Let's try some new beers this summer.
Here's a good rating system:
http://www.ehow.com/how_5027600_rate-beer.html1. Pour your beer into a clean glass. The glass should be "beer clean", meaning no residue left on the glass from detergents or anything else that could effect the taste, body, or head of the beer. Don't be afraid to pour right down the center of the glass and get a nice head going - this releases the aromas of the beer and will enhance your experience.
2. Rate the beer using the five criteria of: appearance, aroma, mouthfeel, flavor, and overall impression. Use a notebook to jot down descriptive phrases:
3. First rate the beer on
appearance. Does the beer look like something you would want to drink? Does it have a full, healthy head or does it look weak and watery? Hold the beer glass up to the light - is the beer the right color for the style? Can you see any floaties or particles that do not belong?
4. Rate the beer on
aroma next. Take a nice whiff - what do you smell? Hop notes such as citrus or a grassy smell? Components of the grainbill such as caramel or biscuits? Coffee and chocolate notes in a rich stout? Note any flavors you can pick out and write down how the aroma makes you feel about drinking the beer. Make sure the beer is the correct temperature - most beer should be served in the 40ºF area, and as the beer warms slightly, more aromas will be released. A good idea is to make some aroma notes when you first get the pint, then again after you have let it sit a moment or two.
5. Take a sip of the beer. Note the
mouthfeel - is the beer crisp and well-carbonated? Flat? Is it thick and chewy, or thin and watered down? Any unusual sensations, like oily slickness? Note any residue the beer leaves on your tongue or palate.
6. Here's the big one - rate the
flavor of the beer. Take notes on the entire flavor experience - the beer first touching your mouth, what the predominant flavors are, and any aftertaste left when you swallow. Is the beer's flavor appropriate for the style? Any off-flavors? Does the beer seem skunked or sour at all? As beer ages, it can oxidize and develop off-flavors such as wet cardboard, vinegar, or sherry. Most importantly, do you like the taste? A beer might be exactly to style, but it is a style you don't care for! Note which flavors you like and which you do not - this will help you select beers you will enjoy down the line.
7. Finally, rate your
overall impression of the beer. Was it brewed and served appropriately for the style? Did the experience of the beer change between first sip and last? What did you like about the beer, and what didn't you like? Were there small mistakes that could be overlooked, or was the beer a train wreck you wouldn't recommend to a man dying of thirst? Keep a journal of your beer experience, and soon you will have a great database of beer information you can use to plan food pairings, beer tastings, or just what six-pack to buy for the weekend.
8. If you like, assign a numerical rating to each category as well. Some people use a simple five point scale for each category. If you want to get more complex, weight the categories based on what is more important to you. For example, the official beer scorecard of the Beer Judge Certification Program is based on a 50 point scale. 12 points for aroma, 3 for appearance, 20 for flavor, 5 for mouthfeel, and 10 for the overall impression. -
I don't think it matters if we have a standardized scoring system - do whatever you like as long as it gives everyone else an idea as to your opinion of the beer.If you know which one you are going to do next post it! It doesn't matter if we get multiple reviews on the same beer but it might help someone pick something different for variety.
and hey,
Let's be safe out there.