A New Idea

In an effort to force myself to write more original content for my blog, in combination with my love of beer, I'm going to start reviewing one beer a week on a 0-10 scale of awesomeness. I do not have a beer to review yet for this week, although there is a fresh six-pack I just purchased sitting in my refrigerator, waiting for me to get home.

I did want to give my wonderful readers, however few or many there may be, an idea of what the numbers on the scale actually mean and where they might find certain beers on this scale. Here is how the 0-10 scale breaks down:

0-2:  Varying degrees of awful. Beers in this bracket should immediately cease production because they are so terrible that it is a travesty to other, better beers that these pieces of shit exist. Beers found in this bracket would be something along the lines of Red Dog or Keystone Light (is there a Keystone "Regular"?).

3-4:  Below-average, but still drinkable. These beers are beers that if no other options are available and I simply must have a beer, I'll have one. But I won't enjoy it. Say, if I were at a cookout and the host only had Bud Light and Corona, I would have the Corona, but only by default. Other beers in this category would be Amstel Light and Killian's Irish Red.

5:  Average. I like it, but it's nothing special. I'll get it if it's available and there's nothing better, and I won't feel bad about it. Most of the Brooklyn Brewery beers I've had would fall in this category. Also in this category:  St. Pauli Girl, Abita Purple Haze and Dos Aquis.

6-7:  Above average and usually delicious. These beers are on my "actively seek out" list, but are not at the top. I'm very happy to order one at a bar or other sort of drinking establishment, and incredibly impressed when I happen upon them at a social gathering. Beers in the this bracket would be Hoegaarden, Sam Adams Winter Lager, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and Victory Golden Monkey.

8:  Excellent beers. These straddle the line of above average and top-notch. They aren't quite the greatest, but they are close; there is just one thing missing that keeps these beers out of the next category. Beers that reside in this category would rank among the likes of Sam Adams Summer Ale, Paulaner Hefeweizen, Lion Stout and Sam Adams Blackberry Witbier.

9-10:  The best of the best, the cream of the crop, the pinnacle of beer perfection, when these beers grace my tongue I know I am a lucky man. These beers are at the tippity top of my "actively seek out" list. If I go to some sort of barbeque or party and these brews are in attendance, I usually hug the host. Beers that live in this world are in the company of Lake Placid Ubu Ale, Sam Adams Cream Stout and Sam Adams Imperial Stout. (Note:  As of this writing, there are no "10" beers).

I like to think of myself as a hard man to please when it comes to ranking beers. There are plenty of brews that I enjoy all the way from "5" and up. This list is simply my way of telling the world what I look for in a satisfying beer. I hope you enjoy the posts about my beer of the week, and happy drinking to you all.

Also, I invite all readers to ask where their favorite beers would land on my list.