Question about Counterfeit Beer Bottlings

I want to say at the outset that I am not making any accusations! I simply have a question and want to know if perhaps I'm wrong; perhaps this is an isolated instance; perhaps there is nothing to worry about; or, perhaps there is something to worry about.

Counterfeits arise in every area of "collectibles." It has only been the past few years that beer has risen to the level of collectability and relatively high value bottles.

I am not sounding an alarm (yet). I have some questions and while perhaps this forum can be for a general discussion, I will only respond in detail or specifics via Beermail and I will only discuss specifics if and when I'm satisfied that I'm dealing with someone with bona fides and who does not have a wrongful intent. AGAIN, I AM ONLY ASKING QUESTIONS AT THIS POINT; ENGAGING IN SOME "DUE DILIGENCE," AS THE CASE MAY BE.

I simply do not want to affect the reputation whatsoever of any brewery or legitimate trader or person/entity selling beer! Repeat: I do not want to even imply that a brewery or brewer would be involved. My question goes to individuals or entities that MAY be involved in unscrupulous behavior and about which I am only making inquiry.

Specifically, and I'm being very general and vague on purpose. I acquired an older bottle of beer that I just received via a shipper. It was not a face to face transaction.

The bottle is a 750ml bottle.
It is from a nationally known American brewery.
It is a "collectible" bottle.
The bottle is the proper bottle with a proper label.
The bottle and the label are absolutely perfect and show no wear or age whatsoever. (I don't attribute this as a problem. The bottle could have been simply stored well for several years.) The bottle was purportedly in a 55 degree cellar since about 2008 or 2009. (The label does not reflect any humidity storage whatsoever, only an issue at this point because of the "other issue.")

The bottle is corked and caged. HOWEVER, and this is the giveaway to me, the cage is not affixed properly or in the fashion in which the purported producing brewery affixes it's cages. I will not say more at this point other than the "errors" are very clear in at least three (3) specific ways. (And, the cage itself may actually be the "wrong" cage cap which I will not be able to determine until I compare it with other bottles already in my cellar). This has also caused me to call into question the absolute perfect label that appears like it was made and affixed yesterday, not one that has been in any kind of storage.

So, having said the foregoing, and admittedly having been as vague as possible I have the basic question (for general discussion here but for specific discussion via BeerMail, if you wish):

Is anyone aware of counterfeit bottles currently in the beer community?

Has anyone discovered any counterfeit bottles in any forum, site, store, auction or otherwise?

I hope that this is not an issue. Candidly, I hope that the bottle I got is real and that the cage is simply an anomaly. I'm going to be opening this bottle in about two weeks at a tasting and can report back about whether or not we believe the beer is genuine. Current questions is whether or not anyone has encountered counterfeit problems.

Thanks.

 

Yes. The cork DOES have a brewery branding and other "marks." My recollection is that the cork that is in the bottle in question was NOT being made/used at the time this bottle was purportedly produced. I'm checking other bottles in my cellar today or tomorrow (I have a walk-in, off site cellar so it's not a matter of simply going outside, to the garage or to another room). Should I find a cork discrepancy I will likely call the brewer who is extremely well known, who I have not met but who has taken my calls in the past.

So, conclusion: Yes, cork is also an issue.

 

Definitely NOT like other bottles in my cellar. Cage is not properly affixed and there are other inconsistencies. I'm making some phone calls tomorrow to the brewer and "others" for whom the bottle was made.

And, I'm not putting on a picture for two reasons: first and foremost, I have no desire to hurt a brewery or establishment with what is sure to create negative publicity and I may be wrong in my observation; two, I don't know how to put pictures on here!

 

Apparently everyone wants to see the bottle. Not going to happen for reasons indicated in the original post. If after more due diligence I have a reasonable belief that it's a counterfeit, I'll disclose all. However, I'm not going to potentially hurt the reputation of anyone, including the person from whom I received and to whom I've sent an e-mail. I will only get specific IF I determine that it's bogus, thus the reason in the first place for my initial comments. This is a folder I generally do not read so I was unaware that this issue has previously been raised. I had this in Beer Talk and a moderator moved it here.

So, now I know where to go for such a discussion.

 

Well, as the OP here and seeing the reactions I have come to the conclusion that perhaps you are correct. I was hoping for a more general discussion but, as I see so often with the beer community, we are all (including myself) somewhat obsessive about this stuff.

I'm going to do my own due diligence for a few days and try to determine "what's what" with this bottle. I was hoping to be sufficiently vague so as to not help counterfeiters! Yet, the people who have posted have gone a long way to do what I was avoiding. For example, yes...it is very well known that the "proper" twist on a cage (based on the history in the Champagne world) is 5 1/2. My bottle cage has 3 twists. But, now a counterfeiter can "fix that issue" since it was previously disclosed and this is why I was not more specific. However, I have also found that the majority of "beer producers" in the United States do not know the tradition and history of the cage and more frequently than not twist the cage 8 or 9 times! Most over twist; almost no one under twists as on my bottle in question.

Anyway, that's just one example. CSO is probably correct. I likely should have done more investigation first. However, I simply thought I was doing "the right thing" by putting everyone on notice and trying not to hurt anyone who may be innocent.