Above Average Rating

But then 80-82 would have to be "slightly above average."

 

If you add the "above average" you would have to change the "good" into "very good." I mean, I don't see how "good" is better than "above average", but "very good" would work! Know what I mean?

 

95-100 Enjoyable
90-94 Good beer to have with lunch
70-89 Don't bother
<70 For the morbidly curious

 

These rating scales are skewed too high, IMO. I think people should use more of the rating scale, especially on the lower end. When I actually used to rate beers on here, I found I had mostly "red" ratings, where I gave a lower score than the average score. Some of the raters I respect the most have mostly "red" ratings. I think part of the problem is that some people just rate every barrel aged beer a 4.4+, though I think "average" should be more in the 60-70 range.

 

I think a 100 should be reserved for a 4.6+ instead of 4.5+

 

I agree and have been thinking about the way I've been rating my beers. If we are rating using between 1 and 5 scale then 2.5 should be "middle of the road". I think most people (including myself in error I realize) tend to give "middle of the road" beers between a 3.5 and 4. Usually something I don't care for too much I rate below a 3.5 but that should be 2.5 and below.

Here is how I currently seem to rate beers (sort of a combo between my personal taste for the beer but also to weigh the rating some for how it compares within its peer group / style of beer as well)

4.75 - 5 = The super-elite beers that I find spectacular to my taste buds and are noticeable well crafted gems
4.25 - 4.75 = Beers that I really, really like and want to go back to again and again, but don't quite have all of the characteristics to put them in the super elite class of beers
3.75-4.25 = Beers that I like and enjoy but perhaps don't go out of my way to get them. Somewhat pedestrian yet tasty enough.
3 - 3.75 = Beers that aren't quite as well crafted nor as tasty as other options, but I don't have too much trouble finishing them
2-3 = Beers that I don't like at all. Usually am able to finish them (barely), but they are poorly made and taste is somewhat unpleasant
<2 is a drainpour. Something is horrible off tasting, noticeably poorly crafted, badly skunked or spoiled etc or just too hard to continue drinking with no pleasure at all

IMO...I should give more 2.5-3.5 ratings for many beers pedestrian beers that I may give closer to 4 ratings. I'm too nice I guess, or I just like most beers I sample.