What makes an outstanding beer?

Really outstanding beer experiences for me don't depend only on the beer itself, but on mood, situation, etc.

 

Lots of people are mentioning that an outstanding beer "must hit all of the main points for the style" (or a similar sentiment) and I just have a hard time fully subscribing to the idea as many would use it. To use your example, it's not against the style for a stout to be bitter, hoppy, or sour. Similarly, the quote below strikes me as just personal preference:

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The opposite is true too. A beer that sits at the top of the ratings heap might be in that spot because it's a not very good representation of the style. Maybe one is sometimes better off looking in the middle of such lists if trying to drink something that better represents the style.

(and maybe I'm contradicting myself a bit with these two thoughts )

 

Hard to say what what the craft community will find outstanding, but probably a combination of ticking off the salient characteristics of the style, doing this in a way that puts it ahead of the pack, and then some unusual characteristic(s) or flavor(s) that make it unique without "breaking style". I keep going back to the sour stout as an example that will never be outstanding - some may like it but it won't gain enough universal appeal to become outstanding. Throwing in hype and limiting supply contributes to "outstanding" as well.

 

TASTE.

 

I hope people aren't being serious in stating that hype and limited supply can result in a beer being classified as outstanding. We all know that it is human nature to give greater value to something that is harder to get or is more expensive even though it may be of lesser or equal quality than the cheaper or more readily available option. With beer though I would like to believe that this would only have very short term effects. For me, it is fun and exciting to acquire a hard to find or limited supply beer. Beyond that, the effort and cost have no effect on the taste of said beer. Limiting supply and hype may create FOMO. It does not create great beer.

For me an outstanding beer has great balance, flavor, and finish. It also needs to stand the test of time. For me, these are beers like Weihenstephaner Hefe, Two Hearted, Old Rasputin, Zombie Dust, Jai Alai, Founders Breakfast Stout, PsuedoSue, Enjoy By and I am sure I could keep going. These are all readily available (although some are regional or seasonal) and relatively inexpensive. Others that I have had may have been a little more expensive or harder to get. These would be Pliny, KBS, Hopslam and BCBS.

 

I would have to put taste at the top. Imagination on the part of the brewers leading to experimentation often leads to unique, although not always good experiences. Even if a beer is of a common overall style, emphasis on a key point of difference helps a beer to be outstanding.

 

An enticing look; surprisingly good aroma; an even better taste (either a lot of depth, or to-style perfection, or some other appreciated quality that can hold your attention); with a complementary mouthfeel, so that the whole is even greater than the sum of its parts.