How do you review beer?

[chalmers]

Every time I buy a new beer, I read reviews of it on BeerAdvocate. Here's one review of a beer I'm drinking tonight:

Appearance - decent bright golden straw color, a brief fizzy head disappears quick but manages to leave a few swaths of lace on the glass.

Aroma - a touch of grain sweetness, pilsnery hops too. Fresh and as it should smell.

Taste - crackery malts open up, again with an element of sweetness but not overdone. The hops are moderate, not very bitter, but assertive just the same. They do a great job of balancing up to the swallow. They resolve to a little more pils (Saaz?) bitterness on the swallow, even a flint or gunpowder kind of note. Leaves some nice flavor balance on the finish. Very authentic stuff, Zinzinnati OFest bound I believe.

Mouthfeel - crispness is the most notable thing here. The body is lagerishly smooth without being too heavy. 3.5

Drinkability - a nicely done Helles. Ought to hold its own come warmer climes and should taste just as good if the Cincinnati heat gets to it a bit, though mine is steadily disappearing.


My question is, I don't understand how they're able to analyze the beer this way. I taste it and the only thing that really comes to my mind is...it's good or it's bad. How do I develop my tastes so that I can review beers this way?

 

[HAL9000]

As with most things, I put in in my mouth and if what happens next is good then I like it, if not I don't :sneaky:

 

[Brigandier]

You can't properly review a beer if you've already read a review.

 

[chalmers]

You can't properly review a beer if you've already read a review.

The problem is..of all the reviews I've read of this beer, I would never have thought of the tastes/flavors/aromas that they have mentioned.

 

[KaOTiK]

I take some sips/mouthfuls, and I either like it or I don't. Too many people try to fluff up their beer reviews using bullshit words like crackery, assertive, element just to name a few in the review you posted lol.

 

[child of wonder]

Many of them are over-analyzing and whipping out their thesaurus to create interesting phrases.

I am an avid scotch drinker and no one I've met can pick out a quarter of the flavors one could read in a review. Does that mean everyone is pulling their reviews out of their asses? No, there are many people that are very skilled at beer or scotch tasting and have very sophisticated palates capable of discerning many different flavors and aromas. However, your average guy on Beeradvocate is not among them.

 

[nick1985]

I just drink it and decide if it taste's good.

 

[lxskllr]

Pay attention, or just enjoy your beer from what you get out of it. I'm a huge scotch fan, but can't be arsed to go through the detailed reviewing process the pros do. My goal is to enjoy my beverage, not make a new job out of it. Once I determine the broad characteristics, I'm finished with the analysis. It's then time to enjoy it.

 

[Pardus]

Having tried many brands of beer, they all taste bad to me, bitter in taste. I will stick to whiskey if i'm gonna have a drink.

And don't get me started on the yuppies who drink light beer.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

I love how the drink anything that pours crowd disparages beer reviews they don't understand and dismiss them as creative writing. No one is born with a discriminating palate. You need to continuously taste and compare. Op, take each aspect of the review for your beer and consciously taste for it ignoring other factors. Perhaps use another beer for comparison that you know well. Developing bad habits takes practice, persistence and perspicuity.

 

[Angry Irishman]

As with most things, I put in in my mouth and if what happens next is good then I like it, if not I don't :sneaky:

Do you really have to turn every fucking post into a gay thing? It gets really old. Try to stay out of just one post...just once.

This post was about beer not you being gay. We all get it...you're gay or bi or whatever. Go find a gay forum and talk it up over there.

 

[Brigandier]

Do you really have to turn every fucking post into a gay thing? It gets really old. Try to stay out of just one post...just once.

Seeing as a lot of people turn most posts into hetero things, I don't see the problem. If you have a problem, you should have a problem with overt sexuality in posts, not overt certain sexualities in posts.

 

[OUCaptain]

Do you really have to turn every fucking post into a gay thing? It gets really old. Try to stay out of just one post...just once.

amen. although I wish it was more than just one post.

I don't get caught up all the BS. If I like the taste... I will drink it again. Simple as that.

BTW, Tripel Karmeliet is the nectar of the beer gods.

 

[HAL9000]

Do you really have to turn every fucking post into a gay thing? It gets really old. Try to stay out of just one post...just once.

This post was about beer not you being gay. We all get it...you're gay or bi or whatever. Go find a gay forum and talk it up over there.

Please don't think me rude, but I don't care what you think.

Seeing as a lot of people turn most posts into hetero things, I don't see the problem. If you have a problem, you should have a problem with overt sexuality in posts, not overt certain sexualities in posts.

Agreed. Given that every thread is rife with "pics of sister?" type posts, I see no reason why the occasional cock post is a problem.

 

[chalmers]

BTW I'm drinking Rivertown Brewing Company Helles Lager.

