I think you find that so highly subjective, Its like Westvleteren
Trappist ale, its usually rated number one in the USA, but on my many
trips to Brugge, and other Belgium beers town they don't think its
number one (polled bartenders in the 4 major beer towns).

I myself I not rated it because it varies, on my recent trip Aril
2007 the beer was different and nearly unavailable, different due to
lack of aging, I had quite a few friends in Belgium swap the new for
the old , and its funny I liked the new better, It even turned out
after many many bottles after 4 weeks there I found myself rating
Rochefort 6 at the top of my list this time. its all a long story, as
for rating USA's brewers man if I was rich and had the time what fun
that would be, though I doubt you ever be able to rank them, write a
book yes, but it would never be authoritative. some days I think Sam
Adams sucks and some day I think blue moon is killer, sure I love all
the Belgium beer and German etc, but most normal working folk like me
cannot afford all that stuff. ratings are done my members, and it
depends how drunk they are when they rate the beers. lol joke there.
though I dont know ratebeer that well, the Alstrom bros reviews are
quite fair and balanced lol.
>
>What I really want to know is which is more authoratative in its
>ratings.
>
>This is all part of reasearch I am doing for a book on US breweries.