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FLASHPRO
49720

FLASHPRO
49720

Super Reviews

Website Comments by FLASHPRO

I always thought it would be neat to add a boat load of fields to beer reviews to make them much more complicated and allow for some very interesting statistics. It's pretty standard for beer sites to break down ratings into categories like flavor, aroma etc., but what if we gave users the option to select from a huge list of attributes? For example, aroma could have a big list with check boxes that you could select for anything you noticed, like apple, nut, bread etc. For appearance there could be one part just for head, like thin, thick, longlasting, tightly packed. Color could even have a color chart of different hues going from light to dark. It wouldn't be too hard to come up with big lists of choices and it might be fun. Also, it may help people in reviewing beer! Of course, if there were a dozen parts with a dozen options, more time and thinking would be required. It would be an optional rating method. Maybe you'd need 20 or so reviews before you were allowed to use it, too. Also, I think it would be better to keep the results limited to members only. What do you guys think?


19 years ago
# 1
# 1

BRETT
25065

BRETT
25065

Sounds good. Might not be too hard to make a list of the beer flavor wheel items. As far as color, it would be nice to have some sort of color wheel? so that reviewers are using more standard color descriptions. Someone's reddish-brown might be another person's amber. That would help.

19 years ago
# 2
# 2

FLASHPRO
49720

In Reply To #2 It's much easier to see a color than describe it. The color chart I mentioned would be an actual graphic, of course. There will still be slight differences because of monitors being a little off, and I'm sure memory will be the hardest problem to overcome :), but I think the average of all the ratings should be pretty close!

19 years ago
# 3
# 3

BRETT
25065

BRETT
25065

In Reply To #3 Another thought on color. HBD.org had a color chip icon next to each homebrew recipe to show the approximate color of each beer (based on its srm). It was from a program called the beer recipator. Perhaps they will let you 'borrow' it? http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/recipes?group=1

This message was edited by Brett at 7/23/2004 4:21:40 PM.

19 years ago
# 4
# 4

In Reply To #1 I think it would be good to refine the reviews more. Not to the point of closing out the casual memember because their reviews are as important as any guru's. I would find tools like a color wheel useful. The more tools I have to access the better my reviews will be.

19 years ago
# 5
# 5

FOAMDOME
18340

In Reply To #1 Great idea, Flash! I know I would want to use the color scale and the checkboxes to help describe these attributes in unambiguous terms. Plus, I think it would attract new members because it would make BeerPal unique. I'm all for it.

19 years ago
# 6
# 6

Those are really good ideas although the color wheel may not be very accurate. Some monitors are way off. There is a huge difference between PK's monitor and mine. But what the hell? Some people are color blind and don't even know it. Go for it!

19 years ago
# 7
# 7

PKSMITH
7945

Good idea, IMO. I can't remember the times I've been doing a review and absolutely not been able to determine a certain characteristic of a certain aspect of a brew. I.E.: aromas with faint odors of certain things. As a man, I of course don't have the finer ability to determine faint aromas as my wife. Often, I'll be sitting, (picture this), sniffing a beer with a puzzled look. Bluezy will take one sip and say "I smell, taste, da da da". Of course, it could just be old age kickin' in.

19 years ago
# 8
# 8

CLASH
49183

CLASH
49183

In Reply To #1 Members only? I used to have that jacket. Seriously I think you should be a member to rate in the first place. Its free and only takes 3.6 seconds to sign up. I think its a unique idea and it would actually make rating easier for everyone. Sometimes it hard to describe what you are smelling, tasting, etc.

19 years ago
# 9
# 9

COTTRELL
19268

In Reply To #1 As long as you keep both options open, I think it's a pretty nice idea. If a member signed up who was fairly new to beer, and saw an extensive list of characteristics like "diacetyl," they may be turned off. I think you would open some doors to have some really cool search options, once the new ratings are more popular. People could be able to search for a beer that got a lot of checks for certain flavor aspects, like caramel or something. Personally I don't know if I would use it, as I feel I can say everything I need to within the actual written review, but you may be onto something. Also, I agree with Clash, I don't think anyone should be able to review unless they are a member.

19 years ago
# 10
# 10

FLASHPRO
49720

In Reply To #10 "Personally I don't know if I would use it, as I feel I can say everything I need to within the actual written review, but you may be onto something. " That may be true, but the main purpose for doing it isn't to help the reviewer but to create a more comprehensive database that would allow us to see more statistics and what beers are most similar to each other.

19 years ago
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