Brewery Etiquette: asking for fresher product?

No, you are not, it's a perfectly reasonable request. It would be unreasonable, and rude, for them to take offense.

 

I think it's an ok request, within reason.

 

That would depend upon how "old" the one offered for sale is.

 

I agree with the rest of the posts. I don't think it is rude but it would also depend on the date in question. Say your cans/bottle is 1 week old, I probably would not ask. If it is 3-4 weeks old then I would just request a fresher item if available. I guess use good judgement, don't go asking if the item in question is 6 days old. It would help a lot if you had a guideline in question?

 

That does kind of suck, 6 weeks is still ok but you do see a change from fresh. I have some cans from my local guy and about 3-4 weeks out there is a noticeable change from stuff 1-3 days old or same day. Again just my taste and I am sure others will say 90 day is just fine. Knowing it was 6 weeks I think you were well within your rights to ask.
Cheers

 

With how fast NEIPA’s typically sell, is it a beer worth buying if it wasn’t sold out in 6 weeks? And if they have more fresh inventory, their production schedule has got to be out of whack.

 

That is a great point, now that you mention it any hot NEIPA is gone that day or shortly after. Makes you wonder the reason its sitting for 6 weeks.

 

Do it...

 

How is it not the fault of the brewery that they're selling 6 week old beer?

 

It's highly like that they may not have any fresher. Ya might as well ask for a unicorn.

 

Come to my brewery, ask for a unicorn and you shall receive. If you have to ask how much it costs though, you probably can’t afford it.

 

There's nothing wrong with 6 week old beer, even NE IPAs. But if you're going to the source it doesn't seem at all persnickety to want it fresher than that if possible. Day old bread is great too, but that's generally not what I'm hoping to find when I make a point to go to a bakery.

 

Exactly. Some folks only want beer bottled and/or kegged yesterday, or within 3 weeks or so. Depending on production numbers and regular depletions, and the type of beer, this can often be very tough to do. Asking is OK, but if you don't like the date, don't buy it.

 

I would disagree. Even with very low packaged oxygen levels and no transfers, we find NEIPA’s to be best within 4 weeks with a significant drop off being noticeable from fresh to 5 weeks in. Our beer still gets good reviews online 2 months after the fact, but it makes me sad if I see it being drank that long after. Our cans get a canned on date and a best by date that is 28 days from the canned date.

 

Far be it from me to disagree with someone with as much knowledge as you, but I've never had a problem with beers in that style at that age myself and that's the only opinion I can offer. I live in the belly of the beast of beer in that style and if people's palates can pick up larger differences in that time frame then I can then that is their perorogative.

Apart from that, the central point of my post was obviously to support the the notion that the OP was not out of line in wanting a beer fresher than that.

 

I learned the hard way that you can't assume that the beer in the cooler at a brewery will always be fresh, and shame on the brewery that doesn't monitor this.

OP, since you are asking for a friend I assume he didn't check the date, so let this post be a reminder to everyone as well as your friend.

 

Well, I am not exactly saying that this brewery in question is doing this, but...

In a past thread a BA who works at a beer retailer mentioned that at the store where he works it was their policy to place 'old' beer in the refrigerators as a way to foster sales of those products.

Cheers!

 

How old of a product did you receive? How old of a product would you like to receive?