ounce of 22.9 cents. With new six-pack pricing that will be right at $14.99, each ounce of beer will cost you 20.8 cents. You end up with two more beers and some extra change. We’d call that a win-win."

 

Not to make myself sound like an alcoholic... but reviewing beers is a big part of my routine. Obviously, I don't review beers every day or else I'd have logged a lot more beers than I have, but it is something that I enjoy doing on a semi-regular basis.

If i'm not into something, then i'm really not into it, but if I am into something then I go all the way. This may sound kind of sad, but I like to write in a journal fairly frequently and when I don't have access to a computer (lets say i'm on vacation) and I try a new beer, i'll write down some notes about it...I guess i'm just that big of a nerd

 

I had thought it worked out to be cheaper per ounce, but hadn't run the math. I had seen it was more expensive for the initial buy. Either way, it feels more appropriate to buy Tank 7 in a 6 pack vs. a 4 pack. No scientific reasoning on my part, just personal preference.

Thanks for clarifying that Jeremy.

 

No reviewing, no rating. Maybe 2 reviews a long time ago. Try this. Buy beer, sit home, enjoy. Or go to pub, buy beer, enjoy. Don't make it a chore or work, that's not the point, at least for me. I don't read reviews either. I trust my own palate.

 

I know the feeling. I have had arguments with folks who have assumed that i was drinking a whole lot more than I really was because I would post my review at 3 am. Or because I would post a review every day. I like it in my routine. Honestly. It belongs there. Opening that beer at 10 am and reviewing it and then serving it for lunch is sheer enjoyment. Pure pleasure.

 

I review and post on every new beer I try unless it's a stinker, which rarely happens.

 

I was pretty serious about doing reviews, commenting on every new beer that I had at least a 4oz pour of...not so much anymore, I'm about 70/30 reviewing/not reviewing. I've fallen off of reviewing one-offs, since I really don't need to go back and reference

 

I'm pretty much exactly where the OP is.

I started reviewing beers primarily as an exercise to both develop my palate and my knowledge of beer, with a view to becoming a better (more educated) consumer. I put a lot of time and effort into reviewing, and I feel like I have gotten a lot of payoff from doing it. I think those two things combined (the effort involved and the progress I've made) are why I have gotten "burned out" on reviewing beers and have not done much of it lately.

I still see the value in documenting the experience of trying a new beer (remembering which ones to go back to and which ones to avoid), so I don't want to stop reviewing permanently. I think that the solution will probably be to switch from full reviews to more rudimentary tasting notes, decreasing the time/effort involved.

I have written some place reviews lately; since I don't go to new breweries nearly as often as I try new beers, place reviews seem more manageable.

 

That's pretty much where I was at when it quit reviewing beers a few years ago. Since I was in the habit of reviewing any new beer I tried, if I wasn't in the mood to write a review, I would put off drinking a beer that I hadn't had before. And I found myself more and more not being the mood to write reviews, to scrutinize and analyze every beer. Got to the point where I just wanted to drink and enjoy the beer without worrying about every detail.

That was about four years ago and I still don't feel compelled to write reviews. But who knows, maybe someday that will change. It is nice to have a record to reference about the beers I've tried, and I also enjoyed contributing to the site in that matter.

 

Currently going through this right now. I've got about 4-5 beers that I plan on reviewing but besides this I want to take a break. I will review Sierra Nevada's newest releases in 2018 but other than that, I do not have any motivation to review beers.

 

I'm just a casual reviewer because i like it as a hobby for myself.so i go in spurts but have no timeline to adhere to.i am still learning how to do good reviews. Frank you are a respected member on this site in just the relatively short time you have been active here, and your reviews are very helpful. I just see where it takes me and the same will be true for you. Cheers

 

I'm not able to review beers well. I am not able to describe the flavors and different nuances of each beer. I do appreciate the talents of many BAs here and use them as a resource. Thanks

 

Its strange I hurt burn out on reviewing (and rating too) earlier this year but I recently started getting into craft ciders and learning the taste properties and that has inspired me to reviewing (in my own journal) the ciders. Maybe this shows that reviewing for me is a way I learn to notice what I am tasting. Anyway, I was thinking maybe its time to start reviewing beers again as I have had a few good and different ones lately.

 

I took a break and more or less never went back. I enjoyed it a lot at first, but after a while it becomes tough to rate anything objectively or to uniquely describe anything.
Plus, as my tastes have changed, a lot of those reviews are borderline laughable now.
At this point I just keep a tally of yays and nays with a rough idea of 50'ish beers I consider to be the best of the best. That works well enough for me, although I *do* like the place reviews. To me, that's more telling than an individual beer.

 

Sometimes you just don't have much to say or have found nothing notable good, bad or new. Really don't think I need to review every flavor of Bud Lite out there.

 

Bud Lite has flavor? I don't think you've read the reviews...OMG what an intro!

Back when BA was tweaking their rating system, I was in a small part of dissenters claiming that a rating should be counted(at the time they were not). Since then, I have actually taken the time and tried to actually review all the beers I try. Lucky for me I don't actually drink very often, so it isn't that big of a deal.

And props to the best beer rep ever! @JeremyDanner Still lurking through posts like this. Keep up the great job my man!

 

Never reviewed any beer ever on any site. Just here to read about beer and (try) to stay in the loop about local places.