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Old west coast beer (IPA)

Discussion in 'US: New England' started by Bentster, Sep 18, 2012.

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  1. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    I live outside of Buffalo New York and I can't find fresh West coast IPAs. Firestone Walker Union Jack was bottled on May 5. 4 months is way past prime for an IPA. The other west coast products are about the same. Anyone else experience this situation?
    Thank you,
     
    #1 Bentster, Sep 18, 2012
  2. Onizilla

    Onizilla Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2009 New York

    Don't buy them and mention it to the store politely. You can also skip steps and email a brewery directly about it and let them know and just hope.
     
    #2 Onizilla, Sep 18, 2012
  3. KingforaDay

    KingforaDay Pooh-Bah (2,433) Aug 5, 2010 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I have the same problem in NJ. Just bought some FW Union Jack also dated 7/30 so at 6 weeks old, thats about as fresh as I am able to find on the east coast. The bigger problem is that most breweries don't date their bottles so even if by some chance they are fresh, you wouldn't know it.
     
    #3 KingforaDay, Sep 18, 2012
  4. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    Thanks for the responses. Onizilla, i politely mentioned this to the manager and he got a hazy look in his eyes and walked away and started straightening up the inventory in the cooler. I guess he didn't have a good answer. Bottled beer is sorta like fruit...might look good from the outside but that has nothing to do with the quality within. These companies also have their own 'bottled on date'...'best by date'..but it is not standardized and the print is tiny and can sometimes be easily wiped off. Their vagueness seems deliberate and the sales guys are complicit.
    I can't afford this hit and miss quality stuff. Looking to buy beer in 1/6 kegs instead.
     
    #4 Bentster, Sep 19, 2012
  5. Onizilla

    Onizilla Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2009 New York

    That hazy look is such a shameful thing to see as a store manager, Know your product people! Keep an eye on 1/6 kegs also. I've had to turn down numerous 1/6 kegs I've ordered for myself. I'm not satisfied with Founders Centennial that was kegged on 3/06 when I just ordered it last week.:grimacing:
     
    #5 Onizilla, Sep 19, 2012
    Horbar likes this.
  6. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,363) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Have you considered homebrewing?

    I just made a post in the homebrewing forum which included this paragraph:

    The other benefit of homebrewing is that you are guaranteed to have fresh beers. A number of beer styles really are better when fresh (e.g., American style IPAs). By homebrewing you take away the guess work of “I wonder if this commercial beer is fresh and in good shape (not abused in transport)”.

    Cheers!
     
    #6 JackHorzempa, Sep 19, 2012
    cavedave likes this.
  7. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    Onizilla,
    Thanks for the heads up on the 1/6 keg situation. Does 3/06 mean March 6th...or the 3rd day of June?
    My dyslexia must be flaring today. Either way, that is not fresh enough for an IPA.
    JackHorzempa, yes I have considered homebrewing. Slowing working in that direction. My goal is to produce a beer like Flower Power or Firestone Walker Double Jack. Probably not a realistic goal for a novice but you got to start somewhere and have a goal. See you over at the homebrewing forum.
     
    #7 Bentster, Sep 20, 2012
  8. Onizilla

    Onizilla Initiate (0) Apr 25, 2009 New York

    It was most definitely meaning March 6th unfortunately. I've had some big issues getting fresh beer, I've been fighting it for almost a year now. Most of the time it doesn't even make sense- I get fresher Oskar Blues than I do Smuttynose IPA and I'm located right in new york.:confused:
     
    #8 Onizilla, Sep 20, 2012
  9. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    Onizilla,
    Thanks for the answer. I was afraid it was March but didn't want to really believe it was true. Brewers dedicate their career to making a product well and doing it consistently. From there, it's anything goes. The beer that should be kept cold is moved around with indifference. Home brewing appears to allow more control. Not only with the brew itself but also the handling of the beer which seems to be equally important. Even a great beer on tap can be ruined by a not so clean pint glass at a pub. A bad experience...experiences can be very motovating.
    Thanks again!

    .
     
    #9 Bentster, Sep 21, 2012
  10. jrnyc

    jrnyc Grand Pooh-Bah (3,000) Mar 21, 2010 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Drink Stone. With enjoy by date you at least know if they are fresh or not. If they are old, go to Stone web site and report the old beer, they will pull them off shelves and replace with new ones.

    Unfortunately old IPAs is a problem that plagues the craft beer industry.
     
    #10 jrnyc, Sep 23, 2012
  11. gpcollen1

    gpcollen1 Initiate (0) Jul 16, 2005 Connecticut

    Part of the problem is people complaining about 6 week old IPAs. Most of the good ones are fine around 3 months. Certain ones drop off quickly and others have some staying power. Ive mostly had problems with Green Flash, FW and Founders being old...
     
