And remember that BJCP guidelines were developed based ON the beer styles, not the styles being based on the guidelines. The guidelines are only useful for specifically judging a beer that is brewed to meet the guideline. If a brewer makes a recipe without the goal of meeting a guideline, then the guideline has no business imposing itself on that beer. Also, it's a "guide"line, not law. To me, it's only useful for learning the generalization of a style and for judging competitions in which the brewers voluntarily submit their beer for a style. But it's all a matter of opinion. When the new site is up I'm going to have funny disclaimers reminding people that the reviews are only opinions that are recorded for fun. Any beer is worth trying.

In Reply To #10 Which kind of comes full circle. My review of Stone's Ruination started by saying it's not my choice, then rated it near a four on the 5 scale. It was an objective review which rated the beer high for it's style. IPA's are my least favorite style, however, the Ruination has got to be at the top. It's one I'd buy again in SPITE of it being an IPA.

In Reply To #12 Where would one find those items Brett?

In Reply To #19 www.bjcp.org http://members.cox.net/bis9170-1/beer_flavor_wheel.pdf

Lets see..... American main stream brew mostly Suck ass, But i have one secret shame and that is Coors. I'll drink it on almost any time. Yep it's swill but it's my favorite swill

In Reply To #15 If you review a beer you should say something about it. Sometimes before I try new beers I read some reviews on it to get an idea what it's going to be like. I don't really pay a whole lot of attention to the actual numbers, but the comments are much more useful. People shouldn't totally ruin a beer's ratings based on style. What if someone doesn't like a particular sytle though? If you try the greatest Pilsner in the world are you going to give it a 10? Or a 9? I doubt it. A lot of people say that wheat beers are their least favorite, but if they try the best wheat in the world I doubt they give it a GREAT rating. It's okay to not like styles and not make something one of your top rated beers but taking everything into account I think it shouldn't be totally dismissed based on just style.

In Reply To #15 I think we are all guilty of this is one way or another....I don't reacall reviewing an acutal IPA, which is a style I dislike, but I have reviewed some German Weiss Beers and I can honestly say that (if you read any of my reviews) that I am slowly acquiring a taste for them...Beers brewed with Wheat are still my least favorite, but at least I am willing to give them another chance!...That's the way old Oiz sees it...

In Reply To #23 Thank you. That's all I'm saying. I am really trying to give stouts a try as well (my least fav) That is why I keep trying them and have found a couple that aren't bad (I try to give good ratings because I typically don't like them).

In Reply To #1 Trick question, no? My favorite of my least favorite style? Style; that would be pale ale. Which is my favorite? I have no favorite pale ale, that is why it is my least favorite style!

In Reply To #25 LOL. Guess that makes sense. So I'm assuming you tend to give them all fairly poor reviews?