The craft beer industry: beer quality problems

Glad I finally made sense. Sorry for being unclear and leading us down an unproductive path.

I don't disagree with your point at all. Though I'd sort of have the same curiosity about how much the improvements in dating have translated to an improvement in what's on the shelves.

 

More customers are realizing dates matter now that they are seeing them. I see this in a regional Facebook craft beer group I am in. For store owners who want to be more vigilant fresh beer, dates help them. Even for the stores that don't care, some beer dates are printed in relatively obvious places, so if beer is on a store shelf past date at least the store can't claim ignorance.

 

I don't think the two of you are really putting yourself in the other person's shoes. honkey, as a brewer, your relationship to that product will not be like that of a consumer. You're consistently getting it free, you have an intimate relationship to the product, and I assume you dump beer as part of the job. You'll treat it differently as a result. spongebob2 sees discounted old stock as a viable option during shopping and is flinching at the idea of someone throwing a 2 week old case of beer in the trash. Having that kind of disposable relationship to the product is not normal consumer behavior (I hope). Just my opinion here - but each of you shouldn't be so quick to judge the other based on your own circumstances.

 

I will apologize here - I am quick to snap but I love beer. Maybe a quick summary for my attitude. 2015 - Life is good-cancer - surgery- no insurance - bankruptcy -wife & I both lose jobs(my second in 33yrs)- sell everything that wont fit in RV-buy 1/2 acre woods in TN- health issues- cant work at 55- not taking this sitting down too well lol. I will however continue to enjoy beer as my health allows.
Cheers!

 

Hold on. Let me see if I have this straight. You're going to take issue with a brewer posting on this board, and specifically chiming in on a thread about QC, because you think it's snobbish to not want to drink beer that isn't at its best? And then you go on to insinuate that he's some type of unwanted outlier and that his beer doesn't matter.

You are the reason that craft beer culture sucks.

Nice red herring.

 

What other industry does someone with 0-4 years of professional experience rise to the peak of that profession? The quality issues that are immensely prevalent in the craft beer industry stem from the fact that the majority of head brewers are grossly undertrained, and in many cases completely untrained at the professional level.

 

Not one to fight - would much rather laugh amongst friends - you should try it. DONE

 

Adding a classic dismissal to your repertoire? Nice.

 

This thread, will all of its insights, is a bit of "preaching to the choir."

Point: Was at the grocery store in my hometown which is one of the largest if not the largest full service grocery store in the state (not a Costo type) and just lingered watching for 30 mins as over 50 folks perused the entire row of big stand up coolers and beer displays selling an incredible selection of good stuff.

Best I could tell, not ONE person looked at the dates on the beer--and not talking about the BMC stuff.

I am all for dating beer but in general we need less people protecting us from ourselves.

 

That'd be great and all, but you understand that there is a reason that caveat emptor is a thing, right?

 

Did you then go over to the Dairy, Meat, Packaged Produce, Frozen Foods and Snack aisles and do the same to have data to compare and act as a Control group?

 

Did not and point taken however the observation stands for what it is. I do not think the vast majority of beer drinkers are as concerned as this highly selective audience.

And at my craft beer store, well YES--bottoms/labels of non-seasonal items (and some of those get a look) are being inspected regularly.

And as for some of the things you listed, people may think they have insight and be less likely to scrutinize. Meat past the sell by date IS pulled from the store although we really don't know how old it is. Non packaged items in the counter have no dating. As for produce, well it is hard to know (if not at a true farmers market and you can talk to the grower) if that tomato was actually vine ripened but people inherently think they know things by appearance. I can say in that same store lots of people are picking through and carefully inspecting their produce.

 

Pretty big words, even for you.

Yes and I am not stating that we should be in the anarchy of "buyer beware" with no consumer protections what so ever but I just don't see where more beer regulation is the answer.

And the quality arguments have to me seemed a little circular at times. There is some irony: on one hand many acknowledging AB for quality (with no arguments from me regarding their high quality control and a consistent, well made product) but on the other hand others in many threads referring to same beers as "fizzy crap" and the like.

Just seems like quality in beer is something everyone is in favor of but extraordinarily hard to define.

 

So far as I know, quality, as it concerns any subjective enjoyments, has never been defined successfully in the history of the human race.

 

No, I doubt it, too, after decades of beer shopping of my own.

But, for me, that is just a reason that brewers shouldn't worry about the date code discouraging the casual buyers (but should be done for other valid reasons*)

"Hey, don't worry, most beer drinkers never look at it, anyway!"
____________

* BREWERS ASSOCIATION - As stated by the Bioterrorism Act, breweries are required to insure traceability of their beer. Brewers must keep internal records of the specific ingredients, including manufacture lot numbers that were used in individual batches.

1. The most critical function is for the unfortunate case of a quality or safety recall. While all brewers strive to avoid such cases, it is critical for all to be prepared for this occurrence.

 

Here's the issue. Quality has to do with fidelity (accuracy and precision) and longevity/shelf life, but people think that it means "flavorful" or "delicious", which it doesn't. They are two different concepts.

 

Jeez man (pun intended). You're being really extreme. Are you having a bad day buddy?

I don't even read @spongebob2 's posts the way you are characterizing them. I could be way off, but I think he was just reacting to the idea of throwing away 2 week old beer and then buying more beer. If a random person expressed the same thought about tossing beer, wouldn't you be tempted to direct the same outrageous accusation (in bold above) to them? Ease up.

 

I can't define it but I can recognize it.