What is considered old/outdated?

If you're planning on trading it, ask your trading partner.

You'll get answers all over the map. Personally, I like my IPAs to be no older than six weeks if I'm either buying them off the shelf or getting them via trade. Three months is more or less the 'standard' answer from the industry, but most of us would like them to be brighter than that.

I love finding IPAs at two weeks or under, but that's not the norm, sadly.

 

Different people will give you different answers. Being honest, I wouldn't trade for 5 week old zombie dust.

The most important thing when trading is let your partner know when it was bottled. They should have all the facts when deciding to make the deal.

 

Anything older than 3-4 weeks, tell your trade partner. If you're posting IPA and or hops sensitive beers for trade, list the bottle date. I personally wouldn't want ZD, a pale ale that falls off rather quickly, any older than 2 weeks at the time of trading since between the time I get the beer and getting to drinking it, it may be 3-4 weeks.

 

OP, there is no magic number certainly. Many people can still enjoy weeks old IPAs but when it comes to trading this assumption cannot be made. As the folks above mentioned you need to be clear with your partner (and your partner with you of course) as to package dates on IPAs, assuming the bottles/cans are dated. As long as the communication is there you should be good. Good luck with your trades. Cheers.

 

I have a two and a half year old zombie dust. Really waiting for it to hit that 5 year sweet spot.

 

I can report that the ZD dated 6/7/16 tastes excellent as always. Thank you a bunch sir!

 

I trade mainly IPAs, and ship them so they get to their destination 2-4 weeks after canning or bottling. I've found after a month, most IPAs/APAs lose their freshness, and is definitely noticeable. It's more work to turnaround cans in a week or two, but I feel it's the right thing to do.

 

I've never actually had fresh ZD, and usually it's pretty evident it's not fresh. I have friends who have had it less than a week old, or on draft and said it is much better. Usually I get 3 or 4 week old ones as extras. I don't blame people for sending oldish stuff, I would just love to get it really fresh.