Old IPAs - What to do about this problem?

If its a 70 degree shelf (F) their all way downhill...

 

So not at all answering the original post, but more responding to the title alone: I'll occasionally have some IPAs in the fridge that get pushed to the back and end up being well past their prime by the time I find them. What I like to do is make Black and Tans out of them. I find that the bitterness remains pleasant and contributes nicely to the black and tan, but the faded hops and accentuated malt characters of an old IPA don't matter nearly as much when in the form of a Bland and Tan.

 

Sounds good.

 

I have at least one IPA a day but recently my kegerator broke and I have been waiting a few weeks to make sure it is fixed before putting another keg in it. I also usually buy a bomber or growler a week to try new things too.



Anyone else having crap IPA's lately? Not sure if it is the hot weather we have been having in SD but this last few weeks every bottled beer I have bought (several familiar brands in several different location) have all been bleh. Even some on tap. Had a good draft IPA last night for the first time which let me know it wasn't just my pallet.

I expect skunked beers from BevMo but this seems to be larger scale phenomena.

 

No bad IPA so far but I am picky with dates so most of what I drink is pretty fresh especially with IPA, if its old I walk no matter how good the maker. Are you sure maybe it is not just your taste buds playing games with ya? I know many times I drink a beer after say a spicy meal and its not the same beer I remember, then next day its back to normal. Maybe take break from IPA and come back to them in few weeks and the tastes will be back to normal, you could have burn out with them?
Cheers.

 

Picked up a Lost Coast While IPA (Sharkenator?... something like that) at a newish bottle shop in VA Beach that was old... my fault, lots of coagulation at the bottom, should have noticed. Much sadness.

 

I haven't had a really good west coast-style from a CA brewery in a long time.

 

As far as store buying IPAs, I'd say over 50% of IPAs I buy in stores are still out of the state of California brewers, and I check dates for freshness. CA IPAs, Pale Ales, Double IPAs (Lagunitas Firestone Walker, Ballast Point, Stone, Sierra Nevada, Alpine amongst a few others) are still better than most of the other regional or national hoppy American beers I can buy in my local stores.

 

This may be a bit random, and I only read the first couple pages. But my experience with a local shop (AA, MI) was that they still have Victory Yakima Glory from 2013 in their singles section. Turned out surprisingly well. Glad I gambled on that one. Most IPA's over 6 months I'll think twice about.

 

The price point on sculpin is why it sits on the shelf.
I see you are from California. Personally I wouldnt go to any store to buy an IPA really. Go to your local brewery pick up cans and growler and you will know its fresh.

Its what I do back here in CT.

 

Agreed on Sculpin... I bought my share when they first hit the market here. However, it's hard to pull the trigger at that price point on a regular basis. I like the beer and all of its variants but I can't spend $15 for 6 beers when I can buy 6 fresh ones for two-thirds of that...

 

Easy: buy local

 

The way I tend to get around any aging issues now is that I buy from bottle shops who post their new deliveries on social media. I'll check their site every couple of days, and if I see them post a new delivery for an IPA that I'm interested in, I can go buy it and feel safe that it's definitely fresh.

As for whether a two month-old IPA is still drinkable, well, I absolutely think that's the case if the IPA has any kind of balance to it and isn't just a one-note hop blast with nothing else going on. Balanced beers can actually undergo an interesting change in flavor profile, often in a very good way!

 

I think this problem is starting to solve itself. With the advent of so many local brewers making great IPAs and some of the big boys struggling a bit ( Stone), it was inevitable that something needs to give and the beer economy can't withstand cases and cases of beer sitting on shelves gathering dust.

 

Do people here buy expired milk? Just look at the dates, vote with your wallet. With the exception of Sierra Nevada, just about everything else I buy is local. Like within 50 miles or so. Read my facebook posts for release updates.

 

The sculpin 6 packs are fully enclosed and you can see the born on date till you get home and open it up.

this and other beers I agree when it comes to the bottle format.

 

Wow, you must not have had any Beachwood in a while!

 

I haven't, actually. Their stuff is usually really good.

 

They're killing it right now, with a new bottling line and more frequent distribution. Right now you can find Citraholic, Pride of cHops, and Amalgamator on shelves (in L.A.).

 

Don't buy it unless you can see the date? So many good options in CT.