IPA Freshness Question

Depends on the price. If it's a $1.50 bottle, I might go 3+ months; if it's a $9 bomber, I'll probably want to get as close to 1 month as possible.

 

2 months typically, might be willing to go 3 months if the price was right

 

Ill only buy an IPA if the bottling date is 3 days in the future.

 

3 months tops.

 

Unfortunately, there are still too many brewers who don't bottle date.

 

I typically do the same.

 

3 months is good enough for me. I recently saw bottles of Sculpin that were 4 months old and I said NOPE.

 

I try for 45-60 days if possible, but on the very outside 90 days

 

2 months

 

Depends on the price as others said. For most, you want within 3 months or you might not be getting the flavor the brewer intended. Then there's beers that fall off a cliff like Pliny.

 

Depends entirely on how it's been stored, if you know it's been in cold storage I'd got about a month on the outside. Else, look for a different bottle.

 

I've always found that the best time to enjoy an IPA is right after the wort cools and before it enters fermentation. This way you know its fresh.

 

The Port beers (Wipeout/ Mongo) arrived in NJ in late Jan/early Feb, going on 3 months old at the time, and I gave 'em a shot. So, I guess 3 months is my magic number, depending on how curious and impatient I happen to be at the time.

 

Some hold up better than others so it depends on the beer.

IPA's aroma tend to go first so something like lagunitas sucks or heady topper I won't give it much more than a month.

General rule of thumb is 2-3 months and 3 months is pushing it.

Something big and well rounded like Avery Maharaja I'm more comfortable at the 3 month mark. Obviously I'd prefer to buy it fresher but I'm not too worried about it going downhill as fast as a lot of other IPA's.

 

My preference? Under a month.

I will not flinch up to three months. I know going in however that the older the beer is, the less bright and vibrant the hop presence will be.

If I want to try a new IPA, I will take it when I can get it. If it is available in my home market I will continue to buy what is fresh and eventually pick up this new IPA when I find it fresh. If I am traveling and find something I have not had I will pick it up because it is available and the date carries less weight. I realize I may not be getting the freshest bottle but I am still trying a beer I wanted to try.

I think we have a tendency to over think this issue about. If you want it, buy it. Keep the date in mind but don't give it more thought than what it is due.

 

One I've never tried? 1-2 months at the most, but no more.

 

3 months out is a good one for me. When I hit the store though looking for an ipa I'll cycle through my go to's or any new ones and generally pick up what is fresher. Also will choose IPA's that are refrigerated if possible. I used to be very adamant about this, but now I've realized that the effect while present is not as dramatic as stated.

 

sounds like you gave it way to much thought