Old IPAs - What to do about this problem?

I could say the same thing about people that come into a thread and post multiple times about what people should and shouldn't say in their replies. I responded to the OP about my opinion of what he said. You've responded to multiple posters about the content of their replies and whether they should have posted it or not. One of us is talking beer, the other is playing Mod.

 

Because it sits in the distributors warehouse until the previous sells out of course. Which can't cycle out if store's don't order said product because people are boycotting anything that isn't hyper fresh.

For my non store managing opinion it's simple; I don't buy any packaged IPA that I don't buy at the brewery itself and I am a big fan of the recent trend (Grimm, Hill Farmstead forever, others I'm blanking on) that refuse to package their IPA's and do everything they can in THEIR power to make sure you drink fresh IPA's.

 

Only one-week-old IPAs are fresh? Wahahahahahahah...

A universal shelf-life rule? BWAHAHAHAHA...

I think you're already spoiled for ever being able to sample one-week-old IPAs.
And also I think IPA freshness is generally blown way out of proportion in terms of how much it actually changes the imbibing experience.

 

Depends on the IPA as some are worse than others, but I have done a blind taste test comparing fresh Union Jack to 2 month old, fresh Pliny to 2 month old and fresh Racer 5 to 2 month old. I picked out which one was which without even trying hard.

Saying that 35 day life isn't realistic is fine. If you're going to claim that it doesn't actually make a difference, you're dead wrong.

 

2 thoughts:

1. You're being very active in this thread, and dolling out a solid amount of snark yourself. No big deal - this is the internet after all - but, practice/preach etc eh?

2. If someone in a bar, in "the real world" announced that two month old IPAs were a problem we all needed to discuss, I would laugh just as loud there too - regardless of the potential risk to my ass. I wouldn't be overly concerned though, as most beer nerds don't generally exude the potential for violence

 

Below is something I posted previously:

“I bought a case of Dirtwolf very fresh in February (less than 2 weeks from the bottling date). Over the next 2-3 months I drank that case. That beer noticeably tailed off at 2 months from bottling and by 3 months the hop aroma was greatly diminished.”

In my 'experiment' my beers were stored cool in my basement.”

Needless to say there is no objective definition for when a hoppy beer goes ‘bad’ but it has been my consistent experience (I have conducted the fresh case of Dirtwolf ‘experiment’ one more time since the above post) that around 60 days is a ‘turning point’ for this beer.

Also needless to say but if I had the facilities to store that case of beer cold the timeframes would in all probability be extended for what I stated above. For completeness I should also comment that if I conducted this ‘experiment’ in the summer (e.g., June to Sept.) the timeframes would likely be even shorter; perhaps in that situation I would state that the ‘turning point’ is at 40 days?

Cheers!

 

You are mixing your usage of the word "fresh". In the first sentence you mean the perceived quality of taste, but then in the second sentence, you mean the quantitative time since brewed.

The one is subjective, and the other not. Which is why this debate will never end. Everyone has their own personal definition of "fresh".

 

I was excited when Firestone Walker started canning Union Jack since it meant I would get to try it fresh. In March stores in my area received a ton of cans dated mid February. Fast forward to August and those same cans are sitting on the shelves here. It was good while it lasted.

 

I'm honestly not trying to push your buttons, but don't you think it's also possible that "BA is a laughing stock in some craft beer circles" because of comments that a two month old beer turned into something awful? Is there not a bit of severity in this stance?

 

The best IPA in this state is Tumbleweed and they don't date cans at all.

 

Agreed. His response can be relayed to the OP in a similar manner. If the OP walked into a bar or bottle shop and started complaining about IPA's being more than 35 days old he would probably be shown the door rather quickly. It's fine that he has that opinion but it's an opinion that's debated on this site all the time. Isn't that what's great about the internet, that we convey our true opinions without the threat of violence against us?

Assuming this guy rates beer here or on Untappd or anywhere else, I'm sure he has no problem handing out 1s and 2s to macros or other beers he doesn't like but I highly doubt he would walk up to the head brewer and tell them he drain poured their beer.

Either way, I too would have no problem laughing at someone that says an IPA is awful because it's two months old. I think that's the comment that got a lot of people coming back with "snarky" comments. Had he said that he feels IPAs start dropping off at 2 months the responses would have been very different. When you start saying IPAs are "awful" at 2 months, you're going to get a reaction.

 

drink local, always fresh no problems and no complaining.

 

I admit I am a IPA snob. I won't buy anything over a month old. Just my personal preference. Also been hesitant to buy stuff warm on shelf. I know it probably ships warm. Which is interesting as well since the brewery usually puts on the can "keep cold". So many great local breweries, lately i have been purchasing most IPAs from the source. Guaranteed freshness!

 

No apology necessary. For me, 40 days (give or take) has been a window that's worked fairly well. I've had IPAs that are a couple months old that tasted fine; it's just that I'd rather not risk the money or the calories and just buy something that I know will be fresh.

 

True.

 

Alright, man. Fair enough.

 

Bed Bath and Beyond in Schaumburg, my friend!

 

My general rule is 2 months. I should be able to go to a local liquor store and find an IPA bottled within that timeframe. If I can't, then that store is not worth my time.

I have no problem going through IPA after IPA checking bottle dates. Sometimes I get strange looks, but who cares.

 

Same here that beer drops off completely. Like a bad bad bitter taste that lingers not in a good way

 

Exactly all fruitty ness is gone