Macro Beer Ratings

[Jake]

I had nothing to do today. So besides spending time here at this site I was doing some interesting research at Ratebeer.com. I wanted to see how the big macro beers were rated and this is my findings: 5.0 being best rating.

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REGULAR BEER
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Beer Rating (Total Ratings)
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Michelob 2.02 (433)

Strohs 1.85 (173)

Pabst Blue Ribbon 1.75 ( 586)

Miller High Life 1.69 (614)

Miller Genuine Draft 1.67 (724)

Coors Original 1.66 (502)

Budwieser 1.41 (1251)

Milwaukee Best 1.24 (396)

Busch 1.23 (419)


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LIGHT BEER
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Miller High Life Light 1.51 (148)

Miller Lite 1.45 (676)

Coors Light 1.34 (853)

Busch Light 1.25 (306)

Milwaukee Best Light 1.24 (231)

Bud Light 1.22 (838)

[Katefan00]

If I'm going to buy cheap (which is often enough), I usually go with MGD if I can get it -- it reminds me of the beach -- or High Life. For what that's worth!

K.

[fretlessman71]

Is it really that cheap by comparison when you factor in the headache? ;)

Really, though... there are plenty of good beers for $5.99 a 6er. Cheap enough for me!

[Jake]

For those who viewed this and are scratching your head and said OK, what was that all about. If you compare those ratings with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale 3.69, Bell's Amber Ale 3.58, Bell's Pale Ale 3.51, Samuel Adams Boston Lager 3.19 you can see just how bad these macro beers are ( not that we did not already know that). I also found interesting was Budwieser "King of Beers" over 30 million barrels sold anually is not even rated the best tasting of the macro swill.

[wortchillergoal]

That is interesting but how many people at ratebeer are swill drinkers? I would imagine that most people who post reviews there lean towards the more quality beers of the world.

If you are going to buy cheap beers, just buy water.

[chazwicke]

What is the highest rated beer over there? And it's rating?

[steveh]

I pay $9.99 for a 12 of Dinkel-Acker and $10.99 a 12 of Spaten Premium. See below...

S.

[stronk]

Westy 12, with 4.53, 489 votes. Incidentally, this is my favourite beer as well.

I notice that the top 16 beers are mostly 'imperial' or 'quadrupel'. Does that say anything about beers in general, or just the ratebeer tastes?

[Jake]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by wortchillergoal
[B]That is interesting but how many people at ratebeer are swill drinkers? I would imagine that most people who post reviews there lean towards the more quality beers of the world
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I'm sure your right . I imagine swill drinkers don't even know how to rate beer. Most doing reviews at that site are quality beer drinkers. I find it interesting that they would take the time to even rate the macro stuff. Its somewhat hilarious reading the comments.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by stronk
Westy 12, with 4.53, 489 votes. Incidentally, this is my favourite beer as well.

I notice that the top 16 beers are mostly 'imperial' or 'quadrupel'. Does that say anything about beers in general, or just the ratebeer tastes? Both BA and RateBeer tend to favor HEAVY beers, and sometimes to a fault... while it's impressive to be able to make a 25% ABV brew, the end result sometimes tastes like soy sauce! ;)

[wortchillergoal]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Both BA and RateBeer tend to favor HEAVY beers, and sometimes to a fault... while it's impressive to be able to make a 25% ABV brew, the end result sometimes tastes like soy sauce! ;)

I agree with fret on this one. Though I tend to lean to big beers, I find that there are just as many nasty ones as there are in the smaller styles.

[chazwicke]

Give me a good cask Mild!

[stronk]

Stop bragging, they'll all want one!

[hopjack13]

although the westvleteren 12 is a damn good beer! of all the trappist (that i've tried , which is most) i like the rochefort 10 the best
and at beer advocate the westvleteren12 (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/rate_results/313/1545/) scored a 4.62....wow!

[steveh]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Give me a good cask Mild!

Come to Libertyville, Chaz! Mickey Finn's has a new one on cask that is mighty tasty!

S.

