Is this a common thing? I walked into a store in edmonton on Wednesday this week and found enjoy by june 4th?
They just started shipping it to BC. The first shipment was on shelves 3 or 4 days before the stated date... the second batch, they managed just over a week. Heck, better than not getting it at all I guess!
Maybe in Vancouver, here in Victoria I've been told none made it in time. Anyway, I'd still buy the 07/04 today. Probably fresher than a bunch, or even most, of other IPAs sitting in the shelves.
The sad thing is when they are past the Enjoy By Date the beers don't sell. One store today said they had several cases of the 07/04/15 left over and only one beer has sold since July 4th. How excited do you think this store will be about buying the next batch of Enjoy by. Then do the math would you rather a DIPA that says it is past its enjoy by date and $15 bucks or two well priced fresher Canadian DIPAs for the same amount of the money. Even if they mark them down to their cost it is still a pricey beer that won't sell. For the same format there are lots of DIPAs you can buy 2 bottles for less than $15 and weak Canadian dollar is only going to make this problem worse.
Yes, this is quite true. the American beers are being priced out of range because of the CDN dollar. It's hard to spend 12-15 a bomber on Stone and Lagunitas when you can get Driftwood for 6.90. Or Russel or Parallel 49 or any Alberta beers too.
maybe the label next time should be rewritten to say "enjoy before the exchange rate gets worse or you wont see this marketing concept again."
I sat in on a blind tasting where four different beers were presented (including Stone's Enjoy By); Good advance planning by our host allowed two samples of each of the four beers to be presented--1 sample where the beer had not yet reached it's 'best by' date, and another sample that was anywhere from 8 to 12 months past the date. To make the blind tasting even more interesting, we were not told that there were two different examples of each beer. It was not a particularly scientific methodology applied...the older samples were, from day of purchase, kept in a dark place at cellar temperatures (between 60-65°F) for the months prior to the tasting. All were chilled down to approx 50°F prior to sampling. No specific statement was made to indicate that they were multiple samples, nor was it falsely implied that they were different brews. The idea was to taste each sample and judge each on it's own merits. The results were pretty telling: of the ten of us tasting the beers, in every case eight tasters liked the older samples better than the 'fresh' ones, while two of the tasters wouldn't be pinned down and remained mostly 'on the fence', opining that all of the beers were good, just 'different'.
Interesting but not very scientific as the Enjoy by uses different hop combinations each time so they are not the same brew. I am not of the school of thought like most hop heads that uber fresh is better, in some cases depending on how the beer is hopped the beer does improve. The beers that suffer the biggest change are the beers that get their initial bitterness from hop oils early in the boil. Examples Pliny and some Lagunitas products and this not saying this is bad as I am big fan of both Russian River and Laguntias. They are just breweries where this drinker looks at dates more when purchasing. In any case the Enjoy By concept and pricing with a weakened Canadian dollar is limiting. Even know a carton of milk may still be great after it best buy date that date sets restrictions to most customers on purchasing after it's best by date.
I've had three different Enjoy By batches (all in 2015). I'm not sure I noticed major differences in the batches - it would be difficult if not side by side. It is truly an outstanding DIPA. Whether it's a marketing gimmick or not....the beer is outstanding. If I can get a bottle I'll buy it. However, the prices are becoming a deterrent. Thankfully we can get some good Canadian beers at half the price. :-)
When it first came in I sold lots quickly, next shipment was a few cases by the date, now I bring in a case and still have 6 left on the date. No one really cares anymore; people try it, like it and move on because there’s so much selection to choose from (and cheaper options). Personally I’d take 2 bombers of Fat Tug for the same price as a single Enjoy By any day of the week, it’s a no brainer IMO. Now I'm just wondering how long it will take Stone to pull out of the market.
I really hope Stone doesn't pull out of the market. I Iove their beers. I'll buy Enjoy By when I'm able. However, I agree with you. I'll have two Fat Tugs over one Enjoy By.
They're still great after the date, but my local has trouble moving them as well... said they'd probably be sending some back. It really is a great brew, and I don't even mind the price, but I just don't regularly drink stuff that strong.
Stone is far too profitable to pull out of the Western provinces. We'll see how they do here in Ontario. 5-6 years too late for the IPA and Arrogant Bastard to be interesting, especially with the vibrant scene we have here. Still, it'll be nice to have another top-notch IPA on draft, and I absolutely love the Bastard.
