Expanding the Style Descriptions

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by SLeffler27, Dec 31, 2020.

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  1. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    The simple, brief style descriptions are a huge plus. Still...

    1 - If a review is supposed to be based on five criteria (Look, Smell, Taste, Feel, Overall), then shouldn’t the style description follow this same formula? Something a bit more than what we have now, though not as stilted as the BJCP guides.
    2 - Maybe include a little factoid about the style origin or some interesting tidbit.
    3 - Bring back the food pairings.
    4 - Bring back suggested serving temperature range.
     
    #1 SLeffler27, Dec 31, 2020
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  2. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    A little explanation of my list above.

    1 - Following the criteria format will add clarity to the subjectively, provide a consistent formula (clarity and concise), and help us all to focus on what we should be using as a comparison.
    2 - Factoids are interesting and will help generate interest in the style.
    3 - Food pairings will help with advocacy and give a broader experience than just drinking the beer.
    4 - Temp. Range will help advocate for the best experience, helps with geeking-out, and will help ensure the beer is reviewed closer to how it is intended to be experienced.

    All of these will help us to refocus rather than rely on our personal cumulative experience, which naturally drifts with time. They will also help those unfamiliar with the style to better understand what to expect.
     
    #2 SLeffler27, Dec 31, 2020
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  3. beergoot

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

    I like the general premise.

    Perhaps a lot of the descriptions could be reformatted in a manner to reflect the five rating criteria. For example, the BA beer style description of Mild Ale - English Dark is currently written like this:

    Mild Ale - English Dark

    The quintessential British session beer, like its name suggests, a Mild is known for its low level of hop character. Similarly, the alcohol content is traditionally very low, too. Colors can range from medium amber to rich brown. Low carbonation with a nearly still, slightly bubbly head and little to no hop aroma. Grainy to toasty malts might be present, but expect some body from the high dextrins produced during brewing. Traditionally Dark Milds were a draft beer made popular in London and the Midlands of England.

    ABV: 3.0–6.0% | IBU: 20–30 | Glassware: Pint Glass (or Becker, Nonic, Tumbler)

    ------------

    So, perhaps something like this would work (using the existing BA style description narrative):

    Mild Ale - English Dark

    General    : The quintessential British session beer, like its name suggests, a Mild is known for its low level of hop character. Traditionally Dark Milds were a draft beer made popular in London and the Midlands of England.

    ABV: 3.0–6.0% | IBU: 20–30 | Glassware: Pint Glass (or Becker, Nonic, Tumbler)

    Look: Colors can range from medium amber to rich brown. Low carbonation with a nearly still, slightly bubbly head.

    Smell: Little to no hop aroma.

    Taste: Grainy to toasty malts might be present.

    Feel: Expect some body from the high dextrins produced during brewing.

    ------------

    So, not reinventing the wheel per se, just reformatting current information a bit. This might also make tweaking the description a bit easier down the road as it still will focus on the OPs idea of giving a person unfamiliar with a style a better structured understanding of specific components of a particular style. And if some of the current beer styles would lack information for a specific criteria, that would make it easier to prioritize efforts to add that missing data and complete the all descriptions in some sort of normalized format.
     
    #3 beergoot, Dec 31, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2020
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  4. EmperorBevis

    EmperorBevis Grand High Pooh-Bah (9,338) Sep 25, 2011 England
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can I note that Dark milds are noted in the Midlands but have not been as popular in London as the North West of England & Wales that should be the description in its place
     
    #4 EmperorBevis, Dec 31, 2020
    Last edited: Dec 31, 2020
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  5. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yes, essentially this is the idea.
     
    #5 SLeffler27, Jan 1, 2021
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  6. Wasatch

    Wasatch Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,050) Jun 8, 2005 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Some labels have numbers 2, 3, and 4. Number 2 more about the beer in hand.:slight_smile:

    Cheers!
     
    #6 Wasatch, Jan 1, 2021
  7. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,584) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I like the idea of #1, and @beergoot showed a good example of a style that has all the categories laid out, although I think some styles skip a category or two here and there, and ensuring they all have something for each category would be nice.

    I think it was mentioned before the last revamp that listing some rare sub-styles that should be included into the actual BA category. If this is done, perhaps a brief indication as to where a sub-style differentiates itself from the core category (e.g. "tend to be a bit darker" or "leans less bitter" than the core style). It wouldn't have to be too much, I'd guess, or otherwise the beer would probably be in a different main style all together.
     
    #7 cjgiant, Jan 1, 2021
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  8. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Right, I forgot about that idea, and whole heartedly support it to help clarify ambiguity.

    I also support the idea of adding brief comments on the related or sub-styles. These comments, however, could quickly become cumbersome, so caution may be useful before proceeding.
     
    #8 SLeffler27, Jan 1, 2021
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