    #11 gpcollen1, Sep 24, 2012
    jmw likes this.
  12. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    I've given up on fresh west coast beer. Not going to happen. I recently purchased a 6 pack of Pyramid Outburst after the sales person said that "It just came in" I took it home without reading or attempting to find the 'best by date' or whatever because it 'just came in'. I opened the bottle and was very disappointed by the flavor compared to the same beer on tap. Found my reading glasses and read on the bottle 'best by 8/16'. Being that it was September 18th...I was not happy with my purchase. So the beverage center is receiving the beer 1 month past it's expiration date. How are they staying in business? Are most people inured to this quality?
    I'll check out the Stone product and wait for Ithaca beer co to get the Flower Power back into the market.
     
    #12 Bentster, Sep 24, 2012
  13. jamvt

    jamvt Savant (1,138) Aug 5, 2005 Massachusetts
    Trader

    we're having the same problem in boston with FW. union jack 6pks in trade are dated 6/12/12 and double jack is date 4/13/12. we have no problem getting fresh green flash, port, and lagunitas though.
     
    #13 jamvt, Sep 24, 2012
  14. jmw

    jmw Initiate (0) Feb 4, 2009 North Carolina

    There is nothing wrong with a 6 week old IPA. There is really nothing wrong even with a 3 month old IPA.
    If you guys really want every west coast IPA on your shelves to be 1) there when you want it, and 2) less than a month old, MOVE CLOSER TO THE WEST COAST.
    Otherwise, get used to it.
     
    #14 jmw, Sep 25, 2012
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  15. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,363) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “Otherwise, get used to it.”

    At the risk of sounding like a nag, there is a good alternative to getting used to drinking old(er) IPAs: homebrew your own IPA. I have an all Centennial hopped IPA fermenting right now. I will be drinking that beer fresh with no worries of drinking an old/tired/beat up commercial IPA.

    Cheers!
     
    #15 JackHorzempa, Sep 25, 2012
  16. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,594) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Don't totally give up, just keep your eyes open and visit stores that you know turn over a lot of beer. I have repeatedly gotten super fresh (one week old) Stone beers as well as Bear Republic and Green Flash. In fact, I once got a case of GFWCIPA that was only a week after bottle date. Now that's fresh.
     
    #16 Kadonny, Sep 25, 2012
  17. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,363) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah



    Keith,

    You are indeed a persistent fellow!:slight_smile:

    About a month ago I had a hankering for a good fresh IPA and my homebrewed IPAs were sadly consumed. I went to my local beer distributor (Kunda) with a list in hand to get some fresh IPAs of the West Coast sort:

    · Bells Two Hearted (over two months old)
    · Firestone Walker ( two months old)
    · Stone IPA (about two months old)
    · No Ithaca Flower Power (again)
    · Some others I can’t remember now

    So I left empty handed and came back the next week. No fresh IPA per my original list but lo and behold there was a fresh case of Lagunitas Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ which is technically not an IPA but it I a hoppy beer so I bought it (and I am happy).

    A couple of weeks later I found some fresh Bells Two Hearted at a Wegmans so I jumped on that and purchased two six-packs.

    It is sometimes a lot of detective work to obtain fresh West Coast style IPAs.:slight_frown:

    Cheers!

    Jack
     
    #17 JackHorzempa, Sep 25, 2012
  18. Hanzo

    Hanzo Initiate (0) Feb 27, 2012 Virginia

    I'll drink an IPA that's two, three or four months old with no questions, but even I draw the line at the six month plus stuff you guys are talking about. Good thing there are dozens of other fantastic IPAs around that are likely much fresher and just as delicious.
     
    #18 Hanzo, Sep 25, 2012
  19. Bentster

    Bentster Initiate (0) Sep 18, 2012 New York

    I going to set the limit at 3 months for a west coast IPA. Will continue to hunt around for fresh bottles while I convert over to a tap. Purchased a firestone walker double jack recently without a date...Amazing. I was told I could purchase 1/6 keg of Flower Power for $67 which seems very reasonable and should be relatively fresh for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, my attempt at brewing will produce satisfactory results by the spring.
    Thanks for the feedback and the shared experience of old beer.
     
    #19 Bentster, Sep 25, 2012
  20. Kadonny

    Kadonny Pooh-Bah (2,594) Sep 5, 2007 Florida
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Getting that keg of Flower Power will be daunting. I've been on the list to get one from my local distributor for the past 2 months and they've gotten none in. I hope you do get one, and I hope I get one soon, I'm really jonesing for it. Regarding FP freshness though, that is one beer that falls of quickly. 2 months is no problem, as is 3, but much beyond that I would say it starts to change.
     
    #20 Kadonny, Sep 26, 2012
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