Old Bottles - Risky Buy? (Skunked?)

I guess that is the gamble. You can either score a sweet deal or pour it out. Sadly I have been on the losing side more often than the winning side so I avoid it now. For a few bucks more I always go fresh because I know it will be good. Today with all the careless store owners and young kids working at them odds are in favor of crap storage and or mishandling so odds are not good most of times.

 

I try to buy fresh, and I agree that the odds are stacked against us with the way things are in some stores, but then a lot of beers make their way to my house and sit there for a really long time. I've got beers from breweries that have gone out of business...and realize it's been a year or two by the dust accumulation method.

Unless they are completely heinous and gag-inducing upon opening, the antiques eventually get consumed. Some are pleasant surprises like an 18 month old bottle of Allagash Evora where age has changed an already superb beer for the better. Of course this doesn't always work out depending on the style. would I buy an 18 month old IPA - no. But an 18 month old barrel aged stout for a marked down price? Sure - I'll take that chance.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, in my opinion. Talk them down to five bucks and it it's good go back and take 'em all if there's more.

 

I bought a 2013 I believe old stock ale about 6 months ago. It was horrendously oxidized and an immediate drain pour. Shame because they have a barrel aged one right next to it but I'm definitely not risking $25 on it after my $4 non barrel aged drain pour.