Do you Rate or Review?

Sounds like fun! With the high octane beers I drink, I'd probably only make it to #2

 

I try to review every new beer I drink. That said, I don't always feel I can write the kind of elaborate reviews others write. So, if I can't really break down a beer into the 5 typical components (Taste, smell, etc.) I just rate.

 

I would review more often, as opposed to rate only, if we had a sixth category for the scoring system.... AfterAroma.

LOML can attest, through many a suffered dutch ovens over the years, that not all beers have the same AfterAroma.

 

I review most of the beers I have the first time I have them. I rarely review beers I have at bars (consequently few "on tap" reviews). I rarely review beers had in a party or gathering setting. I avoid trying beers for the first time when both my kids are awake, so that I can try to pay attention to what I'm drinking. I don't like trying a new beer unless I can pay serious attention to it. I'll still do it, but I won't really count it as a "had" until I've been able to sit and review it.

I review because it makes me sit and think and pay attention to nothing but the beer in hand. This year, I've started to go back and add new notes to old reviews when I revisit a seasonal release or a beer that I just don't have often, to compare how the beer changes per release and how my taste changes over time.

 

I put a lot of thought in rating what I drink. I haven't written any reviews yet.

 

I usually only view beers I am very excited about. Orsometimes a beer i really enjoyed and want to takr my time thinking about.other than that it just takes too much time. But I still find it necessary to at least rate for my own future reference.

 

Rate

 

I try to review each beer. Usually when buying a four or six pack I review one and enjoy the others without the computer, cell, or a piece of paper in front of me. For a bomber it takes half of a pint to review and then close the laptop.
I enjoy reviewing beers. Its a hobby. I stick to things I know when in social situations so I don't feel like I need to review them

 

Rate. The only reviews I've posted were because I added them and had drank them within the last 3-4 days. I can't be bothered to sit and write out a detailed description unless I feel that it is absolutely worth it or it is a complete 180 compared to how most everyone else reviews the beer. Plus, it's to fucking expensive to buy 4 or 6 packs of every beer worth drinking and the ones that are only available in bombers are usually at least $15-20 a bomber and I'm not about to spend $40 on two bottles ( one to drink and another to review).

 

I've taken notes on every beer I've ever had, including the beers I used to live by in high school. I got into this when I was 21 so I could learn about the ingredients that were being used for brewing reasons (I've brewed a few mediocre beers, and I haven't done it in a while), but the note taking became a hobby in itself. After a few years of exploring the brews from around the world, as well as expanding my understanding of each style, I now feel comfortable placing a number next to my notes from time to time. It has actually changed my way of thinking about beer and styles.

With all that said, I am a big time advocate for 4 and 6 packs. I enjoy having a few of my beers without this thought process that I seem to have quite a fetish for. I also go back to beers I enjoy a lot more often now for the same reason. While it may be stimulating to take notes and review a beer, sometimes it just feels good to sit back and drink a beer.

 

Yes, I do full reviews for every beer I drink.

 

If it doesn't have many reviews I review. I also review ones that I just feel I must- either super awesome or super disappointing. Just reviewed zombie dust because it was awesome and yesterday reviewed lips of faith cigar city collab cause I was disappointed. Rating isn't all that useful I think bit I've rated a few beers here and there, mostly when I'm too lazy to write a full review (maybe we should abolish ratings?)

 

I rate them for my own sake, so that I can remember how I liked/disliked them throughout the course of time. I occasionally change them because I know that my palette is changing with time. Plus, even if I were to review them, people would not understand me well... so I save both of us the trouble.

 

I used to review as a way of keeping track of the beers I've tried & how I liked them, now I rate to do that.

 

I review if I can give it a good analysis of what I just drank. I rate if I don't have time to take detailed notes or sit in front of a computer. I do neither if I feel my tastebuds are compromised. I do it more for me than anyone else. If anyone else finds value, then I'm just returning the favor I've gotten from other people on this site. Craft beer is getting so pricey, I am always looking for clues as to where I should squander my money...

 

Amen Jane!

 

I do both, but have gotten away from full reviews and these days mostly rate. Every so often it's nice to sit with a beer and really dissect it, but for me this can also be a turnoff, becoming too analytical a task when all I want to do is sit back and just enjoy the damn beer.

 

Exactly!

 

I have 905 "reviews" and photos already in-the-can that I shared with a few friends during one very strange 905 consecutive nights of my life. I could repost them on BA, but they were usually surreal and just not ready for prime time.

I read reviews, especially the creative ones that avoid the obvious descriptions and instead offer more...insight.