How do you rate the Macro Brews?!

Talk Discussion in 'BeerAdvocate Talk' started by Beer-Zombie, Jun 22, 2014.

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  1. turbotype

    turbotype Savant (1,035) Nov 5, 2013 California

    I can't wrap my head around the "rating to style" method. I'm sure alot of us would agree that Coors Banquet, Pabst Blue Ribbon or Strohs are some of the best adjunct lagers out there and would rate them high, (relative to other adjuncts) but it would be unfair to give them a 5 wouldn't it? You would basically be saying PBR is as good as KBS or Pliny. You would know that you rated the beer relative to other adjuncts, but no one else would know that.

    I've read somewhere that you should rate beer against its own category, and thats fine, but like someone else pointed out, what if you don't like the style?. I don't drink most lagers, so I could never rate one very high. But what if one was really world class, would that be fair?

    (Otter Creek Citra Mantra, Lager, is pretty damn good and I make an exception, since it is not adjunct or BMC.)
    http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/119/110546/
     
    #21 turbotype, Jun 22, 2014
  2. schnarr84

    schnarr84 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Canada (AB)

    I don't rate macro beer on BA. If I do have one its quietly and in shame.
     
    #22 schnarr84, Jun 22, 2014
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  3. Roguer

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

    That's a good point; a 1.0 rating should be virtually impossible to tick.

    We often ask something along the lines of, "What are your top 5 beers?" but rarely do we ask, "What are your bottom 5 beers?"

    With that kind of perspective, my bottom 5 includes three infected beers, and two macros. Seriously: Redd's Apple Ale may well be the worst "beer" of any kind I've ever tasted (and I gave it a 2.18).

    However, perhaps illuminating my personal preferences, Bud Light is literally the lowest rating I've ever given (at 1.55). My own arguments about consistency fall to hypocrisy, because I literally cannot finish a single 12 oz Bud Light. (It's significant, I suppose, that it's rated worse in my bottom 5 than the three infected, drain poured beers.)

    But here's where rating to style kind of matters: I gave Michelob Ultra a 2.5 rating. I can actually drink that in a pinch. Hell, the 2.5 might be too low, based on my own anti-AAL bias. Yet, wouldn't you know it: that clocks in at an overwhelming +36.6% rDev! That's my second-highest rDev, for a beer that I literally rated as less than OKAY!

    I think if people hate AALs so much that they're actively looking to score something closer to a 1.0 than a 3.0, then they should just be honest with themselves (like @schnarr84 and @Rohkey above) and just not rate them. If you're going to let your biases so overwhelmingly dominate a rating (high or low), then just don't. I find it hard to believe that the average BA would rather let a camel piss in his/her mouth than swallow a Mich Ultra, but ratings don't lie, I suppose. :rolling_eyes:
     
    #23 Roguer, Jun 22, 2014
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  4. AlienSwineFlu

    AlienSwineFlu Savant (1,135) Dec 14, 2012 Ohio

    Macros should all be rated in the standard format.

    Beer-bong-ability: Can you totally smash that shit, or does the carbonation start to overwhelm you after seven ounces?

    Packaging: Does it come in a 30-pack of cans, or are you forced to scrounge together those extra nickels since it's only available in 6-packs of bottles? See also: shotgunability.

    Hella tight commercials: Starting at zero, add a point for every pair of boobs in their latest ad. Heck yeah!

    FFF (Family Friendliness Factor): No 13-year old kids are out splitting an imperial stout in the woods. We want a beer that's good for the whole family, that all ages can tolerate! Err, I mean enjoy!

    Overall: Your overall opinion based on the listed factors. Do not let your opinion be biased by trivial things such as taste or mouthfeel. Enjoy!
     
    #24 AlienSwineFlu, Jun 22, 2014
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  5. BBThunderbolt

    BBThunderbolt Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,846) Sep 24, 2007 Kiribati
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm not busting on you personally here, I'm busting on everybody with this mind set, so take it in the spirit intended. Do you apply this logic to all beers you rate? If so, you must think that there is 1 true "BEST BEER IN THE WORLD!". I'm real big on fairness in life, and to rate an AAL versus a Westy 12 is very unfair to both beers. Just because I've (or you, or whoever) hasn't had a "perfect" AAL, doesn't mean that there isn't one, or that someone will not eventually brew one. One of my local breweries recently brewed one, and while I wouldn't give it a 5 (it has room for improvement), it's solidly in the 4+ range.

    If you're even pretending to be fair about this, you've gotta compare things to like things. Give the AAL youlike best the highest score in style, and the lowest the worst. For the record, I think PBR is garbage. I'd take a Bud over it anyday, but would prefer a Yuengling Lager.
     
    #25 BBThunderbolt, Jun 22, 2014
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  6. BeRightBock

    BeRightBock Zealot (653) Apr 27, 2007 New York

    Complete agreement.
     
    #26 BeRightBock, Jun 22, 2014
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  7. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Agree entirely. That is how I do it as well. This sums up my thoughts perfectly.
     
    #27 ZAP, Jun 22, 2014
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  8. turbotype

    turbotype Savant (1,035) Nov 5, 2013 California

    Definitely took your word with spirit intended, and you know what, I sort of agree with you. But if we (BAs) were to truly compare like things to like things, then we need a new scaling system. There is no way I can rate any AAL as a 5 when I haven't even rated a craft beer at a 5. I just can't bring myself to do it. If we rated each style against itself in an official manner, I would certainly rate PBR, Strohs, Coors Banquet, Dos Equis, and Yuengling very high in the Adjunct lager category.
     
