Rated a 5. Anything else is crazy.

I'm sure most of the people who don't give out 5's are also the really cool guys at the bar with tasting journals.

 

Exactly this. So much goes into the enjoyment of a beer: Who I'm with, the weather, the type of day I had, what I'm eating, and so on. To me, rating is so inexact. So to call, for instance, Heady Topper (which I had at exactly 23 days old off the truck) at 4.78 and Pliny (after it took a cross country flight) a 4.80 would probably be a bit of a disservice to each beer and to anyone who values my judgement.

 

I'd never rate a beer 5/5, I think it would kind of ruin the fun of reviewing; when there's no more room of possible improvement, then why would you still review beers?

 

Keep in mind you're ratings are generally combined with those of hundreds to thousands of others. No beer actually gets a 5, once it gets past a few dozen ratings.

 

BCBS, Heady, Side Project Frutied Sours. Not because they are the best or cannot be betean but because everytime I have one I cannot figure out how it could possibly be improved.

 

It doesnt not mean that there is not room for improvement. Only that in the moment that you tasted the beer it was perfect.

 

Got it - and just to be clear I was responding to someone who believes it's absurd not to give a 5.

But in your example - so you're saying that the 5 you gave Beer A is just a reference point as the best you've had so far in that style? Then what happens a month later when you try a new beer (Beer B) in that style, that unbelievably, you like significantly more (so much so, that had you tried Beer B first, it would have had the 5, and Beer A would have received a 4.5). Does that also get a 5, but you just know in your head that it's a better 5? Or do you revise the rating down on Beer A?

 

The more Allagash White I drink the higher it goes. I think that by the end of the summer it may have reached very close to 5.

 

Kuhnhenn Solstice Stout (on tap). The keg lasted maybe 30 minutes

 

CBS. absolutely love it every time I've tried it, cant believe some people don't

 

I've dome the same, although I try not to. Tough to replicate the wow factor the first time you try something awesome

 

BA Abraxas is my highest rated at 4.96

 

I suppose for whatever reason I gave the first one a 5 is still sound but the new one would have different characteristics that led it to be a different 5, which is how I feel about KBS, SMS and BBB, all three are great reflections of the style but each accentuate different notes of the combination

 

Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel.

 

lol

 

I haven't given a 5 yet...actually not even a 5 in a single category yet...but am very much looking forward to that beer when I meet it. However, I also don't care if someone wants to give a 5 for every beer they like. To each their own. The averages tend to average out in the average.

 

5s that come to mind are triple and double sunshine, bavdl, and Everett porter...I literally get insulted when I read ratings lower than high 4s for double sunshine

 

What if said BA didn't really love and appreciate RIS. I've had some top tier brews I didn't love, others rated it off the chart,,everyone different.

 

There are no 6's

 

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