What does a review do for you?

I write them to keep track of what I have tasted and to save my thoughts on each beer.

 

+1, just about verbatim.

It's an opportunity to focus the senses and objectively explore the beer before you, refining your ability to do so, and committing the beer to a database so that it can be recalled if needed.

 

I review beers to keep track of my own thoughts on it. I don't really try to influence others who may or may not make the purchase, I just like to be able to reference my own thoughts. This is also helpful when cellaring brews in order to have that initial reference point. I occasionally look at others' review to help prioritize what I want to try or if I feel my own palate is off that day.

 

They give me the general parameters of what to expect from a beer.

 

I love reading them but hate writing them

 

I use them to give me a general idea about what to expect from a beer and whether I'll buy it. When I'm writing my own review, I use them to help describe the tastes and smells I'm experiencing. I also sometimes use them as a style guide to improve my reviews.

 

The only time I read beer reviews is when I'm traveling and considering stopping at a brewery. If the reviews from the 'Places' are inconclusive to help me make a choice between multiple breweries, I'll read a few reviews of specific beers that I'd order if I go there.

 

I like to read them for a few reasons: to see what I may expect from a beer I have yet to try, to see opinions on that beer both good or bad, to see how my reviews and opinions differ from Joe Blow here. They give good insight into what beers I have yet to try and how others perceive something I may love immensely or dislike greatly.