Re-rating beers a decade later

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by ZenAgnostic, Jun 13, 2021.

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  1. ZenAgnostic

    ZenAgnostic Pooh-Bah (1,679) Jan 27, 2011 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    Now that I've been on this site over a decade I find myself accidentally re-rating beers I've forgotten I've already had. And that allows me to blindly compare the way my ratings and reviews have evolved.

    Maybe it's because I'm already a few beers in but, I think I've gotten lazy over the years. After comparing notes, I think my first review was more spot on. Anyone one else experience a re-rating?

    for reference, my review of
    Chicken Killer Barley Wine

    ZenAgnostic from Texas

    Original rating Jan 5, 2012.

    1 pint 6 oz bottle poured into a Duvel snifter. No date.

    Appearance - Medium brown, cloudy to the point of near total opacity. Tan pancake batter head with fine lacking that slides off momentarily; decent to good retention.

    Smell - Vinous. Oaky. Sweet like fresh fruit. Apple cider. Smooth and inoffensive.

    Taste - Leather. Yeasty. Relatively dry apple cider. Hides its alcohol well.

    Mouthfeel - Slight alcoholic bite. Mildly solvent. Astringency is pretty minimal.

    Overall Drinkability - Very smooth. Nt very complex, but very drinkable for the style. Deceptive alcohol. Not very

    4.03/5 rDev +8.3%
    look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

    -----

    re-rating June 13, 2021, about 9.5 years later.

    16oz can poured into Duvel tulip. Hatched on 04/08/21 printed on bottom rim of can, so it's 2 months old.

    Appearance - Opaque dark orange-brown body with small tan head. Decent to good lacing and stick, but only decent stick. 4.25 (-0.25 from previous)

    Smell - Very malty without any darkness to it. Just robust straight malt. 4 (exact as before)

    Taste - Actually pretty smooth for what I'd expect from the style. Alcohol isn't exactly hidden but it feels maybe a couple percent lower than it actually is. 4.25 (+0.25 from previous)

    Mouthfeel - Fairly clean. Medium bodied. 4.5 (+0.5 from previous)

    Overall - Very smooth and drinkable. 4.5 (+0.5 from previous)
     
  2. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I've always said a review is just a snapshot in time; one experience with that beer at that time, in that place. You could review a beer, from the same batch, two weeks apart and have different experiences.

    You're different than you were ten years ago, and the beer is too. It's fun to look at, but don't put too much weight in the differences.
     
  3. defunksta

    defunksta Grand Pooh-Bah (4,164) Jan 18, 2019 Wisconsin
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I do many re-ratings. I find that trying a beer multiple times helps you understand it better. Takes about at least 3-5 tries to get a good impression. Many beers, I do muchmore. Often times my reviews contradict. I make sure to date each new review on BeerAdvocate so I can compare the difference. If collectively and repeatedly there is a difference, then I update my rating. Comparing to your previous notes, I think encourages learning, palate training, and greater beer education. I promote it!
     
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  4. ZenAgnostic

    ZenAgnostic Pooh-Bah (1,679) Jan 27, 2011 Texas
    Pooh-Bah

    That has always been my logic, but once I've actually compared my reviews it just seems like my palate has gotten lazy. Am I the only one. Is being 3 pints in a factor? Kinda feels like maybe things are getting rote.
     
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  5. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    There's so many things that could affect a rating - from the batch variation, storage conditions, age of the beer, your own palate, what you ate that day, how many you've had before, etc.
     
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  6. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,710) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I’ve actually done this a few times lately too (re-reviewing a beer I had already reviewed and forgotten). I’ve found that for the most part the descriptions and ratings have stayed pretty close—naturally I probably score a little lower than I used to, because the more beers you’ve had the fewer rank at the highest echelons. But it’s also true that both we and the beers change and evolve over time, so overthinking it probably isn’t very useful. For me the main thing is to force yourself to really pay attention to what you’re drinking and focus on the various aspects of the beer for a little bit before you just relax and enjoy it.
     
  7. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I picked up a 4pack of Grolsch yesterday. Low and behold, it is now a Premium Pilsner vs a Premium Lager. When the hell did that happen??

    Anywho, I would rate it higher than what I did in the past. I kinda like the hop profile and the malt ain't too shabby either.
     
  8. beergoot

    beergoot Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,310) Oct 11, 2010 Colorado
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Because the word "Pilsner" sells better!?! :thinking_face:

    Cheers!
     
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  10. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Why would it? Amongst the uncleaned masses?
     
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  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I really do not have a 'definitive' answer here since I am not a commercial beer industry person.

    FWIW I do see a lot of BAs post about how they like and wish that more Pilsners were brewed. I doubt that BA discussions have great influence as regards beer industry marketing but maybe some influence?

    Perhaps you have a 'better' answer here?

    Cheers!
     
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  12. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Average beer drinker reads Pilsner. What?
    Average beer drinker reads Lager. Yeah, baby.
     
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  13. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Maybe non-average beer drinkers are willing to pay more and this is the reason for the change of labeling? :confused:

    Cheers!
     
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  14. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Very possible. I don't know when they made the label change but perhaps it smelled more like victory?
     
  15. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    #15 steveh, Jun 16, 2021
    Last edited: Jun 16, 2021
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  16. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Rut roh! :grimacing:

    Maybe a lawsuit coming !?! :astonished:

    [​IMG]
     
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  17. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I knew you would go there. I was going more for a Robert Duvall quote.
     
  18. steveh

    steveh Grand Pooh-Bah (4,174) Oct 8, 2003 Illinois
    Society Pooh-Bah

    That gasoline smell?

    Same thing, isn't it? :grin:
     
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  19. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    For green bottle BS, it is actually pretty good. Put it in brown bottles like Pilsner Urquell and whoa; the ratings would jump!
     
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  20. defunksta

    defunksta Grand Pooh-Bah (4,164) Jan 18, 2019 Wisconsin
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    That is a good point. I also do my ratings somewhat fasted so that I'm hungry. I've noticed my sense of smell and taste is more attune. I eat very minimally during the day before a beer review. Also completely sober so that my mind is clear. There's so many factors that can influence your rating on a beer so I try as best I can to minimize the distractions and keep the consistency.
    Things definitely change from batch to batch and over time though. It's an evolving practice and not for perfectionists.
     
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