I view it more like the best it could possibly be for what it is, since nothing is really perfect. Basically an appearance that can’t get much better, a pleasing and intense aroma and taste that is about as good as it can get for that specific taste or style, as good as the mouthfeel will get, etc. And I guess our basis for what is the best possible is the highest rated beers on all the websites, here, Untappd, etc. I don’t think that something you really like should be given a 5 across the board, it should be the best possible appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel and overall for its presented style that is given individual 5 ratings. The problem is we all have our own definitions of what that 5 would be.
The brilliant words of @StoutElk_92 have been stuck in my head.. a five isn't necessarily about being flawless. This is a 5 to me in that its impact on all my senses as well my mood is excellent. A 5 beer is like a 5 day hanging out with a good friend,unexplainable but leaves a deep impression
Never had/rated a perfect 5 for a beer . I did for a place review in Cape Coral , Fl. The only 5 I’ve done here .
No perfect 5s, but my top 7 beers all have a 5 in something. Barrique Shapes of Silence has a few, taste feel aroma, DDH Pseudo Sue is similar, same with PtE and FW Paraboloid. Southern Grist Juicy Pun Nectaron is still the best smelling beer I've found especially since it was fresh; I'd email Xul specifically so they keep the Juicy Pun series around with them buying out Southern Grist. Barrique Vari Gusti was one of the best tasting lagers I've ever had and got a 5 in taste. Overall, no perfect 5s, but a lot of great stuff deserving of it in multiple categories.
I like to think that a 5 rating can’t really be improved upon basically. There are plenty of times where a taste alone will be beyond a 5 flavor for me but I will think that the appearance or mouthfeel could be better, or maybe it isn’t one of the best examples for its style, etc. so in the end the total rating will be closer to 4.8 or 4.9.
It would be interesting to be able to see our ratings sorted by attribute. I wonder what I'm toughest on? I think I've given a lot of 5s for look and probably feel is next.
I'd like to think that I'm toughest on look and feel. They seem like the least subjective categories, and also the easiest to get right.
Yeah I'm probably quick to drop things hard for when they fall short, but I'm guessing I've given the highest ratings to those categories since they are so easy to get right
I'm easily toughest on taste (especially being able to taste barrel aging from first-to-last-sip) as well as flavor(s), then mouthfeel, then aroma/according-to-style & last of all, looks. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I've had a lot of (ahem) things that might not have looked like a million dollars but once experienced....whoaa, baby!
I have been a member since July 26, 2008. I only have two 5 out of 5 ratings and on 9/20/2014, I rated Pliny the Elder as a 5 out of 5. Ironic really, since my previous forum post was on the thread of Pliny v. Heady. I picked Pliny on that thread too. The other 5 out of 5 for me was a one-off: Smuttynose Stone Cluster's Last Stand American IPA. For some reason I never wrote a review for it and that is unusual for me. So, I can't remember why I liked it so much. Unless I clicked on 5 by accident. My rating was significantly higher than other BA members. The average was 3.79. They have never brewed it again. I have a lot of ratings in the upper 4's.
Let me start with a 10 out of 5 Sarah Sherman looks like my wife 30 years ago dresses as a man , still very sexy My 5 out of 5 is…. @russpowell can I hear a hell yeah! btw: @HoppingMadMonk We talked in therapy I really love a woman dressed as a man who still is sexy That’s how bad!? And ,,,, I like good beer 5 out of 5