Best by date vs born on date

WTF does "born on" mean? The date the yeast spore split from its "parent"? The day the beer was mashed? The day it left the primary fermenter?

"Bottled on" is a much better term.

 

I'm sorry if this is the wrong thread, but I couldn't find another more specific to my question. My question is that I just picked up a 4 pack of Sixpoint Resin, and the best by date is the end of May of 2015. It's now December 3rd, so my question is does anyone know how fresh or when the beer was actually canned? I'm not sure how Sixpoint works regarding dates and things.

 

9 months I believe.

 

The brewery owner, Sixpoint, wrote of the shelf life period in this thread that...

 

So basically, it was brewed back in September?

 

Sorry to keep hijacking this thread, but could someone tell me how Ithaca dates their beer, more specifically Flower Power? Any help would be appreciated.

 

Where I come from beer is brewed not born.
"Born on" is a puerile expression introduced by A-B perhaps to give macro beer brewing a softer image. Like so much advertising claptrap it doesn't really mean anything you can nail down.

 

See thread - Flower Power bottling dates?

 

Thank you!

 

Okay, I'd be shocked if this topic hasn't been beaten to death in other forum posts, but I can't seem to find them, so please point me in the right direction if I'm just missing it.

What do you prefer? Bottled On dating, or Best By dating?

Personally, I always prefer Bottled On dates just because it's an ACTUAL date. What always drives me crazy about Best By dates, is that they really don't tell you how old the beer is. Who's to say that the brewery feels like a 6-8 month shelf life is still within the "Best By" range?

As anal as the ABC is about all other aspect of alcohol distribution, I'm surprised that they haven't regulated bottle dating standards yet. Of course, I'm sure that Miller/Coors would have something to say about people knowing that they're buying 10 month old cans.

 

Classic topic for a poll

 

IMO "Bottled On" is better for higher gravity beers to cellar, "Best By" is better for hop-laden brews that will expire.

That being said, I have some bottles that don't have ANY date printed on them, and that's only better for irritating folks like myself.

 

Bottled on....no matter the kind of beer.
Best by is useless you still have no clue how long it's been in the bottle.

 

I prefer bottled on, it's solid information that holds the brewery accountable (all other factors remaining constant) and leaves it up to the consumer whether they would like to buy it or not at the moment of purchase. A brewer for a well known brewing co. told me not too long ago I should prefer a best by date...

 

Bottled on is always best. Let me decide when it isn't fresh anymore, and for cellaring I like to know exactly how old the beer is.

 

Congrats on being the 1000000th person to ask this question! Bottled on no doubt. Best by is always subjective.

 

Bottled on for sure. What to know how old, or in this case, how fresh the beer is not when I need to drink it by.

 

Both. AB does it (yeah, I know "did it ")

and every other brewer should, too, whether they use one or the other as the primary code, the packaging date or the brewers' own recommended shelf life should be stated in a similar fashion.

Not quite sure the point of the above comment but their easy to find and read pull-dates (and, by extension, most Pabst products'), according to MillerCoors' "Nutritional/Code" pdf:

 

The only augment for best before dating is that it makes it easier for the retailer to pull expired beer off the shelf ( like thats gonna happen )

 

I won't buy an IPA if it doesn't have a bottled on date. Period.