Highly Rated Beers: Truth or Fiction?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Roser, Jun 2, 2014.

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  1. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    I joined BA almost two years ago, and until recently was happy to simply log on and be a voyeur, looking up beers, reading threads, and "commenting" here and there. This past March I began reviewing beers. I've only rated 15, so far, but 8 of them have rDev considerably low (between 12 and 22%). I wouldn't consider myself an overly harsh critic, so, I'm left suspecting that many in here are either way, way, way too generous with their praise, or may be influenced a little too easily by other ultra favorable reviews. One doesn't have to love a beer simply because it's uber popular or a hard to find cult offering. Thoughts?
     
  2. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    @Roser the beer experience is subjective. Just dig the beers you love and forget about the ones you dislike. You will be happier!

    P.S. You dislike MO, we cannot be friends :stuck_out_tongue:.
     
  3. pkalix

    pkalix Pooh-Bah (2,371) Oct 27, 2007 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    all my reviews are usually way higher then the rDev, I've noticed..... I attribute it to just liking most beer overall.... but when it's nasty, I usually grade pretty harshly. I guess I just might be an unstable person.....
     
  4. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    Taste is the ultimate example of subjectivity. In the end all that matters is if you like it. I'm just surprised how low/negative some of mine are, especially since it didn't mean I didn't like/enjoy the beer.
     
  5. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    I tend to deviate in excess of the normal regulation on many beers. Enjoy the unique experience of your own palate.
     
  6. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    Was really bummed by the MO, and that's a great example of what I'm talking about. Was really looking forward to it, and figured I'd really like it. I think some decide it's good before it even hits their lips. Sounds like I need to try the Lunch and Dinner, huh?
     
    Shroud0fdoom likes this.
  7. Shroud0fdoom

    Shroud0fdoom Initiate (0) Oct 31, 2013 Maryland

    Lol! You're talking to the wrong BA! I don't get the hype behind Lunch. I enjoyed MO a hell of a lot better!
     
  8. elektrikjester

    elektrikjester Initiate (0) Nov 15, 2008 Georgia

    I stopped rating beers some years ago, so take this as one person's opinion and nothing more.

    Focus on consistency in rating beers and less on how your ratings correspond to others' assessments. We're all different in the way we review. If you're a harsher judge, that's okay, so long as you apply that high standard to all the beers you rate. In other words, strive for internal consistency and you'll be fine.
     
  9. fscottkey

    fscottkey Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2014 New York

    I have to agree with the OP. You would think that beers would fall on a bell curve, with the majority in the middle (3). But it seems like almost all beers are 3 or higher. Even pretty poor beers tend to get a 3+. I think it skews the system. My ratings are all over fit deviation. When I review a bad beer I give it a bad review. When I taste a great beer I give it a great review (but no 5s yet). Some people throw out 5s left and right.
     
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  10. Roguer

    Roguer Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,811) Mar 25, 2013 Connecticut
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I get the same thing. By ratings, I rate some mass produced lagers way higher than the average - because, well, I feel that beer really is OK! I also rate a number of things well lower than the average.

    It's completely up to you, and completely subjective. The ratings all work themselves out in the end.

    Although I'll echo @Shroud0fdoom : MO is awesome. You should try it again, just to be sure. :slight_smile:
     
  11. SenorHops

    SenorHops Initiate (0) Aug 10, 2010 Rhode Island

    Most of my reviews tend to be below the rDev. I tend to base it off a score of 3 being OK and anything above 4 leaning toward world class. For me scores above 4 are only for what I consider an elite beer for it's given style. It does appear to me that most people tend to rate a little high, but to each their own.
     
  12. jefffalcone

    jefffalcone Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2013 Massachusetts

    You seem to have calibrated yourself. Now you can look at ratings and guess your opinion is about 15% lower. Your welcome. Every ruler is arbitrary. You just need to know what it means. Inch, centimeter, cubit...

    Doesn't matter who is wrong and who is right. I kind of agree with you that they use the Harvard grading system. It's hard to get an A but nobody gets worse than a B.
     
    cavedave, jRocco2021 and Shroud0fdoom like this.
  13. frazbri

    frazbri Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2003 Ohio

    I don't review anymore, but I will say this. Some people rate beers higher than they should because of the hype, and some people rate beers lower than they should because beer doesn't live up to the hype.
     
  14. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    I'm enjoying the responses and the back and forth. Thanks for weighing in. I think all (for the most part) understood where I was coming from. Remember, this isn't about why some like a beer and others don't. I'm the first to point out that taste is the best example of something subjective. For example, look at the MO lovers here who are surprised I was not enamored with it (I really wanted to like it!). They love it, I don't. I'm talking about those who just "slurp" a beer and fall all over it because it's popular, or seems like the popular thing to do. I would expect these same people to slam a bad beer, too, simply because it's what the masses did.
     
  15. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    Yes! Exactly! Thanks for putting it perfectly! Not many 5's in here, but tons of 4's.
     
  16. Roser

    Roser Zealot (576) Aug 4, 2012 Virginia

    Ding! Ding! Ding! You nailed it! Why I started this thing. Thank you!
     
  17. leantom

    leantom Initiate (0) Nov 20, 2011 Indiana

    Roser:

    It's good to be iconoclastic in some regards. I, for one, received a very scathing smattering of replies for my review of Founder's Backwoods Bastard over two year ago (I did not change the rating despite criticism, however). You'll find that the mob is a potent force in many democratic institutions - the internet is no exception. Just go with what your palate tells you and ignore any criticism, especially since the matter at hand (reviewing beers) is entirely subjective.

    This being said, I agree with many of your ratings. I prefer balanced beers to the unbalanced slop that many reviewers consider "good beer" (see many west-coast IPA's). I strongly suspect that there are also regional biases (again, see many west-coast IPA's). Your reviews actually give better information as to the quality of certain beers, given that your opinions are not prejudiced by mob sentiment.

    I hope this helps.
     
  18. ThisWangsChung

    ThisWangsChung Pooh-Bah (2,988) Oct 15, 2011 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    Well, just yesterday I gave KBS a 3.88 - definitely a good score, but deviating far below (-16.2%) its 4.63 rAvg.

    Then again, I *don't* rate ridiculously high. If I ever give something higher than a 4, then chances are I'm really damn fond of it.
     
  19. Casey3236

    Casey3236 Pooh-Bah (1,641) Sep 14, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Beer is like food: everyone's taste is different. That being said, I try to rate a beer in my head before looking at its BA score. Hard to avoid on the super-hyped stuff, but I try to form an opinionbefore looking at everybody else's.
     
    Leebo and Shroud0fdoom like this.
  20. EricTKole

    EricTKole Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2014 Michigan

    I'm with you on at least one, Enjoy by is highly overrated.
     
    mychalg9, Shroud0fdoom and SenorHops like this.
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