I did an IP trade in NC late last month and when the person gave me their beer it was hot like it had been in their car all day. I didn't know what to say but I was really frustrated by this. My theory is that he put it in the car before work and came to the trade after. I went along with the trade but it's been bugging me since. What would you do and shouldn't BA'er know better? And if it was only for about 8 - 9hrs do you think much damage has been done to the beer?
Excessive heat is known to degrade beer, but I don't know if anyone can tell you by how much at various temps and time periods. It sounds like you were cognizant of the potential damage issue, so it should have been up to you to say something at the time of the trade. BUT, if the trade was arranged with BA as an intermediary, then you can assume that your trade partner knows that damage can occur. You can contact him and try to reverse the trade, but it may be too late in his view, or the beer that you traded may already be consumed. It's kind of like, 'Buyer Beware.'
I guess when it comes to trading you just have to take what you get. If I make a trade and open up a beer and it's expired/skunked/oxidized/whatever, I'll usually decide to not trade with that partner again. Bottom line is you never know how the beer was stored. If it was kept cool and dark and then spent 8-9 hours in a hot car, it's going to be find. Likewise, if it was kept next to a space heater for a few weeks and then the trader put it in a cold car, you'd think you were getting a well cared for beer. You never know until you taste it. I always emphasize age when trading, if at all possible. I'll also mention where it was stored and whether or not there may be any issues with it.
You should have spit in his face, thrust up your nose, spun around and walked away from the trade. But really, I get the frustration. I'd be a little bummed to, but at 8-9 hours in heat, I doubt it did much permanent damage.
It's one thing to leave your kids in a hot car for 8-9hrs, but your beer! Come on! Err.. wait But seriously, this has happened to me once, bottle was pretty warm and figured out it was probably left in their car all day. FWIW I drank the beer a few days later and it was fine, pretty sure it was a wild ale.
Im willing to bet you would have never known the difference. I honestly think you're making way too much of this. I live in TX, when I ship a beer or someone ships to me it is probably in the heat almost the entire time. I've received boxes in the summer with melted wax and bottles that are quite warm after being insulated in bubble wrap. I could never tell a difference. Also, most beers are stored at distributors without AC for God knows how long. Then they are txp on beer trucks, most unrefridgerated. At the store, who knows how many beers were bought off the shelf or stored cold. Point being, most beers go through a variety of conditions and temps and it would be very hard to tell by taste alone. Beer is much more resilient then people give it credit for. Hope you're enjoying one now. BTW, unlike Coors "taste the cold" can you "taste the heat"? Mmmmm...j/k. Enjoy Edit: I will say this. Trade wild ales (especially ones that are notorious for being over carbonated) at your own risk in pretty hot temps. I had a Brute explode, by the time it got to me it was sticky delicious smelling well bubble wrapped mess of glass shards. It was also above 105-110 that day.
