Alpine bottling/best by date question.

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Comparison_Ford, Mar 5, 2015.

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  1. Comparison_Ford

    Comparison_Ford Maven (1,293) Apr 4, 2014 New York

    Just scored a bottle of Nelson today. No date on the actual bottle, but a sticker on the cap that says 21.815. Am I right in assuming this is a "best by" sticker dated 6 months in advance (meaning this beer was bottled on 02/21/15)? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
     
  2. jrnyc

    jrnyc Grand Pooh-Bah (3,012) Mar 21, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    If Green Flash is imparting their manic bottle dating expertise nothing would surprise me.
     
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  3. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    I wouldn't make that assumption although some breweries do try to get you to believe their IPAs are actually good for 6 months. Drink that zhizz now!
     
  4. chipawayboy

    chipawayboy Pooh-Bah (2,181) Oct 26, 2007 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Alpine doesn't bottle date in any way that I know of --- perhaps you do have a bottle from the new GFlash arrangement. All I can say is drink it fast -- Nelson and PH degrade rapidly after a couple of weeks -- Duet seemingly in a couple of days. Amazing beer -- very short shelf life if you want that bright and fresh hop flavor/aroma.

    [​IMG]
     
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  5. SoleBriety

    SoleBriety Maven (1,445) Oct 10, 2013 California
    Trader

    I checked my bottles from ABC and there aren't any dates. Most likely you got the bottles that were brewed at GF. And yes, they're amazing beers. Just had a Captain Stout last night and it was spectacular.
     
  6. trentbrown89

    trentbrown89 Initiate (0) Feb 13, 2013 California

    They do not bottle date. They date their cases only. That sticker was likely from a store that sold it
     
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  7. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    That would be ironic if Green Flash is dating their Alpine Beers but can seem to date their own beers.
     
  8. skunkpuddle

    skunkpuddle Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2011 California

    Green flashes bottle dating problems at this point are totally hilarious. It shows their ineptness as a company that They can't date their bottles even though they have a spot on their label for dating and as well have bottle art that looks like it was designed by the fourth place finisher at the 2nd grade art event

    Their new bottle and label for their new Silva Stout beer shows some promise especially if the beer is as spectacular as it has been the last couple of years.

    If not their flagship beer will be Green Flash Alpine Nelson IPA
     
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  9. papat444

    papat444 Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,961) Dec 28, 2006 Canada (QC)
    Pooh-Bah

    Are bottles available on the EC?
     
  10. Comparison_Ford

    Comparison_Ford Maven (1,293) Apr 4, 2014 New York

    I don't believe so. I ordered my bottle off of craftshack.com.

    Either way, I drank the bottle last night and it was everything I hoped it would be. Lives up to the hype.
     
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  11. barflybastard

    barflybastard Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2012 Pennsylvania

    Do wonder if we may eventually see Alpine out this way, where Green Flash has solid distribution. Wishful thinking, because I have not read anything that would indicate this nor am I aware of their production plans.
     
  12. Hair

    Hair Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2006 California

    Green Flash is anything but "inept". You may not like their new labels, but they are having the intended effect in the market.

    Kids these days.
     
  13. Alpha309

    Alpha309 Initiate (0) Nov 13, 2014 California

    I like the Green Flash labels. They let the beer speak for itself. You don't really get suckered by fancy bottle/can art.
     
  14. MisSigsFan

    MisSigsFan Initiate (0) Mar 2, 2013 California

    Alpine usually posts on their page when certain beers are bottles, but of course that's only if you're picking up at the pub. Also, it's Alpine. Their beers fly off the shelves and finding old Nelson is nearly impossible.
     
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  15. skunkpuddle

    skunkpuddle Initiate (0) Feb 14, 2011 California

    If that effect is sitting on the shelves in San diego then you are correct. And also how does not being able to do something that almost every major brewery can do not make them inept. And it's not even like they aren't trying. Their new labels have a best by spot on the label and they can't figure it out.
     
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  16. TheeWalrusHunter

    TheeWalrusHunter Initiate (0) Aug 23, 2013 Oregon

    I don't think Alpine has ever had the issue of hanging around the shelves for bottling date to be necessary.
     
  17. atrocity

    atrocity Pooh-Bah (2,264) Dec 18, 2013 Virginia
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Precisely. Never really an issue.
     
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  18. Hair

    Hair Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2006 California

    You might want to consider the possibility that you don't have all of the information necessary to make a judgment about their aptitude based on one aspect of their label. Or don't. Your call.
     
  19. chcfan

    chcfan Initiate (0) Oct 29, 2008 California

    It's possible (maybe even probable) down the road, but right now the only place you can "reliably" get Alpine bottles is at the brewery, so I doubt they start shipping them east before spreading out in the home market.
     
  20. FutureJack

    FutureJack Initiate (0) Oct 30, 2007 California

    Firestone Walker has the same issues with bottle dating. But it's not as cool to bash them I guess.
     
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