[fretlessman71]

Nobody serves milds around here... Why? WHY??!!?!?? :rolleyes:

[Beaver]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Nobody serves milds around here... Why? WHY??!!?!?? :rolleyes:

When I went to MI, Arbor Brewing Co had a couple of nice milds.

http://www.arborbrewing.com/beers.asp

[fretlessman71]

Yeah, but that doesn't help me around HERE.... oh well. Guess I'll have to try brewing my own, then! Anyone know what you do differently when brewing a mild?

[chazwicke]

There are some English kits. I know Woodfordes Brewery actually puts kis out because I bought one on Ebay a while back.

[steveh]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Nobody serves milds around here... Why? WHY??!!?!?? :rolleyes:

Funny thing about it is that they aren't touting it as a mild. They're introducing their first Brown Ale (uh oh, Fret). But I took one gulp and knew that it was less than 4%. I'm betting they don't want to call it "mild" for fear no one will drink it.

S.

[stronk]

Anyone know what you do differently when brewing a mild
I brewed a dark mild, the remains of which is still sitting in my cellar now. It turned out better than some milds I've tasted, but nowhere near as good as the best. Basically, you want to use less base malt (or extract) and enough specialty malt to give it a good flavour profile without upping the abv too much. Then finish it off with some good old fuggles and you're pretty much there.

[Richard English]

Milds don't have to be weak but most are. The term refers to the hop level, not the alcohol level. Which is why, of course, bitter is called bitter - more hops.

I alway drink Harvey's dark mild when I'm in my favourite local - The Garland - although their bitter is excellent.

[chazwicke]

One of the thing I appreciate the most in the pub is the posting of the alcohol content on the pump badges. It makes a difference when I am selecting which beer I want.

[Richard English]

It is a legal requirement in England to show alcoholic content as well as the volume of liquid in the bottle. Draught beer can only be sold in multiples of an Imperial pint. It certainly helps prevent rip-offs!

BTW - Harvey's dark mild is 3.0%

[chazwicke]

I have a beautiful framed brewery litho of Harvey and Son Bridge Wharf brewery, Lewes hanging on my office wall. ( along with about 28 other framed lithos or breweriana)

[Richard English]

Is that the one with the Foden steam dray parked outside?

[chazwicke]

No. it has several wagons with horses and also some boats all being loaded with barrels.

If I knew how to attach a picture I would. My digital is down in my car.

[Richard English]

Obviously an older one - I suspect it's the one you can see here, at the top of the page http://www.harveys.org.uk/

You can also see a picture of The Garland on that same site.

[Jake]

Richard, I was wondering what had happen to you. I had not seen you post in a long while. I'm glad to hear from you again.

[Richard English]

Thank you for your concern. It has been a very busy time for me plus I have been fairly heavily involved with another site -http://oedilf.com - which has meant I have been spending less time here than I would perhaps like.

I am in Orlando for a couple of weeks from tomorrow so will also not be able to spend much time here as I'll be reliant on the Peabody's computer facilities.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Richard English
Obviously an older one - I suspect it's the one you can see here, at the top of the page http://www.harveys.org.uk/

You can also see a picture of The Garland on that same site.

Yes. That is the one.

[chazwicke]

I looked up the Grenadier. A very nice and homey looking pub.

[Richard English]

My local's the Garland. Tha landlord aways has the full range of Harvey's beers on and won't allow A-B Budweiser across his threshold! If you want Budweiser you get the real one from the Czech Republic!

[Bryant]

Hmmm..... where does Schlitz rate on that ? I wouldn't drink any of that stuff for free (including Schlitz) but I tinkered around (just out of boredom and curiosity) with the "drink your Father's beer' thread a year ago or so and though well below the cut-off of what I consider even "drinkable," Schlitz did at least have a hint of character due to the fact I think they are too cheap to buy a lot of hops. I didn't like it, but for an American swill macro lager, it was at least reasonably different.


Bryant

[chazwicke]

Maybe we can talk Fret into doing a taste test of all those macro labels owned by Pabst and contract brewed by Miller after he finishes his porter project. I'm willng to bet many of them are the same beer.

http://www.pabst.com/ourbeer.htm

Fret are you willing?

