Expired Stone Beer, will it taste as good?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by RayzTheRoof, Nov 3, 2013.

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  1. RayzTheRoof

    RayzTheRoof Initiate (0) Oct 14, 2013 New York

    I just noticed the "best by" date on this Levitation Ale is 10/28/2013. In anyone's experience, will it still taste just fine? Thanks you.
     
  2. pitweasel

    pitweasel Initiate (0) Jun 11, 2007 New York

    "Just fine", yes. Not as good as it would fresh, but at just a few days past their best by, it'll be pretty tasty.
     
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  3. trevorjk

    trevorjk Initiate (0) Aug 28, 2009 Netherlands

    You would be absolutely surprised by how some beers get better with age. Even some simple ales can become phenomenal after 5 to 10 to 15 and so on years depending on proper cellaring.
     
  4. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,145) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Plus, to their credit, Stone gives Levitation Ale (along with a number of their other hop forward ales) a mere 90 day shelf life period - these days, that is among the shortest in the industry.

    Lots of well-known US "craft" brewers would consider that beer still "fresh" - or, more properly, perhaps, still "salable" - for 1, 2 or 3 more months.

    (And, for imports, lots of beers don't even make it to the retail shelves within that period:slight_frown:).
     
    #4 jesskidden, Nov 3, 2013
    Last edited: Nov 3, 2013
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  5. WillemHC

    WillemHC Zealot (604) Jun 21, 2013 Utah

    It isn't as if the best thing you can do with it is throw it out because it's "expired" by Stone's standards. Still obviously worth drinking especially because that date isn't very long ago. I have had Ruination a few days after it's best by date and have still been very happy.
     
  6. TheNightwatchman

    TheNightwatchman Initiate (0) Mar 28, 2009 Pennsylvania

    That should be fine. As good as it was a month or two ago? No. Still tasty? Yes. It's only a few days, not several months.
     
  7. mrcraft

    mrcraft Grand Pooh-Bah (3,396) Dec 15, 2012 California
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    One time, I misplaced a bottle of AleSmith IPA with my stouts and other beers I was holding on to. By the time I found that bottle it was something like 6 months past the recommended consumption date. I was pissed I made that mistake and thought it would taste horrible. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed it actually.
     
  8. Mikecap

    Mikecap Pooh-Bah (2,098) May 18, 2012 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I once bought some expired ruinations and levitations because they were on sale for a dollar a piece. They were still very enjoyable
     
  9. Kuaff

    Kuaff Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2013 Alaska

    I've tasted the following Stone beers, all several months past their "enjoy by" dates:

    Arrogant Bastard
    Oaked Arrogant Bastard
    Ruination
    Enjoy By
    RuinTen

    All were still phenominally awesome beers to me, and if there was any difference between them and their fresher selves, it was too minimal to notice. I actually thought the 8-month-old Oaked Arrogant Bastard I had was MORE flavorful than the previous fresher one I had (though it's not that surprising since DOES have some aging-friendly qualities, like some maltiness and a fairly high ABV).

    Enjoy by dates are generally pretty flexible, in my opinion.
     
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