How long would you say an IPA is good for?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by SerialTicker, Jan 26, 2013.

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  1. SerialTicker

    SerialTicker Pooh-Bah (2,815) Jun 18, 2012 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I Googled it and got no answer. I've always thought it's about 3 months, but I'm not sure how accurate that is. I just picked up Celebration Ale that was apparently bottled October 2nd... definitely not the freshest, but it should be alright. Right?
     
  2. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    People have had Celebration even older than that and it doesn't fall off much.
     
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  3. Ispeakforthetrees

    Ispeakforthetrees Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2012 Colorado

  4. bs870621345

    bs870621345 Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2009 Iowa

    Was it refrigerated? If so, yes. If not, yes.
    May not be the same beer that was intended, but it will be fine
     
  5. tectactoe

    tectactoe Initiate (0) Mar 20, 2012 Michigan
    Trader

    There is no real answer, as an IPA's lifespan depends largely on the type and amount of hops as well as malt, which is vastly different for nearly every single beer.

    However Celebration handles time well. I've had a year old Celebration that was still damn good. 4-5 months is nothing.
     
  6. stealth

    stealth Pooh-Bah (1,819) Dec 16, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I've had Furious that was damn near a year old and it was still excellent. Refrigerated the entire time it was stored.
     
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  7. antilite

    antilite Initiate (0) Jan 1, 2012 Florida

    I buy a bunch of Celebration each fall and keep it in the back of a closet covered with towels. It never sees the light of day. I pick away at it almost until the new batch comes out. And love it. The 2012 stuff I have was bottled Oct 17.
     
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  8. jaIsPoAn

    jaIsPoAn Initiate (0) Aug 1, 2012 New York

    I'd say so. 3 months would be my max
     
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  9. VitoFerrante

    VitoFerrante Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2012 Pennsylvania

    I refuse to let people make me paranoid about this very question. Being a total hop head, I have noticed Artic Panzer Wolf lose a bit of flavor after 4 months. I say within 3 months, you should be 100% on the money, beyond that for a hoppy beer, just have plans to drink it!!!! I don't think in terms of when it looses flavor, but timing when I think I can drink it. I just a some Uinta Hop Notch that was over 4 months old, it was 90% on the money. That is a win for me!!!!
     
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  10. Hoptimus-Prime

    Hoptimus-Prime Pundit (910) Dec 7, 2012 North Carolina
    Trader

    Firestone walker doesn't reccomend buying any IPAs older than 120 days, but I've purchased Sculpin with a "Best by" Date 5 months later than the date I was drinking it. Just because it is older it won't make you sick, but the hops begin to be over powered by the malts in the taste , so it may not be as enjoyable past the recommended timeframe.
     
  11. Kinsman

    Kinsman Maven (1,433) Aug 26, 2009 Nevada

    Currently drinking a Stone IPA that is just beyond it's "enjoy before" date so it's about 3 months old and it still taste damn good. Don't let these forums get you all paranoid about your IPAs. 3 months is fine for most and even longer if it's been in the fridge.
     
  12. Thickfreakness

    Thickfreakness Initiate (0) Oct 2, 2010 New York

    I just started my two year old IPA/IIPA experiment tonight.
    Two years ago I cellered a six-pack of brews that I reviewed fresh, threw one of each in a six-pack holder, and put them into the darkest, furthest part of one of my cellar cabinets. The brews are:
    DFH 90min - 2/3/11
    DFH Burton Baton - 11/22/10
    Southern Tier 2XIPA - No bottle dating with this release but it was early '11 for sure!
    Ithaca Flower Power - best by 05/11
    Harpoon Leviathan Imperial IPA - best by 5/15/11
    Troegs Nugget Nectar - 2/3/11

    I had two tonight. I'll be posting the results on the cellering forum when the new reviews are completed. Two years in the making... what a long, strange trip it's been.
     
  13. TongoRad

    TongoRad Grand Pooh-Bah (3,848) Jun 3, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I'm really curious about the Burton Baton- maybe post a heads-up here when the post is up on the cellaring board if you can. Hope it was all worthwhile- Cheers!
     
  14. Stevedore

    Stevedore Grand Pooh-Bah (5,072) Nov 16, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Its funny, didn't the Englishmen who developed the whole concept of IPAs do so to keep it preserved and tasty for when it made the voyage to India? Given that the voyage to India could take the better part of 3-6 months or so, you'd think it would be good for a bit longer than that.

    And yeah, Burton Baton should be a bit more interesting, particularly the Old Ale portion of it
     
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  15. Thickfreakness

    Thickfreakness Initiate (0) Oct 2, 2010 New York

    I will for sure. I've already done 90min and Leviathan. It was $10 and two years of waiting (the hardest part). NBD if it's all a fail! It's gonna be interesting to say the least. I figured two years was a good starting point to age an IPA.
     
  16. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    You didn't find an answer because how long an IPA is good for depends in part on the bottling line in use at the brewery. Some bottling lines give an IPA a shelf life of about 3 months, some give it a shelf life of about 5-6 months.
     
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  17. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Probably not. Don't risk it.
     
  18. herrburgess

    herrburgess Grand Pooh-Bah (3,053) Nov 4, 2009 South Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Society

    IPAs are "good" for as long as 99% of beers are good. Beer is like bread, not like wine: it is best when consumed as fresh as possible. Why so many BAs labor under the impression that only IPAs suffer with age I'll never understand.
     
  19. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

  20. cbeer88

    cbeer88 Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2007 Massachusetts

    Personal taste.

    I aim to drink as fresh as possible, and almost never buy an IPA that is older than 30 days. I really think 90 days is just far too long on an IPA - it's still a drinkable beer at that point, but it has fallen off considerably from how it tastes fresh.
    There are exceptions - Celebration is a great example of one that holds up well for much longer than average.
     
    5thOhio likes this.
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