Never concerned when I get it for self consumption. Its always awesome and I very rarely check bottle dates. I did have it once 2 weeks post fill! But I am getting some to trade. I want to make sure trade partner is getting fresh beer. Should I be conscious of this like when purchasing IPAs? The hops will fade right? How quickly. I have seen bottles from as late as march as early as May
I have found the date to really matter with HU. Now that they date the bottles, it's great. I like them best within two months. I have found that the best qualities of the hops, do fade from this beer after a couple of months.
i love HU, it's one of my go to's. the bottles i see currently in the trade are either 4.19 or 5.3. I would assume a recent batch should be popping up very soon. I think you'd be fine sending the 5.3 batch. It's still drinking very nicely.
Yea I spotted the 5-3 batch. Was holding out for something with a late May or even June but probably just pick up the 5-3
I once had it 24 hours post fill. Blew my mind. As for freshness, I've never had an issue, especially when I would have it before they put dates on their bottles. The day old bottles were by far the best bottles of HU I've ever had, but you can't really go wrong within a month or 2. I'm think they bottle condition it anyways, I might be wrong though.
I just had a 3/13 bottle dated one last night and it stands up very well to fresher ones I had last summer.
