How Many Perfect 5s Have You Given?

Maybe I am off the mark (wouldn't be the first time) but to me a "5" is top tier, not "perfection". Therefore, when I judge a beer it is not only based on how I like it but also what kind of style it is. I have rated 8 out of 244 as a 5 (not counting PBR) which I love for all the wrong reasons.

 

Over a thousand reviews and/or ratings, and I've yet to give a beer a total 5. To me absolute perfection is an impossible ideal. That's not to say I haven't come close. I think I gave St. Bernardus a review of 4.95 back when I was a noob because it totally blew my mind (first Belgian Quad).

 

2. Heady Topper and Imperial Stout Trooper. They were the absolute perfect beers for me.

 

Four Perfects:
Mo
Lunch
Pliny
Heady Topper

 

2 out of 240.

 

Pliny the Elder at 4.75 is my highest

 

Backyard Rye, Raspberry Tart, Big Bad Baptist, Abt 12, Fou' Foune, CBS

 

None, I've come close with 4.75 but I think some of the beers I have reviewed in the past might deserve a 5. But, can there really be a perfect 5?

 

Never have given a perfect 5. I am surprised at how many I see looking at the 'most recent beers rated' (beers) page. I sometimes think - 'oh yeah this will be the one' but when I break it down, there is something that is less than perfect. I also think it is hard to understand the differences between a 4 and a 5, because 4 is OUTSTANDING - where do you go from there - double secret outstanding? We can go round and round on how the scale goes from OK at 3 to Outstanding at 4, but something would have to be very, very special to hit a 5 - if it is possible for me to give.

 

4 out of 1,129.

Cuvee Des Jacobins Rouge
Trappistes Rochefort 10
GI Bourbon County Brand Stout
Alesmith Speedway Stout

 

I've got my benchmark - it's Duvel at 4.93, which is practically a perfect 5, but even Duvel could have been better - a nicer mouthfeel/appearance would have elevated it to a 5... but then again I've had Duvel since and felt let down by it and that maybe I scored it too high.

In fact I have my own beer blog and have been converting my BA ratings over to an out of 10 score and I've found my BA scores to be too high (an average beer rates a 6/10) however I couldn't be stuffed lowering my 447 ratings so they'll stay as they are for now.

 

I have never given a 5. Yet. And I've had plenty that are mentioned in this thread along with many in the top 250. I'm relieved to see that 0 is currently leading 1-5. Perfection is exceedingly rare.

I have given two or three 5s on Untappd but that's just because I don't take it very seriously.

 

So far only 1. It should be something quit special to receive a 5.

 

Giving out a 5 is akin to calling a woman a perfect 10, there just are not that many! IF you have given more than 30, then you also believe in unicorns.

 

Just one and I still agree with it 8 years later. I have some other really high ones I'm not so sure about, but I stand by that one 5.

 

4 out of ~1600: Pliny the Elder, Parabola, The Abyss and Hunahpu.

 

None, and I highly doubt I ever will, just because I don't think it's possible for a beer to be perfect.

 

0/575 here on BA; 0/2800+ overall. Best rating 4.85 for Peche Mortel bourbon barrel, worst 1.88 for Fosters Lager.

 

One but I haven't been using ba for too long.