I have decided to take a more rigid approach to rating beers. I am using a common set of variables, which each have a weight assigned. These are then summed to give the overall score. Note that many people score beers on these attributes, I have taken and adapted the scoring system from how others do it.

Appearance

Any aspect of the beer relating to it’s visual appeal impacts on the appearance rating. This includes the colour of the beer, it’s clarity, how it’s head looks (and whether it lasts). Appearance is a score out of 5.

Aroma

The smell of the beer. Largely determined by the hops and grains used. There are an endless number of descriptors for beer aromas, and describing aromas of beer can quickly lead to you being classed as a beer snob. Aromas can be loosely grouped into malty, hops, yeasty, and everything else (fruity, smokey, alcohol flavour). This section also takes into account bad smells. Aroma is an important aspect of the beer consumption experience, so it is a score out of 10.

Palate

Palate refers to how it feels to drink the beer (good, right?). It refers to the texture and body of the beer. For example, a beer can be light or heavy, carbonated to still, smooth or hard. Also, how does your mouth feel after you drink it? Palate is often refered to as mouthfeel, which I think is very descriptive. How does the beer feel in your mouth? This is a score out of 5.

Flavour

The actual taste of the beer. This includes how the taste changes while drinking the beer, as well as the bitterness/sweetness/sourness of the beer. Also, it it an intense flavour, or is it gone by the time you swallow? Flavour is scored out of 10.

Overall

The overall rating takes all of the above into account, and brings in any other factors that may influence the experience of the beer. This is a score out of 20.

Score:

I sum up all of the above to give an overall score out of 50.