Adding packaged on/best buy dates

That would be a good idea, but yea I guess it would have to be condensed or simplified in some way cause of so many breweries, etc.

 

A (former? Can't find his Profile page, here's his last post from 2016) BA that went by the screen name Papat444 used to maintain a list called FRESH BEER ONLY but it bounced around and these are the only ones I find (both appear out of date) - unfortunately, I also got a SECURITY WARNING when I clicked on another link in Google, so...

https://sites.google.com/site/freshbeeronly/u-s-beer-list

http://freshbeeronly.com/index/u_s_beer_list_a_m/0-4

 

I'm sure there's a reason, but why don't all beer companies supply a "bottled on" date?

 

If you have to ask why, the reason is usually

 

Including a simple date code translation in the "notes" field for a brewery is a great idea that I imagine is easy to execute. For example, just add this to the notes field for Weihenstephaner: "DATE CODE: The last number is the last number of the year. The middle two numbers are the week of the year. The first number is the last number in the day."

 

I could get a fresh IPA and a recently canned Barleywine! Lol!

 

If a customer can't easily tell when a beer was packaged/when it expires, then they may not cause a fuss, assuming they care enough about how fresh it is.

If a buyer can't easily tell when a beer was packaged/when it expires, it's added work on their part to manage the freshness, assuming they're a buyer that cares.

Ambiguity benefits certain entities. Ambiguity means it's harder to know when something is out of code. OOC is a pain in the ass for everyone involved so they don't want to deal with it if they don't have to.

Can codes that are not clear at a glance are worse than no can code, IMO.

 

At this point I rarely buy an IPA without an actual canning date, as opposed to a code, unless I know it's fresh because the release information is available online. There's too much great fresh IPA available to potentially waste $16 or more on what turn out to be old cans. I also give priority to buying locally from brewers who date their cans plainly.

 

Some smaller breweries simply don't have the capability with their packaging equipment but any national brand has no excuse, imo. Simple for me though, I won't buy the beer if I can't figure out when it was packaged within 5 seconds of picking it up...I don't bother with Lagunitas for this reason.

 

I was remarking to guy in the office today, in regards to this thread, that if I have top-notch 4pk in my hand, and can't find the date/smugged/not present, I will put it back and grab something less stellar that I know is "fresh" by a date on the packaging.

Laguitas uses the Julian dates on or around the neck/stamped on packing. I can usually figure them out based on what my birthday is (283 = Oct.10). Hope that helps.

 

I'm aware, the ink is usually difficult to read on the bottles (dark ink on a dark bottle). Considering they have the resources to put the date in a standard format that most people are used to, in lighter ink or on the label, it just says they don't want people to know how fresh/old their beers are.

 

Agreed!

 

When at the store, this is my standard operating procedure as well.

 

I will only buy if there’s a bottled/can on date. Unless it’s something local and limited and know it has to be fresh. Bought too many “past their prime” beers, may be ok at $8/12-pack, not at $10+/4-pack.

 

I agree.. we spend good money on this stuff. How nice is it to get home and pop a shitty can of beer that was $15/ 4 pack.. No more beer for me without a date.