Bottled date should be mandatory

They passed the 18th amendment!

 

established prohibition?

 

People? It's really up to the wholesaler to maintain fresh beer on the shelves.

And contrary to current belief beer - certainly in the post Repeal era - has always been coded one way or another. You can find old beer labels stamped, notched or sometimes perforated with the dates, and many old beer cans are also stamped or embossed on the base with a code. And the cardboard sixpack wrappers, baskets and cases were also sometimes dated.

Here's Pabst's coding and locations from the 1970's, for instance (click for larger view):



And it should be remembered that 50 years ago, there were 6,000 wholesalers in the US selling beer from only about 250 breweries. And the vast majority of those breweries were local or regional and brewed, maybe, 2-6 different labels, so there were a lot fewer individual brands on the shelves in any one market, and more reps to look after them compared to today with 1000 US breweries plus 100's of imports yet only around 2-3,000 distributors.

It was a lot easier for a local wholesaler's rep to keep track of his, maybe, four different breweries and maybe 10-20 different brands and not too many different packages. Ask a distributor sales guy how many "sku's" his company carries today. Even with computer inventory control, etc., it's a lot bigger job.

 

Bottle dating would be nice, although with regards to US beers I would be more interesting to see a standard where the ABV percentage has to be included on the beer. It is required in Canada, and I am amazed by how many beers I bring back from the US that don't have anything on them that indicates alcohol percentage.

 

Mandatory...absolutely not...caveat emptor...but will I buy a beer that isn't dated....nooooooo sirrrrrrr

 

I've had Anchor Small Beer before and didn't like it and have wanted to try it again. I've seen a couple of bottles around here one with a 2010 date and another with a 2011 date. These aren't discounted bottles. Granted Anchor's dating can be tricky at first but at least all you need to know is the first number is the last number in the year (eg 0 is 2010) I blame this one on the retailer more than the brewery.

Or maybe 2-3 years old is okay to drink a 3% beer?

 

Meh. There are enough options out there that this is an issue you can personally vote with your wallet. You want bottled-on dates? Buy dated beer.

On the other hand, what I'd REALLY rather see a push for is for bars to publish kegging dates on their tap lists. Everyone always assumes that beer on tap is fresh, but I have many times found that not to be the case. Few beer-related experiences suck more than spotting a coveted draft at your local watering hole, only to show up and find out that the beer doesn't taste fresh.

This past black Friday, I went to 2 separate events only to be let down twice by 2 separate beers that were past their prime. My brother-in-law swore that Bourbon County Brand Coffee Stout was a waste of time because the coffee didn't add anything when he had it on tap at a bar. Needless to say, a fresh bottle of it completely changed his mind.

 

I would like to see a list of breweries who bottle date. That way I can use my flashlight and magnifying glass more selectively when I go to the store.

 

Where did you get that from?

EDIT: Nevermind, read a few responses down, you were trolling.

 

I stand corrected. Interesting that such a huge majority of food products carry best by dates considering its not mandatory.

 

Oh, the regulation is relatively small and so is the cost...true, it is in the brewer's best interest to do so, but it could help the industry...and doing so would not create less jobs...maybe even more, if someone is needed to make sure the bottle is marked correctly.

 

You're applying the broken window theory, which says that hiring the guy to check the labels would create a job. But it might be better to use that same money to invest in the brewery, which might just create more than one job in the long run.

Yeah, the cost of that regulation is relatively small...and so is the cost of another regulation...and another...and another...and another...drip, drip, drip...

Why not just "regulate" with your wallet and not buy beers without a bottle date if it matters that much to you? Why bring the heavy hand of government down just so you can get beer that you perceive to be fresher than beer without a bottle date? Did you ever do a blind taste test to see if you can tell the difference?

 

What a strange perspective. In other words....government regulation to protect craft beer advocacy? Might I suggest that the feds also regulate the quality and digestibility of fast foods so as to improve the product? What if the first timer got heartburn and never went back to the drive-thru window? Think of the jobs that could be lost!

More realistically, I am going out on a limb to suggest that if craft brewers want to protect and see their niche thrive and grow....that THEY (and not the Prez) take the responsibility to ensure their products freshness and superiority. Just a thought...

 

Sing it, brother!

 

I refuse to buy any type of hoppy beer without a date. No exceptions.

 

I avoid some breweries that dont date bottles. I have been burned too many times.

 

Because he doesn't know shit, amirite?

 

Can I get some documentation on this?

 

I would have to disagree, beer is a food product and it DOES expire. And yes, you can get sick from really bad beer.

 

I think for a lot of products it is just a huge scam. I mean how many people if they find say a package of microwave popcorn or some hot chocolate mix in the back of their cupboard that is a month or two past the best before date and throw it out without trying it (and go buy more)? That is of course more money for the companies who make those products. And if they can set the date to whatever they want with no legal requirements it is perfect.