IPA's - when does freshness beat brand

Yes, Zombie Dust after four Weeks is a shell of it's original self.

 

'whale' term abuse ._. captain ahab isn't looking for nugget nectar.

also, coming back to ask what LEM is.

 

Gosh, now I feel bad. Your second paragraph makes perfect sense (I envy you the Kern River). I have 2 each of Resin, Hoptimum, Palate Wrecker, and Deviant Dales (all close to 2 months old) keeping company with fresher Racer 5 and Finestkind. Which to drink first?

 

Only because in Torpedo's class I fill most stores I shop at will have 4-8 other IPA's that I'd deem close enough that I'd take the freshest.

My only argument being that I had my girlfriends last and long lost bottle of Nugget Nectar last week, from Feb and it was still hoppy enough for me AND a great beer. NN may stand out on its own here because its not a true IPA

 

Presumably Lake Erie Monster.

 

How good it is has precious little to do w/ whale status.

 

You and I have exactly the same fridge. What I do is have higher ABV stuff when I go to the bar for my first beer or two. At the store most of the time I buy the sessionable stuff.

 

3 months vs. 2 weeks is a no brainer - fresh wins.

The 3 month old has a good chance of not living up to its reputation.

 

That's the beauty of SNPA, Mirror Pond, Dales etc... they are not THAT much different after four months as they were fresh...

 

Nugget Nectar vs Torpedo and Zombie Dust vs Racer 5 may not be the best examples to use when posing this question, at least for me. I would gladly drink any four of those beers so there is very little trade off from one to the next.

When quality is comparable freshness is king. If we are dealing with a stellar beer that is slightly old vs a mediocre, lackluster alternative I would likely choose the stellar beer despite the age.

 

Sheesh, you're in allright shape.

 

this is a funny thread. i had the same issue tonight. NN bottled back in Feb. Or Palate Wrecker. So started out with the Palate Wrecker, then NN. Not the same as it was months ago, but better than anything Bud has to offer.

 

Someone doesn't know what whale means.