I used to love everything that Samuel Adams made. Like many people, the beers they make were my stepping stones into the craft beer universe. But now, after having tried other beers and having made my own, I find the Samuel Adams beers to be a bit bland in comparison.
My question is:
Is there an essential level at which a beer must be to be considered "good beer," or is it all relative? I have a beer in mind that currently stands as the best beer I've had. I'm sure I will find one in the future that I think is even better. But at the moment, this beer is a 10 out of 10, just as a Samuel Adams was a while back.
We can't possibly know when we taste a beer whether it is only so many out of 10, comparing it to what we imagine the best beer would taste like. When we taste our favorite beer, it's a 10! Period. We taste empirically, and can't ever accurately place a beer in a universal spectrum of "good" or quality, simply because we've never had all the beers in the world.
This explains why at one point, when Samuel Adams was the brewery that made the best beer I'd had, I thought it to be the best and now think differently. It kind of disappoints to see this happen, like watching your favorite childhood movie and realizing it sucks.
Just my thoughts.
I guess I'm looking to see what people think of this idea that at any point in time, the best beer you've had is a 10 out of 10 simply because it's the best beer you've had, and because you couldn't predict the quality and ranking of any possible beers you may one day try.
Has anyone ever tried a beer, thought it to be the best they've ever had, yet still thought, "not a 10 out of 10, because I think there may be better?"
My question is:
Is there an essential level at which a beer must be to be considered "good beer," or is it all relative? I have a beer in mind that currently stands as the best beer I've had. I'm sure I will find one in the future that I think is even better. But at the moment, this beer is a 10 out of 10, just as a Samuel Adams was a while back.
We can't possibly know when we taste a beer whether it is only so many out of 10, comparing it to what we imagine the best beer would taste like. When we taste our favorite beer, it's a 10! Period. We taste empirically, and can't ever accurately place a beer in a universal spectrum of "good" or quality, simply because we've never had all the beers in the world.
This explains why at one point, when Samuel Adams was the brewery that made the best beer I'd had, I thought it to be the best and now think differently. It kind of disappoints to see this happen, like watching your favorite childhood movie and realizing it sucks.
Just my thoughts.
I guess I'm looking to see what people think of this idea that at any point in time, the best beer you've had is a 10 out of 10 simply because it's the best beer you've had, and because you couldn't predict the quality and ranking of any possible beers you may one day try.
Has anyone ever tried a beer, thought it to be the best they've ever had, yet still thought, "not a 10 out of 10, because I think there may be better?"