So where do you stand with your ratings?

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/what-is-your-median-rating.406151/

 

I think my ratings have varied over the past year - I'll selectively try more highly-rated beers (or beers from great breweries), and yet I tend to be more critical.

A quick look at my beer stats shows me that of the 920+ beers I've reviewed thus far, only 350 have been above the average BA rating.

I also agree a "5" rating should be only for exceptional beers. I looked back at my highest rated beers (my own personal ratings) and I've only ever given two 5s, both for feel. Never given a 5 for appearance, aroma, taste or overall. My highest rated beer, overall, earned a 4.72. And I've tried some pretty darn amazing beers.

 

I only review approx. 1 of every 6 new beers I try.

I heavily favor putting reviews for breweries that are local, breweries I like, and for beers that don't have any, or few, reviews posted.

I rate higher than average generally. Part of this I believe is due to no general understanding among site users of whether 3 is average, or 2.5 is average, or even some other understanding of how the number ratings should be used. Part of it is due to my consciously and successfully using this site and other resources to get beers that I believe will provide excellent results.

I haven't judged in a number of years, but when I review/rate a beer I do it by the method we used as judges rating to style.

 

I hate that you did this. I think you should rate the beer as you actually think it is, not try to "correct" others.

I do think, with hundreds of hours of therapy and the full support of my family & friends that I'll get over it.

 

I’m “correcting” others by rating how I think it actually is. When everyone rates how they think the beer is, then an average comes from it. When I first started rating a mistake I used to make was rating close to the avg thinking that others knew more than I did and whatever is close to the average is correct, not realizing that there is no correct rating, that it’s all subjective. I don’t rate high to spite people, I rate what I think is fair, which is higher than average typically, and that’s fine because most BA’s underrate imo. It all balances out to make an average.

 

Don't want to talk too much about the competition, but have you notice how ratebeer web site ratings are a lot more critical than our beeradvocate. Are they snob! or tired of enjoying beers? Most of their ratings are lower than those on this site.

 

I see your point. I do the same thing with pastries as I don’t live the style. I just am not in love with sweet stuff.

urr

 

I posted this on another thread in 2014...little has changed with how I rate since then except nearly all my ratings now go on Untappd, not BA. I'm a bit of a ticker (still) and that comes through in how I describe my rating system.
______________________________________________________________________

1 - reserved for skunked AALs and Magic Hat #9 (so gross)
2 - pretty good...for an AAL (womp, womp!)
3 - average beer; no need to have again
3.25 - slightly above avg.; definitely not having this (or anything rated less than this) again unless there are no better options
3.5 - good but not great; not worth having again unless the only other options are non-craft
3.75 - pretty good but would try something NEW over having this again
4 - Really good for its style; would drink again for sure
4.25 - Would get this again even over *most* beers I've not yet tried
4.5 - I would drive across town to drink this or procure a bottle of it
4.75 - Not only would I drive across town for it, I'd STAND IN LINE FOR IT (gasp!)
5 - A perfect example of it's style and really special anytime I get to have one

Sometimes I have a beer in a style I don't like, but I really enjoy anyways so I'll give them a little bump (usually .25-.5 depending how much I like it).

Sometimes I'm drinking an average-ish beer right in front of a brewery rep so I'll give it a bump of .25 to stay in their good graces (hey, I'm only human).

Sometimes someone will share a beer with me that I don't like OR I'm drinking a beer I don't like at the brewery or in front of a brewery rep--in these cases I check into it on Untappd but don't give it a rating. The comment is usually, "Really interesting...glad I tried this" which is code for "I didn't like this. Don't bother drinking again."

 

I equate my ratings to academic grades (rightfully or not). This is my internal perception. For me, that makes a 4.0 an 80%. Which is a B-.

I wouldn't buy a B- again.

By looking at my reviews, I seem to rate high but my rDev isn't that far off in most examples.

 

I'm incredibly biased because I just love beer. The vast majority of my ratings are well above 3.5. I'm also style biased. For example: a good, but not great IPA will get a 3.5-3.75. However a good, but not great AAL will get a 2.75-3.00.

I'm trying to correct this in my more recent reviews but old habits and all that.

Ultimately though I rate for myself, so it's not a big deal for me. I'd just like to be less biased and be able to rate more to style than preference.

This also goes for breweries, too. Tree House is the best example. A good, but not great NEIPA from them is still getting a 4, at the very least. Hell I think I've even called a few 4.25 beers of theirs "disappointing".

 

I rate above average than most. But my scale is skewed on the high end. I also rate to-style, so while two different beers share a same rating, I still may heavily prefer drinking one over another that is not captured in my rating.

I have AAL’s rated just as high as my favorite BA Stouts or IPA’s.

But most of the time these days, I don’t rate. The reason is my tastes and preferences are always changing obviously, with beers I disliked years ago love today and vice versa. So while I like to see what I have had, I don’t particularly care how much I liked, or disliked it at those various times I have enjoyed it. I tend to only rate those at the top of class, or the bottom as a warning to avoid as future reference.

In terms of my rating scores (out of 5), I’d say my average is around 4. Which I consider the point of “good beer”.

4.75 – 5 would be “top of class” with great execution and quality.

4.25 – 4.75 would be a fantastic, well made beer. Could show some minor improvement on the lower end of the score. But nothing to pass up and gladly drink over and over again.

3.5 – 4.25 is good, but not great. Lacking “it” factor, perhaps a bit boring for the style. Better options available.

3 – 3.5 – Some flaws, mediocre quality. Usually a beer I will not buy again.

2 – 3 - Flawed, quality is sub-par. May end up down the drain more often than not.

0 – 2 – Definitely down the drain, heavily flawed.

 

this is an interesting thread so far and it’s illuminating to hear everyone’s divergent approaches. Two things stood out in your post which to me need clarification:

How does uber factor into this conversation?

I haven’t observed that the “cultural mentality is five stars is the norm.” How did you come to that conclusion? I use untappd sparingly so maybe I’m
Missing something? BA is my predominant beer resource and where I do all my rating.

 

On Uber, if a driver or traveler does not have a rating at or near 5 stars they are considered low quality options. A high amount of Uber drivers or users have ratings in the 4.90 range.

 

Ah I see! Don’t use Uber very often, prefer Lyft but even that’s like 3-4 times a year. Thanks.

 

1 = Trash
5 = Perfection
2.5 = Average run of the mill beer.
3 = Decent beer, daily drinker but nothing that blows me away.
4 = What I consider a solid, well made beer, that I would run out for and enjoy daily.
All other points just a dial in on the great or poor side of the beer. I will usually up tick or down tick based on style, appearance, etc.

I always get a solid feel for a beer and know the range then I tweak my number based on the rest.

Cheers

 

Never thought to check before.
I try to review based on how I brought that beer represents it's style in L, S, T, F and whether or not I like it in Overall.

Looks like I rate German & Belgian imports above the rDev and American versions of German styles below; probably because the American versions tend to be over-hopped.

 

The only thing that strikes me for my ratings which isn't a big surprise, is that the vast majority of beers that I have had are solid to exceptional.

This is no surprise to me, the plethora of very good beer that is out there is just immense.