Asking for fresher beer.

I agree with you. But there is some sort of threshold, obviously, that an individual isn't willing to cross. It differs from beer to beer. I have had 3 month old Pliny and thought it was okay, but not great, and 3 month old Panzer Wolf, where I felt it WAS still great.

OP was looking for 60Min IPA, right? I wouldn't buy a 2 month old 6 pack of that, because it sells fast, and usually I'd expect to see more available... I have no qualm with asking my beer guy if he has any in back. If he looks busy, I will buy something else. If he says he doesn't have any more, I'll buy something else. But if I'm after that specific beer, I'd ask the question.

 

typical grocery store, our publix was trying to sell lots of craft for awhile, then they saw the slow sells versus bud and most of it is gone now.

 

My local guy is located in a part of GA where there isn't great demand for craft beer...his closest competitor is a good 30-45 mins away. I go in there nearly every week and he's very good about looking out for me when new stuff/special releases come in, even going so far as to call his distributor to ask about a beer I've asked him about and he's done this while I stand there waiting. Top notch. Problem is that I know his stock from being in there so often. There are some verrry old IPAs on the shelves...like 2011 Double Trouble still sitting there kind of old. Part of me wants to tell him that his distributor needs to come in there and clean house but on the other hand I don't want to tell him how to run his business. What if the distributor starts giving his allotments to other shops in the greater Atlanta area? I don't know....I feel your pain though. It's all very awkward.

 

Yeah if u know what ur talking about regardin freshness of beer i would not hestitate to ask. If they bitch, ill stop going to that business. If i order a beer and ive had it before & its flat. I typically ask the person when this keg was tapped. If i get an "idk" or a lie...i can tell...i will usually ask for a different beer...but yeah if ur polite shouldnt be a problem.
A-

 

I stumbled upon a couple bottles a week ago during a trip to Arizona and the date stamp was only half visible on the label, I had no idea how old it was but as I can't get it in California I just bought them. When I got home I noticed the batch number on the neck and was finally able to look up the bottling date. Luckily for me they were only 5 weeks old.

 

The friend that I sent them to is actually in California as well. I felt bad, because I had seen some in a beer store but couldn't buy them; I went home to see if he wanted me to get them, and by the time I got back to the store, someone had bought all of them. I was glad to find the other six for him, because I felt bad for getting his hopes up. I bought them on Saturday, and they had been bottled on January 26.

 

I only shop at beer stores that have a direct tap line to the brewery so i never havea problem with freshness.

 

I am a huge fan of having really fresh IPAs and black IPAs or other beers that are supposed to showcase hops. I have had beers that originally let me down at first and now that I am a crazy date checker, those same beers are some of my favorites now. Two examples Flower Power and Nugget Nectar, couldn't understand the hype until I had them fresh. My main store allows me to check the back if I want. He takes my advise and I am one of if not his best costumer. We have a wonderful relationship, heck he gives me a Christmas present now.

 

Ah, then you should stop over to this thread, seeing as those have got to be pretty long and difficult-to-clean lines. (See, there's always something to worry about when it comes to beer.)

 

I really don't care if I sound like an ass. I'm not spending my hard earned beer money on expired, over the hill beer. Although I will take the risk on undated bottles, but to KNOWINGLY buy expired beer is just lame, much lamer than asserting yourself and asking for fresher beer.

 

I may just have to stop drinking all together

 

What's on the shelves at Fishpaw's these days? I need to stop down there this week!

 

I am stopping by tommorow to pick up a few things like Riserva and La Folie.That is my go to spot

 

I wish it was closer. Scored some King Henry and BCBS there the only I time I stopped in..Definitely a nice stash!

 

There's nothing wrong with asking, but keep in mind that if you are a jerk when doing so that there's nothing stopping the person you ask from lying to you (short of going in the cooler or backstock and checking for yourself, which I advise against)

 

same here.

i don't think it's a dick move necessarily, as someone else said, a lot of people do this with other food products such as milk, beef or fish. but there are so many options for craft beer that i can just look, and if it isn't that fresh, i'll just choose something that is without worrying. i'm rarely in a GOTTA HAVE IT NOW mindset.

 

Hey that's me. Except for the guy part...