Every now and then I like to go back and read through some of my reviews from when I first got into craft beer. Usually with humorous results. Sam Adams Alpine Spring, June 2011 I believe. " Seriously tastes like somebody rolled up a fat joint of Sour Diesel and stuck it into the bottle. All I tasted was Marijuana while I was drinking this. That and some slight citrus notes. Wasn't horrible by any means, A much better choice than some beers out there, But I don't smoke pot nor do I enjoy the taste of it within my beer. Can't really recommend this to very many people as most probably wouldn't enjoy it and I do not understand how it has such high marks " Anybody else have any gems from their early days on the site?
I blush to say when I started writing reviews on this site I believed I could do it in one long paragraph. I can't. Reading my one paragraph reviews now I see all I was doing was hitting some high or low points without painting a complete picture. The five point system (look, smell, taste, texture and overall impression) forces me to analyse and categorize the qualities of what I'm drinking while I'm drinking it. Can't say I'm actually good at it but at least I'm expressing my thoughts more thoroughly. Frankly, the point of reviewing is to give the reader some sense of what the subject beer is about and help the reader determine whether or not this is something they might want to try. Or try again. Now when I revisit a beer that I gave a short review I go back to revise and extend my remarks and give it a full review. To do less would leave the job half done.
That's too bad! I don't smoke pot and I don't really like the aroma when I'm near others who do... But I freakin love dank beers! This is the latest one I had...
I haven't looked back until I saw this thread. My 2011 review of Minhas brewing's Backyard Ale makes me chuckle: here's a portion(the rest is equally unhelpful) The flavor was a bit of a shock. It reminded me of a canned beer, but the shock was more that I liked it. I'm not sure what that means for me, but the name is perfect. It would be great for sittin' in the backyard in a classic aluminum and plaid strap folding chair with your feet in the 18' pool after having just run the push mower through the front and back yards. Does that time still exist? It does in this can of beer. I will continue to make similar comments in my reviews, only now I also like to give some objective information to give a reader some idea of the look, flavor, aroma, and feel. A constant learning process.
I don't think I'm a great reviewer since I don't think I describe the different flavors well. One thing I noticed is that I used "Bourbon" as a flavor descriptor for BA stouts. I'm sure that drives whiskey drinkers crazy. I'm trying to stop that and be more specific (ie if it's straight alcohol burn, oaky, caramel ect).
I just tended to make up adjectives... such as "spicy yeasty-lemony-ness" Actually, as I have reviewed more beers, my review length and complexity has decreased. I'm much more to the point and follow the recommended template. However, I still make a recommended pairing for each beer I try.
Yep. I went from one long paragraph to complex reviews averaging 4,000 characters now to basic reviews that average about a thousand.
My reviews have trended (with exception) the same. I believe there are two primary reasons: lack of free time causing me to focus more on the distinct tasting notes (and enjoying the beer) and less on secondary characteristics or simile (and on writing an entry); and proficiency in reviewing. It is akin to the oft-cited quote about wishing to write a shorter letter, but not having the time: the more I review beer, the more I find I can accurately get across my impressions with fewer words.
I've mostly used it to track my beers. Quite a few of my earlier reviews are interesting. A lot that came over for the switch got jumbled up a bit, as well. Sour D! Cheers!
When i started if i got citrus i would try to list all the citrus it reminded me of. Now if it's a juicy citrus i say citrus or orange. Bitter citrus it gets citrus peel. Of course if something really sticks out I'll list it like pineapple when i also list tropical. It gets to be alot. typing a review and i also write every single one down by hand. My reviews tend to be 300 give or take. It's enough for people that might find my review helpful. I don't want newer people reading this beer has 50+ flavors not tasting them and getting discouraged. But as far as quotes go i think i dropped a few "dankkkkkkk"s
When I first got into craft, I found I preferred stouts. So - naturally - I tried as many as I could find. I had a Dragon's Milk BBA Stout, cold from the bottle. At that point I swore off Bourbon Barrel Stouts and put that in my review. Now they're my favorite after someone on BA suggested using a glass and letting it warm a bit - huge difference!
I've found that no matter how many times I try it, I simply cannot dig base dragons milk. Though it did have some excellent variants a few years ago. The triple mash was a real gem.
One of my very first reviews (different site), I was reviewing the Sam Adams spring ale from 2002 or 2003. It was a kolsch ale. In my head I had "golden German beer." I then proceeded to go in depth about how amazing it was and what a great representation of the "Helles" style it was. Heh ... pretty embarrassing. One guy called me on it pretty quick and I was able to correct the review.
I described Kate the Great, before I knew what it really was in December 2007, as "think of the best stout you've ever had, then drop a shot of vodka into it". I honestly wasn't far off.
Actually, upon re-reading some of my old reviews, I think some of them may have been better written than the ones I do now. I'm sad to admit it. Reviewing was a novelty for me back then, whereas now, two years later, writing reviews has become simply a routine.
