How old is this beer?

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by nassaubeercop, Apr 30, 2012.

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  1. nassaubeercop

    nassaubeercop Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2010 New York

    I have an old unopened bottle of Unibroue Quelque Chose. Its actually very old, at first I was letting it age but then I kinda forgot about it, when I realized it was way past the best by date on the label I decided to just keep letting it age and holding on to it. The best before date on the label is 04/98, I'm trying to figure out how old this beer is. I don't remember when I purchased this, does anyone know the Quelque Chose bottle date/best before date formula? Its been kept in a relatively cool place and has a foil covering the glass, so it has not been light struck. Anyone ever try a fruit beer this old? How was it?
     
    #1 nassaubeercop, Apr 30, 2012
  2. ColForbinBC

    ColForbinBC Pooh-Bah (2,495) Sep 9, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah

    I am not sure what the best before date is, but as per the Unibroue website, it has been brewed since January 1996.
     
    #2 ColForbinBC, Apr 30, 2012
  3. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    What you see there is the bottling date
    http://pages.infinit.net/altair/codes_en.html




    Before november 1998:The date was printed in blue ink on the neck of the bottle
    Since november 1998:
    Letter indicate the month A=january, B=February,C=March ....
    The last digit indicate the year 4=2004, 3=2003, 9=1999
    And the 2 digits in the middle indicate the day of the month.
    Attention: I is skipped to J for September.
    A few beers like Édition 2005 give the bottling date directly without using a code.
     
    #3 jmw, Apr 30, 2012
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  4. nassaubeercop

    nassaubeercop Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2010 New York

    Thanks for your reply and the website I'm sure will be helpful in the future. I don't however want to remove the "protective" foil which wraps around the entire bottle including the neck, the foil is a thin metallic foil which is at this point very fragile . So I cant see the date code stamped on the neck. At least I have a idea based on the fact that Unibroue didn't start making this beer until 1996. This beer is at most 16 years old and at least 14. Thanks.
     
    #4 nassaubeercop, Apr 30, 2012
  5. commis

    commis Initiate (0) Jul 21, 2009 Massachusetts

    For what it's worth, I had a bottle of the 98 about 4 years ago and it was quite impressive. The fruit was still quite...fruity.
     
    #5 commis, Apr 30, 2012
  6. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    So the "best before" date that you mention (4/98)--that is on the label? I was assuming that you had seen the neck. Since it is covered in foil maybe they put the same info on the label then. And since they used a straight bottling date before 11/98 and did not go to a code until after that, I'd say that your bottle was bottled in April of 98. 14 years ago.

    You could try writing to Unibrou themselves and see of you get a response.
     
    #6 jmw, Apr 30, 2012
  7. LostTraveler

    LostTraveler Initiate (0) Oct 28, 2011 Maine

    http://www.unibroue.com/en/beers/quelque_chose/product#/aging



    ​
    Potential:​
    Up to 15 years.​
    Like good wine, Unibroue’s fine beers have flavors that develop with age. Over time they become smoother, sometimes revealing notes of honey and candied fruit and developing a more assertive and lasting flavor. This phenomenon is known as “maderization” and is similar to the aging process ​
    ​


    ​
    Potential:​
    Up to 15 years.​
    Like good wine, Unibroue’s fine beers have flavors that develop with age. Over time they become smoother, sometimes revealing notes of honey and candied fruit and developing a more assertive and lasting flavor. This phenomenon is known as “maderization” and is similar to the aging process of dessert wines like port.​
    Preservatives​
    Oxygen is the mortal enemy of beer because oxidation creates a stale, flat flavor. The yeast added to the bottle of Unibroue products triggers natural fermentation, consuming excess oxygen and preventing the beer’s CO2 from oxidizing. This enhances the beer’s aging potential. The high alcohol content of certain Unibroue products also lends itself well to aging by acting as a natural preservative.​
    Cellaring ​
    Store bottles upright in a cool dark place at a stable temperature between 46ºF and 61ºF.of dessert wines like port.​
    Preservatives​
    Oxygen is the mortal enemy of beer because oxidation creates a stale, flat flavor. The yeast added to the bottle of Unibroue products triggers natural fermentation, consuming excess oxygen and preventing the beer’s CO2 from oxidizing. This enhances the beer’s aging potential. The high alcohol content of certain Unibroue products also lends itself well to aging by acting as a natural preservative.​
    Cellaring ​
    Store bottles upright in a cool dark place at a stable temperature between 46ºF and 61ºF.​
     
    #7 LostTraveler, Apr 30, 2012
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  8. nassaubeercop

    nassaubeercop Initiate (0) Apr 27, 2010 New York

    The foil has a label glued to it which holds the foil on the bottle. There is some info on the label a bar code the government warning, product of Canada etc... and printed on that label is best before 04/98. I don't think that's the bottling date I think that is the date they suggest the beer be enjoyed by (expiration/freshness date). I would imagine the best before date would be at least a year after the bottling date.
     
    #8 nassaubeercop, Apr 30, 2012
  9. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    Yeah, you might have to consult Unibroue on this one. LostTraveler's post is promising though. Enjoy it--wish I could join you.
     
    #9 jmw, Apr 30, 2012
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