Old Beer at the Bottle Shop

Hoppy beers I'd stay away from after 6 months, but "cellarable" stuff I'd buy almost indefinitely after the sell by date.

 

Is there ever a bottle shop that's kept at 50~55 degrees year round? I'd imagine that would suck to not only work in but to pay the electric bill for running the AC that much.

 

Yes, because my cellar is a closet and it is in the same temp range you posted.

 

I'd stay away from older IPAs that are kept like that, But stouts and barleywines and other big hitters like that? I don't see anything to worry about. Now if this store is say, 80-90 and has a really nice sun roof, I'd skip out on most things.

 

I picked up a four pack of St. Bernardus Triple from 2005 that was sitting in their store room the entire time and it was fantastic! I think it all depends on the style of beer that was sitting on the shelf.

 

Check out Fresh Beer Only! Their website does not include every beer, but it gives you the drink-by-date or bottling date of some very popular beers.

 

Near us is a store we got to for all our store aged barleywines, gueuzes, strong ales, and old ales, but for no other beers

 

it depends on the style of beer your temperature ranges are not bad, choose wisely what you buy

 

I found a six pack of dust covered Grant's IPA and another of Stoney Creek Lager (defunct). I think Grant's has been closed since 2005. Pete's Wicked was there also.

 

I stay away from any IPAs after 2 months.

But wouldn't hesitate to try a bottle of a stout/barleywine/quad etc. that was known to age well, off the shelf.

 

At those Sahara-like temperatures the flavor molecules (even in the most robust of offerings) are going to be weak and flaccid after only a few weeks.

I suggest you take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

 

He can't make that kind of decision, he's just a grunt!

 

Have you been keeping up on current events?!?!?!?

 

It's frustrating when you find a great beer store (in terms of selection) and then discover that more than half of the beer has been there so long the bottles are dusty. As has been said, non-IPAs are probably fine provided they haven't been sat in sunlight.

 

Well it is a catch-22 for stores, they want to carry everything they can for customers, but unless they have Walmart level traffic they are going to have beer that sits. It would be nice if every store were dim and had enough fridge space for everything hoppy, but that just isn't possible for a lot of mom and pop shops. Tis' a shame.

 

I just bought some Mendocino Imperial Barleywine Ale and some Mad River, Steelhead Extra stout.. each a case for $12.99 per case.. I did buy a 4 pack and 6 pack first and try it, and it was excellent, so I picked up a case of each... they did have some IPA's as well, but I didn't go there since I know they drop off quickly....