Celebration availability/shelf life

Honestly it'll be fine for a while. It won't be the same, but it is sill tasty. I accidentally cellared some from 2013, and while the flavor has changed a lot (that aged hop flavor), it is still a very good beer. It's like a barleywine lite in profile, I think.

I wouldn't want to speak to whether you'll see a fresher shipment, but we could page @sierranevadabill and get his insider input on the subject.

 

Can't hurt to try. If it doesn't taste good in 15', it's not like you're throwing away a $30 bomber.

 

Last Ive seen was some November Celebration--date code was M for Mills River I believe.

 

Celebration holds up very well IMO. One of the few IPAs I'll continue to buy when it's a few months old

 

The location code is on the 12 or 24 pack. M = Mills River, C = Chico. It is located right before the born on date.

Cheers~

 

Interested in the availability as well. We have one distributor for SN in my local area. Beginning around the last week of November Torpedo 12 pks went MIA from the grocery stores, being replaced w/12's of Celebration (NOT that I'm complaining, mind you..) The last 12 pk I bought (12/24) was dated 11/25. As of yesterday, the Celebration well ran dry. Vanished without so much as a thank you...

On a happy note, Torpedo found it's way back to camp, abet with month and a half whiskers on it

 

I believe the last packaged Celebration was from the last week in November, for both Chico and Mills River. Don't know what happened this year, but the Celebration well ran dry quicker than usual, and this is the one year we simply couldn't make more (too many other beers in the pipeline.)

As far as aging it... I've said before that I cringe a little when people intentionally age it. It's just so good when the hops are fresh and popping. That said, I usually buy enough to get me through until February and while it's long-in-the-tooth at that point, I will gladly still drink it!

Our new seasonal: Beer Camp Hoppy Lager is on its way out the door now, so it should be on shelves soon-ish along with Nooner Pilsner and Hop Hunter IPA in early February. Big times!

-Bill

 

I would say that even late February is ok but the earlier the better. I have forgotten a couple til then and they were still very good with a little noticeable fade.

This is a tough problem for SN to have. Sell it all quick!!!! This is the horror that happens when selling a great beer at a great price. I certainly did my share this year. I would say my purchases were 50% higher this year than last due to a variety of reasons.

 

Another year of Celebration has come and gone--a few twelves left at my local place but soon no more and now it is time to look forward to more seasonals and year round delights. Before you know it, October will roll around again and the leaves will begin to fall and then----

Now if I can just find that cabin------

 

Can't Wait! Big times indeed!

 

From what I've seen, your average beer is just fine up to a year out (if it's kept refrigerated). One of my distributors dumped a case of 2013 Anchor Christmas on me this year. It was barely noticeable.

 

I don't know if they keep shipping new product or they just let what they have run out, but it's always on the shelf well into January around here. I can't speak to how well it ages because I usually guzzle it down right away. I love this beer and I always miss it when it's gone.

 

My advice is keep a bottle in the back of your refrigerator and taste it against next years. Then use your beer tasting experience to make an estimation on how long you think it would stay up to par with your standards.

 

We just commissioned our canning line here in NC a few weeks ago and have not yet run Pale Ale cans. (only Torpedo and Nooner.) Canned Pale Ale from NC will be arriving soon. As to the freshness, I'll look into it, and see if I can't get the next Florida batch to be older!