Crazy best by date on Sixpoint Resin?

Almost everybody who dates gives an IPA a shelf life of 3 or more months. With some breweries it can be up to 5-6 mos because they use a newer bottling line/canning system that eliminates more residual oxygen in the container than older bottling lines. Cans are claimed to have longer shelf life than bottles (when things work as they should) but I've not tested this for myself yet to be sure if I agree.

 

I've had 5-6 month old Resin with absolutely no complaints so I'm sire it can hold its own even a bit past that. That being said having some super fresh brings it to a whole new level.

 

This whole Bottled On/Canned On date vs. Enjoy By date discussion is simply enervating...especially when it only seems to be targeted at hoppy beers. There are certainly barrel-aged beers that I would consider "not age worthy," yet they always seem exempt from the conversation.

My 2-Cents for hoppy beers:
1 - The colder it is stored, the better (cans or bottles)
2 - Cans (stored properly) certainly retain aroma far longer than bottles
3 - Certain hop varietals used for aroma/dry hopping purposes simply have better 'shelf life' than others. As to which those am not informed to say at the time of this composition...however, I will say that Firestone Walker's hoppy offerings do not last as long as those from Lagunitas (the former states 110 days from bottling/canning where the latter does not state...Lagunitas just brands a Julian date code on their bottles and do not know how they view the shelf-life of their beers). Bell's states the shelf-life of Two Hearted (as well as Hopslam) 6-months (canned or bottled). I find that to be a bit generous, but that timeline certainly excites the distributors.

In short:
1 - Consume hoppy beers as quickly as is convenient.
2 - If you LOVE a particular hoppy beer that is seasonal/limited and you are able to source a significant volume (a case, or more)...make certain you can store it under proper conditions (~50F) and can consume the lot in (or around) 3 months...bottled, you can go another month (i.e. 4-months), caned, you can go another couple (i.e. 6 months)
3 - For a hoppy beer that you can regularly source: Try it as fresh as you can get it and then a few weeks later...and so on. Although batches will vary (it is craft beer, after all) pick your favorite 'age' and go from there. (i.e. I do not like uber fresh Firestone Walker Double Jack...too astringent. I like it much better with 2-months on it).

The single barrel-aged beer that I would suggest not aging is 'Golden Delicious' from Captain Lawrence. This is absolutely beautiful, but I think it will sour ('cider-out' if you will) if left too long. Although the shelf-life is longer than that of an IPA/DIPA, this is something you do not want to age more 6-12 months.

I appreciate any and all comments...for and/or against what I've stated.

 

I buy an old ipa once in awhile for giggles. Carry my own duster into the beer store and find the most special one. Before I drink it I whisper I'm putting you out of your misery.

 

I'm guessing it would be closer to .02% But I digress...

This is why in my opinion "Born on" dates are much more useful than "Best By" dates, and why I think any self respecting brewery should put both on their beers. Some breweries give IPA's a best by for 3 months, some 6, some 12. I think I saw a Storm King with like a 5 year best by date (I'm sure it is still very good after 5 years, but extremely different than what I want my Storm King to taste like)

"Born on" date is objective and lets the buyer use that fact to judge how the beer will taste to their preferences and "Best by" is a brewers subjective opinion of how long the beer will be good for.

 

I rarely let my IPAs sit too long, however earlier this week I opened a Nugget Nectar from January and an hour ago had a Ruthless Rye from early February, and though both were still fantastic there was a perceptible drop in bitterness, more so in NN than RR. I haven't ever tried but I would assume that a can may have a longer shelf life; I think of that video where Kimmich pours out a fresh heady next to like an 8 month old can or something and though they look drastically different he comments that the flavor is still bright etc.

 

From experience, Resin can last a good deal of time(within reason) if it's stored properly(refrigerated). My first Resin that I tried had been sitting at a room temperature shelf for about 6-7 months and it was ruined(a malt bomb !!). I believe that this beer(and I am sure a lot of others) will last for what the breweries expect if kept under ideal temperatures. After my bad experience with the room temperature Resin, I managed to get a fresh one that was maintained cold, and it was incredible !!!! Please do not judge this awesome brewery if the retailer cannot store it properly, buy it cold and fresh and you will be amazed at what Sixpoint and Shane Welch can do !!!