Reliability of Brewers' 'Best Before' Dates

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by NEhophead, Jun 13, 2012.

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  1. NEhophead

    NEhophead Pooh-Bah (1,897) Apr 28, 2004 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    First off, I'm new to the cellaring world. With that said, I thought that I had a pretty basic understanding of which types of beers (e.g., styles, alcohol content, etc.) have the best chance to stand the test of time and evolve into something special. That is until I encountered a Goose Island Christmas Ale at my local shop the other day. Clearly marked on this 6.2% American Brown Ale states that this one can be aged up to 5 years. Really, a 6.2% Brown Ale?

    Okay, I'm up for testing out the GI Christmas; however, it got me thinking about how reliable these 'best before' aging/cellaring dates on bottles really are. I understand that aging any particular beer can be a crapshoot, but I'm wondering what the brewers' specific rationale is for printing the 'best before' date on any given beer. Does anyone have any specific insight on this?
     
    #1 NEhophead, Jun 13, 2012
  2. MaxSpang

    MaxSpang Initiate (0) Jan 28, 2011 Ohio
    Trader

    I know that Goose Island has "up to 5 years" on pretty much any of their age-able beers. That being said, there is a video that clearly says that Bourbon County Coffee should probably be enjoyed fresh, even though it says it can be aged on the bottle.

    Take anything you see/hear/read with a grain of salt, but I would say that the brewer probably has the best idea of how long a beer should be aged.
     
    #2 MaxSpang, Jun 13, 2012
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  3. knightlypint

    knightlypint Initiate (0) Apr 18, 2012 New Jersey

    Christmas beers often have some pleasant but delicate flavors, aging such beers sometimes suppresses them.
     
    #3 knightlypint, Jun 13, 2012
  4. chocosushi

    chocosushi Initiate (0) May 1, 2011 Oklahoma

    I too was curious about this. I have a few unibroue
    Beers that 'expired' in 2011..how is possible to expire
    If it's on lees & high gravity ?
     
    #4 chocosushi, Jun 13, 2012
  5. allouez86

    allouez86 Pundit (999) Jan 24, 2009 Wisconsin

    I don't know about the GI christmas, but many of their brews have the generic 5 year date regardless of how long it can age. Some less than 5 years, some more than 5. Other brews have best by date just to for s**** and giggles. For example, on the box of Fuller's Vintage Ale, it says something in the beer description along the lines of "we had to put a best by date on the bottle for legal reasons, but feel free to age way beyond that date." So take it all with a grain of salt I guess.
     
    #5 allouez86, Jun 14, 2012
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