Old IPAs

Very few beers are produced with the intention of having it sit to age. Heady is no different.
The point Kimmich was making was drink his beer now, for the BEST experience. A year later it will still be "excellent", but obviously different from when it was fresh.

 

"Is out of date beer that bad?"

Depends on a few things:

1) How was it stored? If the beer was stored cold, and at consistent temperatures, and not agitated, and kept in the dark - it can last for a drastically longer time than in averse conditions.

2) What style of beer is it? High gravity beers can improve over time, whereas lower gravity, non-pasteurized, hoppy beers can fade quickly. Also depends on #1, as above

3) What price did you pay? Old beer might not be as bad (from a value perspective, not taste of course) if you are getting a discount on it. Sometimes a retailer will offer a discounted price to their customers for older beer. In no way does this mean I promote selling old beer or encourage it, I'm merely pointing out that the store/retailer acknowledged that the beer is not optimal, and passed the savings onto the customer. All else being considered, this is the noble path (as opposed to charging them full price).

 

I'm a drink fresh hypocrite.

I drink Nugget Nectar like a mad fish. According to my palate and many-many, blind taste test, I like it aged. Anything past nine months and I can detect it's aged and enjoy it more.

Lose Cannon Hop3
Ithaca Flower Power
RuinTen

Best around 9-12 months from bottle date, IMO

To me, the Brewers that say drink fresh or drink from the can need to come buy a car from me, so I can tell or suggest to them to only drive in reverse, it's the way it should be as I like driving backwards, a lot

 

Ive been trying an expirament with Harpoon IPA canned 12pk.
I thought i would try altering an IPA I am very familiar with. And due to its maltiness.
It has been stored well (can vs bottle) and cool temps ~50°F.
bought it in July. Best by was Thanksgiving.
I had one immediately, one in November, One in January, one yesterday.
I can definiteively say it was best in July... so far.
Hoping that around late spring, it will break down and glaze over some more. So far it seems like that is the track it's on.

::fingers crossed::

 

I've said it before, and I'll continue saying it...when properly stored (cold, dark) I personally see zero difference between a week old and a couple months old. The whole 'within 5 days or drainpour' around here is ridiculous in my book.

 

We have a case of Sierra Nevada Northern Hemisphere Harvest IPA in the cooler at work that was bottled in September 2012. I've been tempted to pop one and try it, but...2012..