How often do you check bottling dates?

Perfect...

 

Very important for IPA's and similar styles. Because of BA I started checking dates - it made a difference for me on a few of my shelf staples. However, I once 'aged' an IPA because I had it fresh and did not like it, but had one leftover and refused to throw it away. So, i stuck it in the back of my fridge. Said beer was Heelch O Hops. Opened it last weekend (over 8 months old) and it was, incredibly, pretty damn enjoyable. I don't have an explanation for this and don't expect people to understand. But it happened. It was good enough that I'm thinking of changing my original rating, which was low.

Aside from that I stick with fresh IPA's lol.

 

I always check bottle dates on year-round beers and seasonals that are approaching the end of their window. I'm much less vigilant about checking dates on newly distributed seasonals and specialty beers.

 

Always

 

You are one of the few who gets it. Thanks!. As a consumer I check every beer that has a date on it.

 

Always for IPAs, Pale Ales and try to stay within 6 weeks max from bottle date. I'm not as strict for lagers.

 

Not as often as I need to, but more often than I used to. Good example of the former: just saw some Firestone Double Jack for the first time ever so I picked it up with no second thoughts. Turns out to be from 10/31/2014. Still good, but by no means fresh.

 

this

 

Where I get 95%+ of my beer, the owner and two other guys who tend the register would not let me walk out with out of date beer so never think to look.

Anywhere else--the other 5%--yep, I check.

 

Every single beer I contemplate buying

 

I have pretty much got to the point where I won't buy beer without some sort of date. Rajah being the exception. I just wait until I see new cases sitting on the floor (which are stamped)

 

I check every time now, especially with ales and lager.

No bottling date, then I don't purchase that brand.
I stopped buying most Victory product like Dirtwolf for instance because they only put an enjoy by date as opposed to a bottled on date. Even the ridiculous, coded, julian dating is still more efficient than an enjoy by date.

If it's a newer release like Sour Monkey or Kirsch Gose I will generally buy it because I know it's new and is on a dedicated endcap at a store that deals with the brand frequently, but there are number of other stores in my area that have outdated product on the shelf because the Victory Reps don't visit these locations or they haven't properly trained the sales staff how to rotate the stock or sell the product.

I refuse to spend my money on outdated product.

 

Craft beer in my area is still pretty new. Like 5 years new. More and more liquor stores and grocery stores are now selling craft beer. I rarely look at date codes. Probably should. If I did, I wouldn't drink near as much beer as I do. It is getting way better, but turnover is slow. You should thank your lucky stars if you live where craft breweries are everywhere. My 2cents. Please enjoy your fresh beer.

 

Always. At my local shop, I even check out other beers inventory on every visit to keep track of when fresh is about to come in or if I can catch something within 2 weeks or so super fresh.

 

Mostly when adding them to my aging list. Otherwise only when I pick up an IPA typically. Long as the bottle isn't coated in dust I'm usually ok with it lol.

 

In concert with the vociferous masses: every time. Still confounded by craft breweries that eschew the all-important bottle date.

 

Every five minutes.

 

Was in small town with good Goose Island distribution, when I grabbed a 4 pack for Bourbon County, I also grabbed some Sophia and Pepe Nero, which were both > 1 year old, which was nice because that means they already had a little age on them

 

I only check on hoppy beers. If its something that ages well I really don't care until I go to drink it.

 

Only when it's a beer I think might be seasonal and it seems off-season. Or if it's a place that's new for me and I don't really trust it. Or if it's something obscure that I think might not turn over very fast.

But usually I don't check.