Why Doesn't Every Brewery Date Their Bottles/Cans?

Many breweries, depending on the way their bottling lines work, might have a character limit on the ink-jetter.
Because of the curved bottle neck and the speed at which the bottling line travels, it's impossible to put too many characters on the bottle neck without slowing down the line. Putting multiple date codes might not be an option. Just sayin'

-B

 

Awesome news, thanks Bill!

 

It is important to me for freshness on IPAs, I always check the date. Stouts, barleywines, belgians, not as much an issue.

 

Listen Mr. Brewery...we want to know when the beer was bottled in regular American calendar terms. Not the date that YOU claim it will no longer be good by, or some crazy code that we have to do a google search just to decipher it and come up with a date. And I will decide when it is "best by" based on my personal taste/preference.

These 2 methods in some ways are even more offensive to me than not bottle-dating at all. Because this totally takes away the excuse of not being able to afford to do it. Feels very deceptive.

Kudos to the breweries that list month/date/year bottled on each of their bottles.

Is it really that hard???

 

So you would rather have no date at all compared to a cryptic date that might take a minute or two to figure out? How is no date better than a cryptic one? Just curious.

 

If you don't see a date at all, you could somewhat understand because not all breweries can afford this step in the process. But when you see a code, you wonder why the heck they can't just put a regular date.

 

I want a damn date, not too much to ask.

 

Nothing bothers me the most. Not more than a rubbed off date by the store during a cleaning. If it was that dirty, it was there too long. More most styles anyway. Some will be better or no different old. Usually IPA best buy dates are 6months from bottle date. 3months too long for me but your get an idea of the bottled date. Better than nothing.
For cryptic codes......Just remember how many days are in a year.

 

definitely SOME date. I can figure out a cryptic code. It takes less than 60 seconds to load Fresh Beer Only on my smartphone.

 

I would rather have all beers have a Born On and Best By date. I think the reasons some brewers do "best by" is that it makes it easier for a less-educated consumer. Someone who drinks 8 month old Bud Light all day that wants to make the switch to craft may think that the 8 month old IPA is good to go too.

Also, I think that some things like bottle-conditioned beers aren't released until well after their true "born on" date, so a beer like that may be as - or more - useful to have a best by than born on.

In my opinion, if you can own a place to brew, afford employees, marketing, and distribution, you can afford to date. Hell, you can even think of it as an investment; if consumers buy fresh beers they will enjoy it more, which will make you money in the long run.

 

Best by dates are fine but if every beer had a bottled on date, it would be a perfect world.

 

I like the way Bell's dates. They put the bottled date and the batch # on the label. They also put an A, B, or C on the label which refers to the shelf life. A = 6 months, B = 12 months, C = unlimited.

 

had no idea that's what the letters meant, very cool

 

Completely agree. Especially annoyed by Heady Topper cans which scream at you to drink it fresh, and yet have no date on them. Glad Three Floyd's is finally dating Zombie Dust bottles now

 

Best before is fine by me.

 

Regarding Julian dates, one needs to realize not all calendar systems are the same world wide, and brewers are not all as provincial as are some of their customers.

 

According to Jim Koch any brewery that can afford a table saw can easily afford to date.

 

Forget born on or "best by" dates. I want breweries to put "worst by" dates on my beers.

 

Two things.

First, your poll leaves out the options of:

Bottled on dates (which actually has some serious limitations)

None of the above (since some people don't buy beer unless they know its age and so are not at all offended by any of the things you list)

Second, if you don't get enough responses to your poll there are several earlier threads from which you can get additional information.

Enjoy your quest!

 

I'm not sure I understand. Why should Heady Topper bother to put on a date? They only sell their beer to people who know they are buying it fresh and can tell their customers when they bought (if it stays in stock long enough for a customer to want that information).