Would I Order Another? New Contributing Factor Beer Rating System
Would I Order Another? Introducing the Contributing Factor Beer Rating System
Every great beer has contributing factors.
When I started reviewing beers on The 6th Floor, I quickly realized I didn’t want to assign arbitrary stars or chase 100-point scores. As a homebrewer, I understand the time, creativity, and craftsmanship that go into every pint. As someone exploring breweries throughout San Luis Obispo County, I wanted a rating system that reflected how I actually experience beer.
I kept coming back to one simple question:
Would I order another?
Not…
“Is this a 92-point beer?”
Not…
“How does it compare to every IPA I’ve ever tasted?”
Just one honest question.
Would I order another?
That became the foundation for what I now call the Contributing Factor Beer Rating System.
Why I Created My Own Beer Rating System
If you’ve followed my beer adventures for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed one thing:
I love craft beer.
Not just drinking it—I enjoy learning about it, brewing it, talking with brewers, and discovering the incredible beer scene here on California’s Central Coast.
Over the past several months, I’ve been visiting more local breweries, filming my 30-Second Beer Reviews, and sharing those experiences here on The 6th Floor and under Contributing Factor Brewing.
As those reviews continued, one question kept surfacing:
How should I rate a beer?
There are already plenty of established systems.
- Five-star ratings
- 100-point scoring
- Untappd
- BeerAdvocate
- The Scooby Scale
Each has its place, but none reflected how I personally decide whether a beer is worth recommending.
I wanted something simple.
Something consistent.
Something honest.
Every Great Beer Has Contributing Factors
A memorable beer isn’t defined by one characteristic.
It’s the combination of everything working together.
The way it looks.
The aroma rising from the glass.
The flavor on your palate.
And finally…
Whether you’d happily order another pint.
Those are the four contributing factors behind every beer I review.
The Four Contributing Factors
🍺 Presentation
Every beer makes a first impression before you ever take a sip.
Does it look inviting?
Does it have good clarity or appropriate haze for the style?
Is the head retention solid?
Does it resemble the style it’s meant to represent?
Presentation sets the stage.
👃 Character
Aroma creates anticipation.
Fresh citrus hops.
Classic West Coast pine.
Rich roasted malt.
Belgian esters.
A great beer should make you excited before the first sip ever reaches your lips.
👅 Flavor
This is where everything comes together.
Is the beer balanced?
Does it stay true to its style?
Do the malt and hops complement one another?
Is there depth and complexity?
Most importantly…
Does it taste great?
🔁 Return Factor
This is the most important—and the hardest—factor to earn.
Imagine the bartender walks by and asks:
“Would you like another?”
If your answer is an immediate yes, the beer earns its fourth Contributing Factor.
Because great beer isn’t just enjoyable.
It’s memorable enough that you want another pint.
The Contributing Factor Rating Scale
🍺 One Contributing Factor
There was something to appreciate, but the beer never fully came together.
🍺🍺 Two Contributing Factors
A solid beer with several strengths, though it falls short of being memorable.
🍺🍺🍺 Three Contributing Factors
A beer I’d confidently recommend to anyone visiting the brewery.
🍺🍺🍺🍺 Four Contributing Factors
The complete package.
A beer I’d happily order again and recommend without hesitation.
Why This System Matters
Beer isn’t just about technical perfection.
Some award-winning beers simply aren’t beers I’d order twice.
On the other hand, some beers may not win competitions, but they deliver such a complete experience that you immediately want another pint.
That’s what the Return Factor measures.
It’s not about chasing scores.
It’s about capturing the experience.
What’s Next
Going forward, every 30-Second Beer Review will use the Contributing Factor Beer Rating System.
Whether I’m reviewing a hazy IPA, a crisp pilsner, a barrel-aged stout, or a classic West Coast IPA, every beer will be evaluated using the same four factors:
- Presentation
- Character
- Flavor
- Return Factor
Simple.
Consistent.
Honest.
Because every great beer has contributing factors.
Now it’s time to find the beers that earn all four.
Cheers!
— Stephen Toumi
