Printing Kegged on dates for IPAs on menus?

This IMHO is not necessary or like you said, making it more difficult for you to sell your "older kegs"

Around me (Long island) ive always been in contact with good bars and distros that keep there kegs cold and rarely have temp fluxs. To me this is the most important point when deciding where to drink. I cant say that ive ever had an oxidized/off flavored keg but then again I also don't have a problem paying 8-12$ for a quality pint when im out.

If I had to answer your question I would have to say that 60 days is my cut off if I actually did see a Kegged on date, more or less lead me to another beer rather than being turned off by that particular brewery.

There's so much good beer theses days and when you give people a reason not to buy a particular product (outdated) then your actually doing yourself a disservice

 

I think it is a good idea and I certainly am a person who checks dates when purchasing hoppy beers. The fresher the better but I don't think I would turn down a solid IPA that is at a month or two out unless there was something comparable that was much fresher. After 60 days I start to look at other options.

 

Do it
If nothing else
The marketing that you can use is great
that your operation even cares enough to give the consumer that info
vs your competitors who doesnt and are NOT doing it.....

 

I read this as: "There's so much good beer these days and when you sell customers outdated product without their knowledge, you're doing them a disservice."

 

I think you're introducing an entirely new way for freshness zealots to make demands of you and the rest of the beer industry when it was better left alone. Much of what happens to beer in the bottle during transit from brewery to consumer is what contributes to flavor decline, and it doesn't necessarily happen the same way to kegged beer. Good cellarmanship and proper handling can make a kegged beer last much longer than it's bottled counterpart.
So you're now asking slightly rabid consumers if they would prefer that you throw away any keg that is older than 30 days? Careful what you ask for.

If you want to do something fairly novel that plays to an already-established geek complaint in the bar industry, why not simply post the date that your lines were last cleaned. You'll win over alot of consumers with it and your fellow bar owners will not want to lynch you for it.

 

Yes marketing!!!!!!

 

Since I'm pretty sure that beer in a properly cared for keg "ages" more slowly than it does in bottle or can, I'd not be bothered by 60-90 days for an IPA.

However, knowing what I do about your place I'd assume the kegs have been properly cared for until being tapped and be quite willing to try IPAs kegged that long ago and select on the basis of the beer rather than age. So my bottom line I'd find it mostly a matter of curiosity rather than a sticking point or a factor influending my purchase decision or my decision to visit your place in NOLA.

Edit: To reinforce an earlier point. I'd be much more interested in knowing when the tap lines were last cleaned, even though again I'm pretty confident from what I know of your place they are kept clean.

Edit2: No i've never seen a bar with Kegged on Dates printed anywhere, but then again the places I tend to frequent I'm already confident they have clean tap lines and fresh kegs that they keep rotating fairly frequently.

 

Your Menu:
1)Tap Lines Cleaned 08/09/13
2) Lagunitas Maximus Keg Date 07/12/13
3) Glassware Last Wash 08/10/13 08:14 am
4) Your server washing his hands 08/10/13 03:14 PM

 

Im not going to your bar cuz your beer is 60 days old...
Lets see Ill just go down the street to bar where they have no idea how old THEIR beer is....
hmmm maybe not
-or if they do know they aint tellin

 

I'd like to see both the "kegged on" and "tapped on" dates, and for all beers, not just IPAs (I want my pilsners and pale ales fresh, too). I wouldn't expect it on a printed menu, but on a blackboard which is changed when the keg is tapped, it's just a few more chalk strokes.

2 months isn't really that extreme, it used to be the industry standard for most US-brewed draught beer. Not sure of AB, but MillerCoors still says "9 to 13 weeks" for their kegs.

 

I wouldn't bother, just make sure your beer is well kept and serve it. If it isn't then don't.

Although you could put that info on he back of the pump clip or somewhere out of the way so if some serious beer geek needs to know you can inform them.

Sounds like you care about the beer though

 

I would love it if I knew the age on an IPA ordered at a bar. I would be much more likely to spend my money at such a place. I have ordered IPAs that ended up tasting old too many times. I will occasionally sample an IPA before buying, unless I have some additional information that it's likely fresh.

I often buy the freshest IPA (among my favorities) I can find at the store. I would likely do the same at a bar if this information were available.

No older than a month is my general preference, but the fresher the better.

 

Not necessary to post the keg dates,IMHO, it is nice however for someone on the staff to be able to quickly and easily look up the info if asked: and I have asked only a few times ever, so this is not a big deal to me. However, posting clearly a little sign that states the last time the keg lines were cleaned, separately of a tap change over, speaks very loudly to me of the quality of the bar I am at.

Edit* What circumstances did I ask for the date? Most times I thought something was off on a favorite beer, the follow up question was "When was this tapped?". Also, twice a particularly good imperial stout caught my attention and I wanted to know its age. As it turned out in one case it was 5 years old and my suggestion to the staff to note that fact on the beer menu went up right away.

 

Overkill IMO.

 

Sorry I figured the fact that you were even doing it would be enough
YES the date it would make a difference in my choice. It would be like milk-
Id want the freshest you had assuming the other older wasnt some mind blowing beer