Mentoring Program

This is a very useful thread. Please someone pick me and show me how I should enjoy my beer. God knows I'm just terrible at it at the moment.

 

I think that additions to the info part of BA could cover this to a large extent. I'd like to see other topics added as well, though one or two of my ideas may not be feasible (a lengthy how to ship section, seems to condone literal beer mail; the alewatcher link gets around enough anyway...).

But I really think an expanded or broken down How to Review section would cover this. It would start like this:
Develop your palate before reviewing beers!
Only by trying a lot of beers of many styles can you see what is good and bad in general, and what should be in each style.

Give a blossoming young hop head BA a Belgian pale ale andhe/she might think it's bad. A lot of people jump into reviewing before giving beer the respect it's due. I did practice reviews for just 30 beers only after being into beer for a few months, and those reviews are more funny than helpful. I did 40 more practice reviews a year later. The reviews I put here on BA are only after being into beer for a couple years, having tried a lot of beers.

TwoTrees above seems to be doing it right, IMO. But even if people don't quite review correctly in our opinion, it has a very small effect on our enjoyment of beer, right?

OP, I'd be willing to mentor new people if you found a logistically sound way to organize such a program. But only a few. I need to save time so I can keep learning myself

 

As an aside, I think an even bigger problem than how people review is the mindset some people approach beer with. Real beer snobs that would turn down a toast at a friend's wedding because there's only BMC to drink. Who seethe and twitch when they see a stranger buying a 6er of BMC. I don't like BMC, but if I do anything (which I don't), I would politely point them toward a local 'light-flavored' beer. I only try to get my friends to make better beer decisions.

And the people who view it as Whaling Season constantly. I'd rather have a solid pint with good friends than a bottle of M by myself. I pretty much only buy rare beers to share them with other BAs or friends at fun, usually laid back events. I think most people who are Whalers do share generously. But from what I hear there are some uptight people in the trading forum. Err, what I really mean are the people who can't seem to enjoy any beer unless it's a whale or turd-whale (that's my new term for personal whales that aren't whales e.g. Parabola, let's make it happen ).

 

While the idea is a good one, it might not be very practical on a web based forum. There might be some alternatives. I have done a bunch of guided tasting events. I also learn a lot visiting the home brew shop. Think it creates a better learning experience in a setting where one can taste and talk. I still believe my reviews are pretty weak despite trying my best. I think if you can find people to hang and taste with, the immediate discussion will be where enlightenment occurs. You can do a lot in an on line environment, but immediate discussion and feedback don't top the list. It isnt impossible, just the feedback is not immediate. I have learned a ton from people on the forums and through beer mail off line conversations, but I am one to ask questions...just have to wait for the answers! Nothing beats talking about beer while drinking beer. Guess you look to learn at every opportunity, is the belated point... Just my opinion...carry on.

 

When in doubt, pinky out.

 

Any veteran BA feel like critiquing some of my reviews?

 

Yes the quality of the review is what it is important, but i don't see how "the A,S,T,M,O formula" can be taken as poor quality as long what someone enters under those headings is more than "good" or "bad" or "i think its infected". Descriptions and education of the style is what i feel is a key to a good review.

As for the BJCP approach yes this isn't the place to discuss competition rules but i feel if one takes a page out of their book such as the basic off flavors descriptors, paired with the style notes you can turn your average reviewer into a quality one.

 

As for the BJCP approach yes this isn't the place to discuss competition rules but i feel if one takes a page out of their book such as the basic off flavors descriptors, paired with the style notes you can turn your average reviewer into a quality one.[/quote]

Agreed, the BJCP style guidelines helped me develop my sense of taste. http://www.bjcp.org/2008styles/catdex.php
But you shouldn't let theses hold down you appreciation of beer, and craft brewing doesn't let the style guidelines hold them down either.

 

From the perspective of someone that is new (to BA and craft), I think you ALMOST have a good idea here. It has already been mentioned that new craft drinkers need to develop their palate in order to even attempt to form a constructive review. So mentoring people on how to construct a review isnt as important as mentoring someone on the terms used on BA. This site is a little intimidating for newbies and i know i still have a lot of trouble understanding half of the vocab and acronyms found in most forum posts. I remember having to do a thorough search for what vertical meant in connection with beer a while back and it would be nice to have someone who i could just shoot a message to. I mean thats a pretty easy thing to figure out but its the only example i could think of.
A mentoring program that would help navigate the language of beer geeks as well as one who could help new reviewers find words for what they taste would be much more ideal than someone who mentors on the form of a review. You also cant rush someone into developing their palate - that takes time and lotsa and lotsa beer.

 

Well I love the idea of having someone with plenty of experience sit down with the same beer as me and then we talk about it. I would be up for that. I am still new at all of this and have had only a couple of hundred beers. I am sure that I could learn plenty. It's something that I think is pretty hard in writing though as general topics are good in forums but to get down to the nitty gritty of one particular beer at a time you would have to be drinking it together.

Count me in though however you decide to do it. =)

 

I think what Kzoobrew is saying is you should be able to describe something to someone without having to fill out a form. Compose a few paragraphs describe the different aspects reading forms is boring. Its not that forms don't work but its kinda like reading Job applications. I'd rather read something like this.

"I cannot remember who sent me this, who ever you were.... screw you.

This looks like beer in the most generic sense. Yellow and yellow. There is nothing but yellow. There is no head, no lacing, no appeal. I am not sure why I did not stop right here.

The aroma is atrocious. All adjunct lager and hot sauce in the nose.

This beer seriously tastes like how Taco Bell feels coming out. I apologize for churching it up a bit, it is really much worse than that. Unobstructed chili flavor and heat. There is absolutely nothing desirable about this beer.

All my mouth feels is hot. I can say that it is light bodied, that is about as detailed I can get.

I will readily admit that this review was written based off a very small sample. I feel comfortable writing this review because I am positive it was not going to get any better, in fact I am sure it would have only gotten worse. This is not a beer, this is torture. Screw water boarding, make me drink this and I will tell you everything. Since it is the night before Thanksgiving I feel like I should end on a positive note. I am thankful I never have to drink this again.

Serving type: bottle"

Its funny, enjoyable to read, and tells you everything you would want to know about the beer. Its no that forms don't work but its sort of robotic and tedious.

 

I would love to have a beer mentor, help is always appreciated