Buying beer that's considered "old"

As I've said before, If I see a beer on the shelf that I want I rarely check the dates on it. If I can find a stout with a year on it or so, I'll definitely scoop it up. I've also been known to buy up any leftover Bigfoot with some age on it. I wish I still had great divide in CT....Yeti was absolutley delicious after a year.

 

Stumbled upon some 10+ year old Samichlaus at my favorite store. Got each 12 oz bottle for normal price. Turned out to be some of the best beer I've ever tasted. With 14% abv and loads of sugar, it aged like a sherry or port. Had a 97 in 2010, and two 2000's in 2013. For me if the beer is malty, sweet, alcoholic enough, I'd give a pretty old ass bottle a shot for sure.

 

I'm not a hop addict, and I rarely check dates either. Stouts, porters, doppelbocks, barley wines age very nicely and it's a bonus that some sit around and age for me at the stores.

 

You can also find some dusty belgians, tripels and even lambics in the corner of your local shop and they too age gracefully.

 

I only check dates on hoppy beer. But here is the problem. Not always, but sometimes the bottled on dates are hard to read or they are non existent. Which doesn't make any sense.

 

In my general experience the aromatic hop-forward beers and styles always tend to fall-off from their optimum flavor profile the quickest, and Pils is as fragile as I.P.A.; I've had at least a few imported German and Czech Pils that have been good or at least "okay" after six months, but have yet to have an American Craft-brewed Pils hold up that long. That's more an observation of the bittering characteristics of Noble vs. domestic hops, I suppose.

Agree with @utopiajane that many (not all) Belgian ales tend to hold up just fine with a year on them, and there are a few stronger, malt-focused ales from the U.K. that I will reach for without much concern. A few more lagers from Europe (Baltic Porters, a couple of Doppelbocks) and Export Style Stouts from around the world, as well. They're usually pretty safe.

With all of the variety in American Craft Beer lately, I find myself checking more dates than ever before -- it's axiomatic, of course.

 

I'm picky with IPAs but if it's a beer that I want I'll grab it without looking at dates. Happened upon some pretty old Unibroue at a BevMo once which was pretty awesome. The way I look at it the store is aging it so I don't have to.

 

The only dates I care about are the ones on hoppy beers.

I'll always take a flier on an old ass wheatwine or triple. Why not? What's the worst that could happen? It's still beer.

 

Hoppy - as fresh as possible. 3 months is about my usual cap on something I've tried before or can get easily. If it's something I haven't tried and am unlikely to see again, I'll probably take it even if it's 2 or 3 months older than that.

Other styles - I don't really care too much, and it can be interesting to try an older beer (particularly if you have a fresh example to compare to). Just keep in mind that if it's something brewed with an adjunct (i.e. coffee), and the flavour of that adjunct is important to you, then you're going to want a fresher example. Fresh FBS and year old FBS are both tasty beers, but the coffee notes are very different between the two.

 

I look for shelf aged stouts and barleywines if they are high ABV. Oldest I ever bought off shelf was a 3 year old Super Kitty. Man was it good.

 

There are many beers just as time sensitive as IPAs. I don't know where the BA freshness hard-on goes when not talking about hops. I will buy shelf aged beers, or beers aged on purpose at beer shops as long as the ABV and style are appropriate.

 

Stouts and BW with high ABV I don't even really factor date into the equation when buying, I'll look for curiosity sake but if I want to try it, I'll just get it. I usually don't go past about 45 days for IPAs. We (AZ) get enough fresh IPAs from around us that I'll wait for another batch or just buy something else if I need my hop fix.

 

Doesn't matter what I'm buying - I always try to check dates unless I'm in a rush. But I also pay attention to where the beer is, that is to day, I'd rather buy from a cooler since at least I know it hasn't been in any direct sunlight recently.

 

True. So why not give the OP (who is new) some specific advice?

 

Does joining this site relate to beer newness? I should have been on here for many year before I was then. You might be right though. I don't assume people are new unless they say it.

 

I always look for the dusty old cases of beer put in a back corner . if they are a high ABV or stout then half of the ageing is done for ya. plus you can always ask for a discount . most places will give it to ya since they want to make room for new offerings.

 

Possibly. Either way he's asking for advice it seems

Edit - he or she (in case I'm making incorrect assumptions again)

 

Found a few bottles of Rogue XS Imperial Stout 7oz that were bottled in 2009 and they were delicious.

 

If its a high ABV style, I have no problems buuying 'old' beer. Matter of face, I've been the beneficiary of sales on "old stock".