Review: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/22157/56561

 

[Angry Irishman]

Seeing as a lot of people turn most posts into hetero things, I don't see the problem. If you have a problem, you should have a problem with overt sexuality in posts, not overt certain sexualities in posts.

Fucks sakes...It's a beer thread. It's not an overt or certain sexual preference thread.

Let's turn it into another atheist vs. Christian thread while we're at it.

 

[chalmers]

Please don't think me rude, but I don't care what you think.



Agreed. Given that every thread is rife with "pics of sister?" type posts, I see no reason why the occasional cock post is a problem.

I respectfully ask that you don't post in this thread. I don't make many threads, and one of the last ones I made was derailed by something you said. Whether you mean harm or not, angry mobs come your way when you post, so please let my thread be.

 

[HAL9000]

I respectfully ask that you don't post in this thread. I don't make many threads, and the last one I made was derailed by something you said. Whether you mean harm or not, angry mobs come your way when you post, so please let my thread be.

A fair point. Enjoy your thread sir. Enjoy your beer even more. It's a sorry state of affairs that some people can't control themselves leading to the derailing of your threads.

HAL out.

 

[Sukhoi]

Every time I buy a new beer, I read reviews of it on BeerAdvocate. Here's one review of a beer I'm drinking tonight:

Appearance - decent bright golden straw color, a brief fizzy head disappears quick but manages to leave a few swaths of lace on the glass.

Aroma - a touch of grain sweetness, pilsnery hops too. Fresh and as it should smell.

Taste - crackery malts open up, again with an element of sweetness but not overdone. The hops are moderate, not very bitter, but assertive just the same. They do a great job of balancing up to the swallow. They resolve to a little more pils (Saaz?) bitterness on the swallow, even a flint or gunpowder kind of note. Leaves some nice flavor balance on the finish. Very authentic stuff, Zinzinnati OFest bound I believe.

Mouthfeel - crispness is the most notable thing here. The body is lagerishly smooth without being too heavy. 3.5

Drinkability - a nicely done Helles. Ought to hold its own come warmer climes and should taste just as good if the Cincinnati heat gets to it a bit, though mine is steadily disappearing.


My question is, I don't understand how they're able to analyze the beer this way. I taste it and the only thing that really comes to my mind is...it's good or it's bad. How do I develop my tastes so that I can review beers this way?

Heh I'm similar. I can pick out the main flavors, know the difference between malt and hop produced flavors, etc., but I never get into as much detail as most of those people do.

 

[Sluggo]

as with most things, i put in in my mouth and if what happens next is good then i like it, if not i don't :sneaky:

<edit out crap>

Edited so as not to be part of the thread derailing angry mob.

Enjoy your post Chalmers.

 

[Angry Irishman]

Please don't think me rude, but I don't care what you think.

I do think you are rude...very rude.

Apparently you think everyone in the world wants to know you like oral sex with a man...who gives a shit. Good for you, I don't really care what you do with you mouth or weenis. I do wish you would give your typing fingers a break.

Aside from you proclaiming to the world in a beer thread that your gay (once again) you are pretty much just annoying as shit and crave attention...on an internet forum.

maybe you are different in person, I don't know.

And I'm sorry original OP....let's continue with the beer thread.

 

[Perknose]

Let's turn it into another atheist vs. Christian thread while we're at it.

Brilliant idea! I'll start.

The monks got skilled at brewing beer during the middle ages as a way to stretch the grain harvest.

Ben Franklin said it best, "Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Finally, Atheism is somewhat like light beer. It may be better for you, but it's definitely more boring and can leave you wanting something more.

Angry Irishman, God wants you to try being less angry.

Here, have a beer.

 

[Angry Irishman]

To answer the original question: http://www.ratebeer.com/Story.asp?StoryID=103

I usually listen to friends, read sites like Beer Advocate and pick one variety/type of beer and try to narrow the selection from there.

I've had good luck so far although I live on Guam and beer selection is limited. It helps to have friends who brew their own. Some batches are incredibly good and some are incredibly horrid.

There is not such store as Bevmo or the like on Guam...I really miss having the selection available.

I can get Samuel Smith Taddy Porter. That will get me by for another year when I return stateside.

 

[Angry Irishman]

Brilliant idea! I'll start.

The monks got skilled at brewing beer during the middle ages as a way to stretch the grain harvest.

Ben Franklin said it best, "Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Finally, Atheism is somewhat like light beer. It may be better for you, but it's definitely more boring and can leave you wanting something more.

Angry Irishman, God wants you to try being less angry.

Here, have a beer.

Awsome! Ben Franklin's quote is one of my favorites and I say it all the time. Yes, beer does settle me, and yes, I'm having one now.

Good advice...cheers!

 

[AstroManLuca]

Seems most people on beer review sites only like IPAs. Any beer that doesn't kick your ass with bitterness is no good. In general, a beer that snobs rate highly (4/5 or higher) I won't like. My favorites are usually rated 2.5-3/5, meaning they're decent but not overly bitter.