Old Bottles - Risky Buy? (Skunked?)

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by beer_queue, Sep 4, 2016.

?

Buy an old bottle w/ faded label or not?

  1. No

    64.5%
  2. Yes

    35.5%
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  1. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    I saw a 2013 bottle of Blaecorn Unidragon at a liquor store for $8 (normally $12-13 for new bottles). That's an awesome deal, but I was unsure on the purchase because the label was incredibly faded and off-color. I suspect that it must've taken a lot of sun during its three years on the rack, so the beer inside must've gotten really damaged. This beer is for sure bad, right?
     
  2. Sweatshirt

    Sweatshirt Initiate (0) Jan 27, 2014 New Hampshire

    It's $8. If you can't afford it you shouldn't be buying beer at all. If you can, give it a go. WCS is it's not good.
     
  3. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If the label really looks faded from the sun, and you can buy a 2015 or 2016 Unidragon with no additional effort other than an extra $5... then I wouldn't buy the old bottle.
     
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  4. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    LOL, it's not really about the money but more about the disappointment of buying a shitty bottle of beer.
     
  5. Squire

    Squire Grand Pooh-Bah (4,385) Jul 16, 2015 Mississippi
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No price is a good deal if you might have to pour it out.
     
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  6. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    The local brewmaster here for Red Oak said brown bottles are 85% effective in filtering uv rays. Figure 3 years with a spent label and I'd bet that beer was bad. That badly faded label is the key to this question, not to mention the heat variations.
     
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  7. DeweyCheatem-n-Howe

    DeweyCheatem-n-Howe Initiate (0) May 23, 2015 Massachusetts

    Does the bottle shop have a guarantee or return policy for bad beer? If you go to a good bottle shop, I'd imagine coming back and saying, "Hey, this was skunked. I'd like a refund." wouldn't be out of the question.
     
    beer_queue likes this.
  8. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    Thanks for the replies! Only been to this store a few times and had a bad bottle here once. I'll have to ask about return policies next time I'm in the area.
     
  9. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    for $8 you get an aged bottle of a 12.5% RIS, I would probably pull the trigger on it, but only after I tried to talk him down more
     
  10. utopiajane

    utopiajane Grand Pooh-Bah (3,982) Jun 11, 2013 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Yes and no it depnds on the style. No low abv and fruit/ vegetable beer even imperial ones. stouts ok, belgians etc . . . barrel aged ok, 7% at least for a shorter time like saisons in wine barrels, but not the IPA or DIPA.
     
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  11. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd be more worried about the bottle's temperature history. Was it ever in hot temps and for how long?
     
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  12. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    The part of the rack where it sits faces the west window and must've gotten its view of the beautiful Californian sunset for the past three years. LOL.
     
  13. PaulQuinn

    PaulQuinn Initiate (0) May 27, 2011 Canada (BC)

    Buy it for science. In the future when another BA faces the same predicament he will recall your experience and know exactly what to do. If the beer is bad your story will serve as a cautionary tale for others. But say for some reason the beer is still good. How many otherwise relegated beers will be enjoyed because of your selfish act. What are 8 dollars, or even a drain pour, when compared against the chance of helping countless others fellow BAs.

    Buy it, I say. Buy it, you must.
     
  14. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    Thanks for this perspective. Making it an educational experience is the most positive way to look at it!
     
    PaulQuinn likes this.
  15. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    Whether we recognize it or not, every new beer we try is a learning experience, and sharing what we experience with others is always a positive thing. There is a thread on Sunday dedicated to the proposition, and it is the longest running thread on BA.
     
  16. drtth

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

    I'd pass on the beer and the "educational" experience.

    But then I'm cheap and don't like gambling when the odds are against me, so I prefer to age a.beer in the cool peaceful corner of my basement where it would be comfortable and among friends.

    After all, it's not like there are no other Beers out there left for me to try when I know they have been well cared for by the folks who sell them.
     
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  17. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    Haha, I know what you mean. A sun-damaged label seems like the odds are against the buyer; it's a bad bet regardless of the price. And that's why I'm still debating it. Inversely, I recently had an imperial stout, barrel-aged with a pristine label and a wax-seal, but it actually turned out to be super sour and spoiled. Still not sure how much one can judge a beer just based on its label.
     
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  18. beer_queue

    beer_queue Initiate (119) Sep 4, 2016 California

    Yes, that's something good to remember. I try to keep this in mind with everything that I eat or drink!
     
  19. drtth

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

    But for me it is not just the label, it is what the fading of the label and storage in the evening sunlight can mean. :-)
     
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  20. RogelioRodriguez

    RogelioRodriguez Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 California

    A faded label doesn't necessarily mean sun damage at all. The ink they use to print labels often fades with age.

    So long as the cap is tight, it's probably fine.
     
    beer_queue likes this.
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