Yankee Brew News Archive

Editorial: The Rating Game

Originally Published: 10/96

By: Donald S. Gosselin

For over seven years, our editorial policy concerning reviews was unchanged. We used "descriptive" reviews of lagers, ales and ciders and left the criticism to the reader. There was sound reasoning behind this policy. Since our inception in 1989, we believed that the microbrewing industry hadn't matured to the point where it was ready for comparative criticism. As a brewspaper pioneer among microbrewing pioneers, we thought it unwise to compare a handful of microbrewed products, one against the other.

Things have changed dramatically in those seven years. What was then a handful of small breweries has now grown to over a hundred in New England alone. While this welcome growth has been phenomenal, it has not been without pitfall. As a flood of new beers have come on line, we have noticed a sharper distinction between those that strive to produce high quality beverages and those that do not. We are not alone in this observation. Readers are quick to point out the few microbreweries, brewpubs and contract brewers that fail to meet their high expectations.

One thing is certain. The birth of this industry can be attributed to one enduring concept; the public's demand for beverages of uncompromising quality. We feel strongly that the few who neglect that demand for quality can weaken the very industry they seek to prosper from. The danger is obvious -- a potential convert to our cause may be lost forever if his first microbrew falls short of his expectations.

After some internal debate, we at Yankee Brew News are scrapping our descriptive system of reviews in favor of a comparative system based on constructive criticism. Beginning with this issue, all beverages will now be compared by me or another competent member of the editorial staff in a blind-tasting format, where feasible. A scale of one (Noticeable Flaws) to four (Outstanding) will be used.

It is our hope that this new system will help us better fulfill our two most important missions; to help the consumer make an educated choice, and to help the average brewer become an outstanding one.

Donald S. Gosselin

Publisher