How often do you read beer reviews?

"mm good. beer good. i like good beer this good." - Well, thank goodness that doesn't meet the 150 character minimum!

I know there's a thread right now about creative beer reviews and although it's entertaining reading, it doesn't help much about forming an opinion of the beer unless there's enough reviews to either back it up or prove it wrong, then I defer to the overall number rating. IMO, more of an issue with new beers with very few ratings.

 

I find it helps if I have trouble deciding on a six pack of new beer if I can't find singles (or they only come in large bottles).

Many times though, I love to just drink new beer so I buy it regardless...got lucky a few times and found beers that were outstanding regardless of lower ratings. And vice versa. It's still nice to read them though.

 

I use reviews quite frequently, but I take them with a grain of salt depending on the style. For example Saison's are pretty much all over the place. I think everyone has a different opinion of what it should taste like and how it meets their palate. That said I picked up a sixr of NB Long Table the other nite and I think it was hovering around 3.7. Normally I wouldn't invest in a six pack that was ranked that low unless I had tried it first, but being NB and liking Saisons and it being a good price I pulled the trigger. Good thing I did, great everyday beer. So I read the reviews, but take them with a grain of salt.

 

I read them. I read them if I am interested in trying a beer but can't make up my mind right away. I read at least the first scrolling page of reviews after I post mine and the bros if they have one for that beer too.

 

I used to read them a lot more than I do now. They used to be a big factor for me when at the beer store. Anymore, I develop an opinion and make a purchase decision based on my knowledge of a style and the reputation/rapport of the brewery.

 

I like seeing other people's perceptions/opinions so I read a lot of reviews. I am particularly interested in reading reviews of beers when my perception is far off (either better or worse) than the average. I am interested in those cases if either (1) I am missing something or (2) I got a bad beer and need to perhaps give it a second chance. Let's face it; if I wasn't interested in what others had to say about beer I wouldn't be a member of this forum. Just because I may not agree with someone doesn't mean that I don't respect their opinion as there are poorly ranked beers that I like and highly ranked beers that I just don't "get it" on I guess.

 

Daily.

 

They help make me smarter about beer, and about tasting beer, and I read them a lot. At the least for every beer I drink, and for every beer I am thinking of drinking. They are what drew me to this site, and learning to review has increased my enjoyment of beers I drink.

 

I read reviews somewhat frequently, but I'm getting the impression it's for different reasons. When I want an in depth review, it is during or after I drank a hyped beer to check myself against what others found. Part of it is to see if I am missing anything when I am not as wow'd as others and the other part and is a test to see if I experienced everything others had on my own. I don't tend to search for a lot of input before a try a beer.

If I'm just just trying to pick out something at the store or bar, then Untappd works just fine. If it's around 3.7 or has a "ER MA GERG BIER!" review, usually I at least won't be upset I bought it.

 

I used to. but I bought Randy's book. Done some off flavor research and sense my reviews I do post are just for me. I have no reason to read others, its the grade that counts anyway. I cannot even taste half the stuff some of what, some of the top guys wrote. After a while I realize that either I cannot taste as good as them, or they are full of it. So nope. Not any more.

 

All the time. Its most helpful for me when I'm at the store, but I also browse review weekly just to get a sense of what people are thinkin'.

 

Very rarely I less I'm looking for input on a new beer that's around.

 

I do when my take on the beer is different than the average review. I like to see why people are thinking differently. Also if I'm sitting on the fence about getting the beer at the store/bar; usually a hefty price tag drives my hesitance, but it could also be a unknown brewer.

 

I use them to help decide on buying a new beer, or not.

 

Reviews are useful as a touchstone, either to check my impressions, or to tease out sensations that I notice but find difficult to identify; similar to tasting beer with others present. When I first started taking note of my sensations I used the reviews as an educational tool.

I do occasionally read reviews of beers I would like to try, but have yet to encounter, and always read the reviews in the various magazines and books I receive. However, this is more as a virtual indulgence, or to keep abreast of the world in general.

 

If i am shopping and buying some unknown stuff, I will look up reviews quickly.

I honestly only read the overall or conclusion part though. the short and sweet part.

I don't need you whipping out your big ol ... thesaurus as you try to find new words for golden (straw, harvest sunlight, flaxen, angry goat pupil, etc.) and referencing the smell of your grandma baking bread when you were 7.

 

I read reviews often. I try not to just go on one review because its subjective but if i cant decide ill read a few to see pro and cons to make a decision. Im happy to have this website because with over 1000 options in the store i go to, i can check out what others have said about what im looking at.

 

I look at them if:

1. I'm trying to choose between two or three unknowns
2. I'm wanting to see if the general sentiment towards a beer is similar to mine after trying a new beer. And I mean new to market, not new to me personally - i.e. I wouldn't do this if I'd just tried Heady for the first time, but if it was "New Local DIPA", then I'm always curious to see if it was something others hated when I really loved it, or vice versa.

But altogether it probably works out as looking at reviews 4-5 times a month

 

Every once in a while.