    #28 turbotype, Jun 22, 2014
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  9. Beer-Zombie

    Beer-Zombie Pooh-Bah (1,769) Oct 16, 2007 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Ya I guess that would be more fair to rate according to style because if I come in already thinking this beer is shit compared to basically all craft beer, then that beer wouldn't even have a fighting chance. But on the other spectrum, if everyone in the world had that mentality and came in giving PBR (or whatever) all 5's cuz everyone believes it's God's gift to the adjunct lagers, would PBR happen to slip it's way into the Top 250 List? I believe this is what they call a Mexican Standoff. I wonder what The Bro's think about this?
     
    #29 Beer-Zombie, Jun 22, 2014
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  10. schnarr84

    schnarr84 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Canada (AB)

    Its not that I am biased towards them - I will have one once in a while. I just don't feel the need to review a beer like Bud, etc.
     
    #30 schnarr84, Jun 22, 2014
  11. Roguer

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

    Didn't mean to take you out of context; rather, that it's just better in some cases to not even rate the beer. I'd rather someone not rate a beer at all (and give it a 2.2, or some other arbitrary number) than someone else spit and froth, and toss down a "1.05 - will not try again! DIAF!" kind of BS rating. In other words, the lack of rating is reflecting a lack of bias (or at least not giving in to it).

    I may have referenced you incorrectly, and if so, I apologize. :slight_smile:
     
    #31 Roguer, Jun 22, 2014
  12. Dan_McNeely

    Dan_McNeely Initiate (0) Jun 14, 2014 Wisconsin

    I think it's probably good to rate any beer to understand where beer falls on your own pendulum. I like to rate and review beers to remember what to go back to and understand what I really enjoy. Using a bud or miller product would help in a sense I can that ask myself, Is this beer better than a High Life........and go from there......
     
    #32 Dan_McNeely, Jun 22, 2014
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  13. Roguer

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

    There's no reason one cannot fall in between the lines. i.e., this beer is totes the best adjunct lager evarssss, yet it's still nowhere on par with a good craft RIS or DIPA. No reason that "rating to style" means that an adjunct lager has to be rated a 5.0 overall.
     
    #33 Roguer, Jun 22, 2014
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  14. schnarr84

    schnarr84 Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2011 Canada (AB)

    I definitely understand where you are coming from. I choose not to rate these beers because they aren't something I would go back and say "Hey, how good was this? I'll check my BA rating." I choose not to rate beers that I am going to rate poorly. That being said, I have rated a few mass market beers that I felt were worthy of going back to. Personal preference, I guess. I do on the other hand give bad reviews to craft beers I do not like. That also being said, I almost always check BA before I buy anything so I tend to never have beers I give less than about 3.5 to as a result.
     
    #34 schnarr84, Jun 22, 2014
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  15. ZAP

    ZAP Grand Pooh-Bah (4,048) Dec 1, 2001 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Totally agree with your thoughts but the main reason I am replying is off topic but regarding Yuengling lager....had a lot of that while down in Florida...they love it down there and I agree....for a basic beer it is really good...reminds me of Grain Belt Nordeast but better in my opinion...As I've gotten older I've grown to appreciate the subtle differences in the macros.....I used to hate Bud but now appreciate it from time to time as a little different twist...my go to for this style is Coors Original but I also like Miller products usually...regular Grain Belt Premium is sweet but hits the spot out of the bottle after a long day grinding away at work...
     
    #35 ZAP, Jun 22, 2014
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  16. cherche

    cherche Pooh-Bah (2,476) Mar 27, 2013 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sounds like i am pretty similar to you...if i like it i rate it high, if i dont i rate it low...that is pretty much how i rate all beers.
     
    #36 cherche, Jun 22, 2014
  17. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    One of the first beers I stole from the old mans fridge was a doppelbock, don't be generalizing hoodlums as having poor taste.
     
    #37 SFACRKnight, Jun 24, 2014
  18. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    I feel like I rate them higher than I should, but in the long run I just don't care enough to put more thought into it.
     
    #38 mychalg9, Jun 24, 2014
  19. marquis

    marquis Pooh-Bah (2,313) Nov 20, 2005 England
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't think it's reasonable to rate any beer which is a type you simply don't like.
    Lots of posters (myself included) don't like BMC or fizzy mass brewed European lagers but this is simply a matter of taste not quality.Most drinkers actually find them appealing; they haven't been brainwashed or anything, simply find they enjoy drinking them more than other beer. These people actually appreciate the qualities which have been built in to the brewing and like them or not the brewing skills employed in AALs are of the highest order.I have met brewers from big companies who have moved into the "craft" section and believe me they know their job.
     
    #39 marquis, Jun 24, 2014
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  20. LMT

    LMT Initiate (0) Oct 15, 2009 Virginia

    This should be sort of an unofficial "policy" for rating beers. I can't understand how anyone can rate a food or beverage if it is from a style they don't like.

    Think of a food you don't like. For me, it's hard-boiled eggs. Then imaging me going on to "egg advocate" and rating Diner X's eggs in the "hard boiled" category. You'd likely think my opinion/rating on that was useless. You'd be correct.
     
    #40 LMT, Jun 24, 2014
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