How long do IPAs stay "Fresh"?

In my experience, cans are much better than bottles in keeping hoppy beers hoppy.

 

I can't wait until Victory starts canning Dirt Wolf.

Cheers!

 

Probably two months is ideal, three months is my max. I won't get anything besides a stout, porter, scotch ale, etc. older than that. But I usually weigh the freshness of multiple beers before making a decision. If I have it narrowed down to two different IPA's I'm considering. I'll give the nod to the fresher one.

 

I honestly can't recall buying a canned craft beer and being disappointed with the freshness. Half Acre Daisy Cutter and Surly Furious are only available in cans. I'm not even sure they date the cans. Maybe they do. I don't even look because both beers have a good turnover here and they always taste fresh enough. Sometimes they taste extra fresh.

 

Perhaps, but that's why I have flop houses in several different regions.

 

Actually, I'm drinking a Dirtwolf right now. Bottled on Jan. 7, so...pretty fresh. But I agree, Dirtwolf canned would be amazing.

 

The canning process is a ‘good thing’ but “both beers have a good turnover here” is even better.

A nuance to this discussion is that canned beer has the ability to last a long(er) time if the canning process is superior from a Total Packaged Oxygen (TPO) perspective. In other words if the canning line is crappy and too much air (oxygen) is introduced during the packaging process then the beer will go stale relatively quickly.

In summary: a superior canning line plus cans yields a packaged beer that resists going stale and has the possibility of being very drinkable even with 6 months of age.

One more nuance is how the beer was stored. The optimum 6 month old canned beer is:

· Packaged with a low TPO value

· Stored cold continuously

OK another summary of sorts: the two enemies of beer which make them go stale are oxygen and warm storage temperature.

Cheers!

 

"pretty fresh"? I would state that 3 day old beer is EXTREMELY fresh.

You are a lucky dog!!

Cheers!

 

Another thing I think Two Hearted has going for it in terms of shelf stability is live yeast in the can. Their canning line is as modern as can be, so minimal O2 is introduced. Whatever minuscule amount of O2 gets in the can is going to be absorbed by the yeast during the process of natural carbonation.

 

Since two hearted doesn't have much of a hop nose -- it's not surprising is tastes fresh longer. Just a pretty malty ale IMO.

 

You wanna know how I know you've never had a fresh Two Hearted?

 

Not really...but there is no reason to get offended. I like the beer. ive bought 2 week old cans in downtown Indy and had it on tap at the nook in Huntsville for the last 3 years. But ok -- go ahead and tell me.

 

I'm far from offended. Ok, you want to know how I know you're hard of smelling? If you aren't smelling plenty of Centennial hops in a fresh Two Hearted, your sense of smell is quite weak.

 

Does it really matter? They all taste about the same.

 

U can tell all that from my one sentence post? Hardo post of the night. More likely my nose is fried from hop nose overload w Pliny, and heady, and Trilium whatever and alpine nelson. BTW -- I know Illinois is a big place but u ever go to Rhodells in peoria? Most underrated brewery in the Midwest. Love that place. Cheers bro

 

You can't get any of those beers in Indy or Huntsville where you claim to be drinking fresh Two Hearted. In other words, you have a bad sense of smell and aren't a good liar.

Peoria? lol

 

Why would I get those beers in Indy and HSV? I get them at home. Arrogant and a hardo -- nice combination. I suppose you are going to say this photo was not taken on my patio...You know how I can tell you've never had a wonderful scotch ale at Rhodells?

 

Because you said you got Two Hearted fresh in Indy and on tap in Huntsville.

I have no problem saying Pliny or whatever high priced hop bomb you want to say has more aroma than Two Hearted because they clearly do. However, the point here is you claimed Two Hearted is just a malty beer. This is only true for those with dull senses.

 

It really depends on the beer. However I would say they are usually best within 90 days of the bottle date.

 

I've always heard the 90 day rule, though when I buy them myself it's a 30 day rule..