What's the longest expired beer you've seen on a shelf?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by BlueRogue, Apr 28, 2012.

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  1. OregonHopmonster

    OregonHopmonster Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2011 Oregon

    I saw one bottle of the Boulder GABF 25th Anniversary beer- http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/130/32473- on the shelf at John's Marketplace in Portland in early fall 2012. This is an ESB from 2007! The label was pretty trashed.
     
  2. stealth

    stealth Pooh-Bah (1,819) Dec 16, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Society

    There's a GI Demolition sitting on a shelf here in town that has a bottling date of early 2010, lol.
     
  3. TNGabe

    TNGabe Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2012 Tennessee

    I scored some 2005 Stille Nacht and Westmalle Dubbel earlier this year and both are great. Dulle Teve, Bos Keun, Petrus Oud Bruin from 05 were all still drinkable. 09 3 Philosophers at same shop, also pretty good. Still have some Chimay Blue and Rocherfort 8 from the same shop and around the same time to enjoy.
     
  4. kempshark

    kempshark Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2009 Florida

    On Thursday I picked up a bottle of Mephistopheles bottled in November 2007. Took it and some other older bottles I had (Chimay Red I've had aging for the last three years) to a beer release I went to on Saturday. Actually, the Chimay was awesome. The Mephistopheles had aged well but was still a monster of a beer. Incredible depths of flavor, but a definite sipper.....glad I was sharing 12oz with two other people.
     
  5. mellowmark

    mellowmark Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2010 Utah

    Mephistopheles would not be expired after 2 years. That beer could sit in proper conditions for a couple decades before it starts to turn south.
     
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  6. BarryMFBurton

    BarryMFBurton Pooh-Bah (1,749) Mar 28, 2011 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Saw a bomber of Stone Ruination that was so old it looked like a snowglobe; floaties everywhere. I told the cashier about it and he said, "Actually, that's bottle conditioned. That's just the yeast."

    Sure, buddy. Sure.
     
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  7. Siggy125

    Siggy125 Maven (1,294) Nov 10, 2006 California
    Trader

    Is there really such a thing as expired beer? We all see older dates which means it's not "fresh".
     
  8. mellowmark

    mellowmark Initiate (0) Mar 31, 2010 Utah

    Expired beer would be beer that is past the date give by the brewery to consume. If there isn't a date there's no way to know.
     
  9. Siggy125

    Siggy125 Maven (1,294) Nov 10, 2006 California
    Trader

    I get that. I just don't remember ever seeing "exp" next to a date on any bottles that I've had. Maybe a BMC in the old days.
     
  10. paulytasker

    paulytasker Pundit (907) May 16, 2012 New York

    Was in a Wegmans in Rochester, N.Y. yesterday and saw numerous I.P.A.'S & Pale Ales all with brewed on's from 2011 or early 2012.... discouraging for me because i'm from the area and they by far carry the biggest selection of craft brews in this part of state. I e-mailed both the store and the breweries involved to kindly make them aware.
     
  11. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Yeah, it's pretty rare to see the term "Expire" on a beer date, but within the industry the "best before" method of dating (i.e., vs. "bottled on") is typically called the "pull date" - the date the beer should be pulled off the shelf and returned/destroyed. So that pretty close to "expiring" - certainly suggests that it shouldn't be on the shelf and being offered for sale to the public. It used to be grounds for losing an AB distributorship when a wholesaler was found to have old beer on their retailers' shelves.
     
  12. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    Some Gale's Conquest from 2001, and Prize Old Ale going back to the mid-1990s. Would have the potential, if stored well, to still be drinkable, but with those damned corks (as nice as they are, cap the bottles too, a la Lindemans/some other Belgian producers) mean the beers are ultra-oxidized, papery, and flat as a pancake. Take them off the shelf already, or sell 'em for 2-3 bucks for the awesome bottles at least.
     
  13. BedetheVenerable

    BedetheVenerable Initiate (0) Sep 5, 2008 Missouri

    Also, if I'm reading the cryptic date codes accurately, ALL the Samuel Smith (minus Stingo and Winter Welcome, which have vintage dates) available in central Missouri are from 2011. This is why I only buy Stingo and Winter Welcome, despite loving some of the others...
     
  14. FatBoyGotSwagger

    FatBoyGotSwagger Grand Pooh-Bah (3,728) Apr 4, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Society

    This is common practice for almost any place I shop at. I am always digging through the top 2 cases to get to the fresh on on the bottom. As long as you know what to dig for its not that big of a deal.
     
  15. GardenWaters

    GardenWaters Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Illinois

    Boulevard beers (often at least 2 years) and HopDevil. Always wanted to try fresh HopDevil, but everytime I see it, it's covered in dust.
     
  16. fujindemon74

    fujindemon74 Pooh-Bah (1,797) Nov 7, 2012 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    The Mephistopheles will be fine for the next 10 years though...
     
  17. jesskidden

    jesskidden Grand Pooh-Bah (3,071) Aug 10, 2005 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Pretty sure the importer, B. United, was still selling and distributing those beers long after they were bottled (and, IIRC, even after Gale's shut down a few years back) as part of their "Vintage" collection, so one can't simply blame the retailer or local distributor in that case. It wasn't unusual to find some stores with a number of different vintages of POA that had obviously been received at the same time - so apparently B. United never thought they had "expired" and they still have a picture of a couple of bottles in their Vintage section and pages for the individual beers - Prize Old Ale and Conquest.
     
  18. lonewolfcry

    lonewolfcry Pooh-Bah (1,982) Dec 7, 2007 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I just bought a 4 pack of 2008 Three Philosophers - not good, extremely flat & musty...luckily my store gave me a refund.

    I also got 2008 Pannepot & 2009 BCBS

    I'm hoping the Pannepot is still good.
    Doing a vertical 2012 & 2009 of BCBS with family over the holidays...
     
  19. JRod1969

    JRod1969 Maven (1,266) Nov 23, 2010 New York
    Trader

    I have a shop near me that still has these. Every six months or so I buy one. Not too bad.
     
  20. THEcorky

    THEcorky Initiate (0) Jan 9, 2011 Illinois

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