[Bryant]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Maybe we can talk Fret into doing a taste test of all those macro labels owned by Pabst and contract brewed by Miller after he finishes his porter project. I'm willng to bet many of them are the same beer.

http://www.pabst.com/ourbeer.htm

Fret are you willing?


I'm not doing another one of those macro taste tests personally (I only did three on that one anyway.) I'm not quite the.... ehem.... beer snob as some here, as I HAVE to try new beers (just out of curiosity) even by the macro giants, but drinking a bunch of that stuff is beyind my limitations.
As far as the beers being "the same," they very well may be. I am an industrial electrician/maintenance techinican (and a hundred other monikers I can shoot out for someone that repeair industrial machinery) and I worked in a bakery at one time. The "name brand" was packaged in a different wrapper with a different price tag than many of the generics, but they were the same product. Not always, as some did have different ingredients, but on many products, they were.


Bryant

[Richard English]

Please don't ask me to try it out! I have too much respect for my metabolism to subject my body to the kinds of chemical attack that would be the result of drinking any of this rubbish.

Since I started drinking proper beer I have never had a hangover, dispepsia or sickness. The only temporary upset is a need these days to get up in the night if I have more than about five pints before I go to bed.

And that's been much the same for about 45 years - ever since I stopped drinking chemical swill and started on real beer.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by chazwicke
Maybe we can talk Fret into doing a taste test of all those macro labels owned by Pabst and contract brewed by Miller after he finishes his porter project. I'm willng to bet many of them are the same beer.

http://www.pabst.com/ourbeer.htm

Fret are you willing? Hey - there's only so many tiimes I'm going to be willing to "take one for the team", okay? ;)

[BluesHarp]

Originally posted by hopjack13
although the westvleteren 12 is a damn good beer! of all the trappist (that i've tried , which is most) i like the rochefort 10 the best


I agree, I also prefer the Rochefort 10 to the Westy 12.

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Hey - there's only so many tiimes I'm going to be willing to "take one for the team", okay?

I'll give you $40.00? ;)

[fretlessman71]

$40.00? AND send me the beer? Hmmmm..... ;)

[chazwicke]

Man! I can't believe you would consider it. I would not do it for $500.00.

[fretlessman71]

Hey - $40 is about 5 mixer sixers at Wilburs! ;)

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Nobody serves milds around here... Why? WHY??!!?!?? :rolleyes:

Have you tried this one from CooperSmith's? - "Not Brown Ale":

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/rate_results/3174/12309/

Based on their online beer menu, it's on tap now:

http://www.coopersmithspub.com/beer.pl

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

He does not like brown ales but he is doing a porter tasting. I'n my view, Lately some of the brown ales that I have sampled lately have verged on becoming porters. Some of the roastiness in the aroma has been more porter like. On two occasions lately at brew pubs I found this to be the case. One of the Brewers admitted to me that his favorite styles are Porters and stouts. Hmmmm wonder if this might explain why.

[jenniza_18]

beer is the best thing here on earth!
TO AlCOHOL!



jen

[BluesHarp]

Welcome jen...but remember, alcohol is only a fringe benefit of good beer! :)

[chazwicke]

What are some of your favorite beers Jen? I will agree that some beers are heaven on earth to me. I also agree whole heartedly with what Bluesharp said.

[steveh]

Hmm, are the ballot-stuffers gathering?

S.

[chazwicke]

I'm lobbying for Gumballhead this year to win it all. No ballot stuffing though.

[JohnBarleycorn]

Henry Weinhardt's PR
8-9$ for a 12pac. in brown bottles.
Excellent beer for the price, and one of the best values in the biz in my worthless opinion.

[fretlessman71]

I miss their porter - it was pretty good!

Don't they make an ale, too? Something like Blue Boar, maybe?

[JohnBarleycorn]

Yes,....Blue Boar Ale.....never tried it.
They also make a decent hefe.
Thier summer beer is a bit too lite for my taste.

[fretlessman71]

Don't think I'll be wasting my time with Blue Boar.... http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/719/2765/