Head Hunter Bottling Date?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by proseberry, Jan 13, 2013.

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  1. RyanMcFly1985

    RyanMcFly1985 Savant (1,222) Oct 20, 2007 Ohio
    Trader

    They use Julian Code. The first two digits are the year and then the last 3 are the day that it was bottled. For example, if they bottled a beer on December 31st, 2012, the code would be 12365, meaning it was bottled on the 365th day of the year 2012. Cheers!
     
  2. papat444

    papat444 Initiate (0) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)

    Thank you, i will add them!
     
  3. Extravadanza

    Extravadanza Initiate (0) Aug 3, 2011 Ohio

    When did they start this and where is it, couldn't find this on the couple bottles I have but maybe I'm just not looking in the right spot.
     
  4. BT_Bobandy

    BT_Bobandy Initiate (0) Feb 20, 2011 Ohio

    I've had old HH before....its tastes like it was dry hopped with moth balls. It's usually fresh found around Cleveland though. Some bottle shops buy a shit ton of it and let it sit. When fresh, it's fantastic.
     
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  5. shuggy

    shuggy Pundit (794) Dec 22, 2006 Pennsylvania
    Trader

    I haven't bought a case in about a month but of the many that I have purchased there has never been a date on the case either.
     
  6. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    They just started dating them.
     
  7. RyanMcFly1985

    RyanMcFly1985 Savant (1,222) Oct 20, 2007 Ohio
    Trader

    I am not sure exactly when they started it. Maybe in the middle of 2012? Tony Corder could probably chime in. The code is on the label, written somewhat small (I am at work and do not have access to a bottle to give you an exact location of the code).
     
  8. psuKinger

    psuKinger Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2005 Pennsylvania

    They do intend to. I emailed them back in June of 2012, and to my delight, I got a (very quick) response from their head brewer. It is planned. He didn't elaborate on why they currently aren't, but it would be my guess that you correct... the necessary equipment just isn't currently within the budget.

    Others in this thread need to keep in mind that I think they've been using Troeg's old brewhouse for less than a year now... that likely was a major investment.

    This is generally true in Western PA, as well. I normally just don't buy beer that isn't dated, but Fathead's beer is sufficiently excellent, and it moves quickly enough around here that it's generally a pretty safe bet. So I bend the rules for these guys.

    Likewise, 3 Floyd's doesn't bottle date... but they're good enough, that when my buddy goes home to Indiana he picks up some bottles anyway. He's been burnt a few times, recently, though, with some Arctic Panzer that wouldn't have been purchased if a Freshness Date had been available.


    EDIT: If this is referring to Fathead's, please disregard all of the above :slight_smile:

    Great news.
     
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  9. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,181) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have a case of Head Hunter sitting in my basement. I coud have sworn there was no date on the case. I just turned, flipped it around many times and then my vision finally worked. In gray font it lists a bottled on date. The overall markings on the case (logo, 'advertisements' of winning awards, etc.) are very vibrant on the case. The bottling date is subtle in comparison (but it is there!)

    Cheers!
     
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  10. tcorder219

    tcorder219 Initiate (0) Mar 11, 2008 Ohio

    Ryan is correct on the Columbus Brewing Julian code. The 5 digit code should be stamped in black on the left side of the label. The "mother case" also gets stamped with mo/day/yr. We've been coding bottles on and off for the past 9 months or so. Had some insane issues with the machine...so it wasn't really consistent until a few months ago.
    Crossing our fingers the coder cooperates for a while.

    Tony- Columbus Brewing
     
  11. MarkIntihar

    MarkIntihar Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2010 Michigan

    Picked up some fresh Head Hunter last night. So gud.
     
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  12. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,231) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Reviving Zombie Thread...

    I was going to pick up some Head Hunter last night. There was no yellow bottle dating on the bottles like i have seen in the past. It was in the newer packaging. I noticed a code on the lower side of the bottle, but it was nothing i have ever seen before (i.e. julian dating or derivation there of). Does anyone know if Fat Head's changed their bottle dating, and if so, how I can decipher the new bottle dating? It just looked like a series of random numbers.
     
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  13. GOBLIN

    GOBLIN Pooh-Bah (2,562) Mar 3, 2013 Ohio
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I have never come across a Fat Heads beer without a date . . . just me ? By the sound of this thread I guess so. A lot of the times it will be smudged at worst but always been there in my experience.
     
  14. drtth

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

    Probably the bottle manufacturer's dating system. See Post 18 above by jesskidden.
     
  15. spicoli00

    spicoli00 Pooh-Bah (2,231) Jul 6, 2005 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Society

    dammit. thanks for point that out. this bottle shop is shady enough to "wipe off" the bottle dates to hide freshness. i'll be avoiding those 4 packs.
     
  16. glass_house

    glass_house Initiate (0) Jan 10, 2014 Ohio

    Haven't noticed it with Head Hunter, but recently my local bottle shop had Sunshine Daydream from two separate deliveries. One batch was dated, the other wasn't. The more recent stuff was dated, so I'm assuming any bottles that made it out undated were just an oversight. Purely speculation, though.
     
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  17. KSOZE

    KSOZE Initiate (0) Feb 10, 2015 Ohio

    I have come here to report the batches that hit my area recently are not dated. Bottle coder go down?
     
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  18. miketd

    miketd Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2006 Ohio

    Many bottles I see lately have no dates and the cans are not legible. I only by two places, the brewery and one bottle shop I know that gets good turnaround.
     
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  19. deadonhisfeet

    deadonhisfeet Pooh-Bah (2,419) Apr 23, 2011 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I was looking at Head Hunter in Cincinnati this past Saturday and also failed to find bottled-on-dates.
     
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  20. Jae9979

    Jae9979 Initiate (0) Sep 23, 2012 New York

    I purchased 2 weeks ago from brew pub in Pittsburgh..dates were on the bottles and clear as day.
     
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