What makes an outstanding beer?

Melvin that's it. No really we all make good beer!
McGirt
Melvin Brewing

 

A beer's appearance, aroma, taste, mouthfeel, and drinkability all contribute to my enjoying a beer

 

I feel like I am back in the "are beer ratings biased" thread.

If a beer is highly rated, it is likely to be a great example of the style (even if not perfect in all categories).

This is subjective for everyone simply because everyone's balate is different. If I had to guesss the commonality across all styles for most or all individuals, I would say that it all comes down to balance.

For me I am looking for balance in everything I consume. I don't want a piece of toast that is too soft, too toasted, too buttery, or too sweet with Jam. I want it to be balanced on all those fronts. Similarly, I want every beer to be the same way. For me KBS is super balanced, and that's one reason why I think i love it so much. To me, due to my bitter sensitivity, IPAs are never balanced, so I don't drink them. I suspect (but I do not know) that even for those people that enjoy the abbrasively bitter, dank, incredibly hoppy beers that balance is still at the root. If you take away some of the sweetness, maltiness, citrus aspects, I don't believe it would be as good to them. It is the package, which ultimately leads to balance, even if for some that balance starts with an abbrasively bitter, hoppy quality (in the case of an IPA).

 

Many breweries buy their malt and hops from a couple of large suppliers. Yeast is often purchased from a couple of different yeast labs. Water can be adjusted to any brewing profile. Is it ingredients?

Every brewery has their own equipment and process to brew on that equipment. This is what turne the ingredients into beer. The ones that have the whole process understood and under control make the best beer.

Exceptions to the first paragraph are the larger breweries that buy direct in bulk from Maltsters and hop farms. Some of them have inhouse yeast banks and propagation equipment.

 

“What is the difference between an average beer VS an outstanding beer? Is it the ingredients, brewing technique,..” It is a skillful and experienced brewer that selects the proper high quality ingredients that along with his brewing process will consistently achieve the specific results intended for a given brand of beer.

“…can the quality of the beer be objectively measured?” Needless to say but an outstanding beer must be absent of brewing flaws (e.g., diacetyl, acetaldehyde, astringency,…) and other flavor qualities which are not consistent with the given brand should not be present (e.g., sour, phenols, etc.). The other quality necessary for an outstanding beer is a proper flavor profile: the intended flavor characteristics in the proper amounts so that they all complement each other to achieve the intended balance for a given beer style.

There was a recent thread asking BAs for their list of top 5 Saisons. The one beer that was mentioned on most posts was Saison Dupont, that beer is an outstanding Saison which is widely appreciated.

Cheers!

 

a crispness

 

To me, looks and taste, especially the taste.

Cheers!

 

really comes down to style. And it even within the style there are sub-styles (east vs. west coast IPAs) and personal preference. rarity definitely inflates ratings as well

 

That's a great point that I keep forgetting to mention. "Within Style" is so vague that I never know what people are actually thinking of. Does KBS get reviewed "within style" of Stouts? BA stouts? Bourbon BA stouts? Breakfast stouts? BA Breakfast stouts? Coffee stouts? Bourbon BA Coffee Stouts?

I'm being emphatic, but I think it drives home the point that even with reviewing a hefeweizen, I suspect that some would naturally (mentally) compare them to whatever is closest, which could be comparing to only Americans (if drinking american) or only to Europeans (if drinking European).

 

If it tastes good to you.

 

When you buy another and then another regardless of what else is available.
I am less convinced about being "true to style" because the style guidelines I have looked at have been excellent works of fiction.

 

What makes anything outstanding? Usually its the attention to detail. You may not like something but you can still recognize it as outstanding. If you take something as simple as a grilled cheese sandwich, even if you don't like it can you recognize a well made one? You may prefer a less perfect grilled cheese sandwich but you can still appreciate the attention to detail.

This also goes into consistency. If you can only make an outstanding beer half the time then its not really outstanding. Perhaps the better question is what makes an outstanding Brewer? Consistency, great beers across styles, inventiveness, etc.. That gets into the artistry of brewing.

 

For me it's about the subjective balance, complexity, and drinkability of a beer. Cool points for creatively interpreting a style.

 

I'm often asked what my favorite beer is...or for that matter, what my favorite style of beer is.

My reply? "I have three children who are totally different. Each is my favorite at any given moment...if I'm forced to make a choice.

Beer? Same answer.

 

You'll know the answer when you have the experience to know it. Then you will answer the question yourself - as you should.

No one can explain it to you, you have to experience it.

 

Can you make that a bit more clear?

 

Well said! Or, as Colonel Potter said, "It's like pornography, you'll know it when you do it".

 

As BA hype increases opacity decreases. Or, conversely, as a beer's opacity increases (becomes more see through), BA hype decreases.

 

Oh, I understood. Just couldn't resist jumping on.

 

Your personal taste buds