Früh Kölsch Bottle Date

Discussion in 'Germany' started by Jacobier10, Apr 3, 2019.

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  1. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Is anyone familiar with the date code on Früh Kölsch bottles? Recently found a 6-pack with what looks to be a late 2018 date code clearly marked on the back label, but there is no info on the bottle as to whether that is the "bottled on" or "best before" date. The code looked like "32518" which I'm assuming is the 325th day of 2018 (DDDYY).
     
    #1 Jacobier10, Apr 3, 2019
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  2. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    This is what the domestic labels look like, but since you mentioned there being no best by date on yours, the export labels are probably different, so I couldn't say for sure. However, the code on the domestic labels is clearly just some batch number and not a julian date.

    [​IMG]
     
    #2 Snowcrash000, Apr 3, 2019
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  3. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks for posting that. Here's what the labels look like in the States. Definitely a Julian date, just not sure what it represents.
    [​IMG]
     
    #3 Jacobier10, Apr 5, 2019
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  4. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    It's always quite interesting to me how the domestic and export labels differ from one another. Yes, that certainly appears to be a julian date and it even has the batch code from the domestic label underneath it.

    What's even more interesting, although not all that surprising to me, to be honest, is that your bottle appears to be fresher than what I can buy at a supermarket here in Cologne. That is assuming that julian date is a bottling date and the usual 12-month best-by date on the domestic label.

    That would be proof once again that the distributor structure in Germany is an absolute fucking joke and the reason behind the fact that it's impossible to buy fresh beer in German supermarkets. Well either that or your bottle there is over a year old, but I honestly don't see the point of a julian best-by date.

    The only way to be sure would be to write an email to Früh, which I certainly will do later today.
     
    #4 Snowcrash000, Apr 5, 2019
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  5. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I was about to do the same. Please let me know if you get a response!
     
    #5 Jacobier10, Apr 6, 2019
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  6. boddhitree

    boddhitree Pooh-Bah (1,839) Apr 13, 2008 Germany
    Pooh-Bah

    My advice, don't drink Kölsch and you'll be much happier.
     
    #6 boddhitree, Apr 6, 2019
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  7. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Yeah, it's usually the US importer which ultimately determines the method of date coding, "best by" period, etc. (obviously with the brewer's agreement). I'd check with S&H - not that importers in general are very open to such questions or very "consumer-friendly" - but things are changing --- slowly.
    [email protected]
     
    #7 jesskidden, Apr 6, 2019
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  8. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks! Email sent. I'll post an update if they're feeling "consumer-friendly." :wink:
     
    #8 Jacobier10, Apr 6, 2019
  9. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Forgot the beer (UK IIRC) or importer but I once emailed one about the "Best before" date which I had always assumed was 1 year until I found some beer on the shelf that, using that math, would have been bottled two weeks in the future. The state distributor rep. wrote back and said something like:

    "Hi, thanks for writing! Our "best before" date is based on a 1½ years suggested shelf life, but you and I know it's still good after that..."

    Whoa there, mate - you might "know" that but I sure don't.

    So I chalk that interaction up as "consumer-friendly" but sure not "beer friendly". :grin:
     
    #9 jesskidden, Apr 6, 2019
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  10. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Well, that was fast. Here is the response I got from S&H:

    "It is the bottle date, so just try the beer and enjoy."

    Challenge accepted. :beers:
     
    #10 Jacobier10, Apr 6, 2019
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  11. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Uh, what is?
    3/10 = March 10, 2018 or
    310 = November 6, 2018 (310th day of the year)

    Well, now - there's a company that stands behind their product. :rolling_eyes:
     
    #11 jesskidden, Apr 6, 2019
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  12. Jaycase

    Jaycase Grand Pooh-Bah (3,858) Jan 13, 2007 Illinois
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Likely Julian. Couple reviews have dates aligned with the format anyway. (e.g. 19613)
     
    #12 Jaycase, Apr 6, 2019
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  13. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    Agree with @Jaycase. I'm guessing Nov 6, 2018, which makes it 6 months old. Not awful for an import (unfortunately), but Kölsch is such a delicate style that 6 months is certainly enough time for it to go downhill.
     
    #13 Jacobier10, Apr 6, 2019
  14. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Yes to "unfortunately".:slight_frown:
    I very much agree. FWIW my 'solution' here is to homebrew my own Kolsch beer. I have a batch conditioning right now and I will be enjoying these beers fresh in a few weeks!:slight_smile:

    Cheers!
     
    #14 JackHorzempa, Apr 6, 2019
  15. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sorry for the misunderstanding - note that I wasn't replying to Jacobier10 but quoting the importer.

    My point was the customer shouldn't have to figure it out - S&H should have stated it was Day of the Year since many consumers aren't familiar with it.
     
    #15 jesskidden, Apr 6, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2019
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  16. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I certainly didn't receive a reply from Früh yet... Also, holy shit, it really looks like that Früh Kölsch you got there is fresher than what I can buy at supermarkets here in Cologne... :astonished::grimacing:
     
    #16 Snowcrash000, Apr 6, 2019
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2019
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  17. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I homebrewed a Kölsch about two years ago, as a first attempt at lagering. 100% pilsner malt, 100% Spalt hops, lagered for 5 weeks. It was one of my favorite beers that I have made. Didn't last long in my house at all.
     
    #17 Jacobier10, Apr 7, 2019
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  18. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Nice!:slight_smile:

    Cheers!
     
    #18 JackHorzempa, Apr 7, 2019
  19. Jacobier10

    Jacobier10 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,102) Feb 23, 2004 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    That's crazy to me. Then again, I don't feel that bad for you since you are in Cologne and can always just go to Früh or Päffgen or...
     
    #19 Jacobier10, Apr 7, 2019
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  20. Snowcrash000

    Snowcrash000 Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,041) Oct 4, 2017 Germany
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I could go there, but I couldn't buy any bottles there.
     
    #20 Snowcrash000, Apr 7, 2019
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