Yet Another Cycling Forum

Off Topic => The Pub => Topic started by: Jaded on 28 May, 2019, 09:37:40 pm

Title: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Jaded on 28 May, 2019, 09:37:40 pm

I'll leave the door unlocked in case there's no sign of me in the morning.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Beardy on 28 May, 2019, 10:29:14 pm

A former landlord of my local used to lay up a few bottles of Suffolk Strong for us, and we’d drink that only when it was at least a year past it’s sell by date. It was invariably fantastic, and very very strong.  ;D

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Wowbagger on 28 May, 2019, 11:55:16 pm

Sadly, Thomas Hardy ale is no longer brewed, but the advice on the bottle was to keep it at least 5 years. Being food, the brewers were eventually forced to publish a "best before" date, but I recall the brewer (or at least, someone senior in the company) being interviewed on radio 4 and he stated that he thought it was best to leave it for at least 10 years.

Which reminds me - I think I have some Waitrose bottle-conditioned Christmas ale in one of the cupboards. I wonder how old that is now?

Edit: the answer is - only a year! 2018 "Vintage" ale. Best before: 2028! Unless I've got a few other bottles lurking somewhere.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Jaded on 29 May, 2019, 12:22:43 am

So far, so good.  ;D

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: ElyDave on 29 May, 2019, 05:45:47 am

I brewed a clone of that Thomas Hardy ale for Christmas 2017, and took the last three bottles down to my sisters for last Christmas. it had matured perfectly.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: rogerzilla on 29 May, 2019, 07:39:58 am

There are strong ciders that go on fermenting in the barrel after they've been delivered to the pub.  If the barrel sits around for a couple of weeks, the stuff coming out is wine-strength.  The pubs usually only serve it in halves.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Jakob W on 29 May, 2019, 08:32:35 am

I think Thomas Hardy's Ale is still being contract brewed for an Italian (?) firm, but despite my efforts I've not been able to find out how to actually exchange specie in exchange for s bottle. I've still got a bottle of 2007 at the back of the stash, which I really should try sometime.

Fuller's head brewer has stated before that the best before dates on Golden Pride are fictional (IIRC it's five years after brewing), and that he reckons it's nicely matured a year or two after that date. With the takeover I do hope they carry on making the various vintage ales, though again I've got a decade's worth of them in the stash...

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Jaded on 29 May, 2019, 08:36:01 am

I made it. With some wind.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Paul on 29 May, 2019, 09:14:30 am

Phew.

Glad to hear that it was only the beer that had expired.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: ian on 29 May, 2019, 09:21:20 am

Most dark, strong beers are fine left to age. The taste profile may change. It's the just the hoppy stuff. Off-hops are just mostly flat and unpleasant tasting. Best to drink those as fresh as possible.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: ElyDave on 29 May, 2019, 09:30:48 am

Quote from: Jakob W on 29 May, 2019, 08:32:35 am

I think Thomas Hardy's Ale is still being contract brewed for an Italian (?) firm, but despite my efforts I've not been able to find out how to actually exchange specie in exchange for s bottle. I've still got a bottle of 2007 at the back of the stash, which I really should try sometime.

Fuller's head brewer has stated before that the best before dates on Golden Pride are fictional (IIRC it's five years after brewing), and that he reckons it's nicely matured a year or two after that date. With the takeover I do hope they carry on making the various vintage ales, though again I've got a decade's worth of them in the stash...

My '14 and '17 are not in danger of being drunk any time soon.  If you stop into the Fullers pub at Kings Cross you'll see the prices they are selling them for now.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: CAMRAMan on 29 May, 2019, 10:11:05 am

Thomas Hardy's Ale is available from here: https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Thomas-Hardy's-Ale-Golden-Edition-50th-Anniversary-(33cl-bottle)-2018/3635618 I bought a couple of bottles before Christmas and managed to ward off temptation.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Jakob W on 29 May, 2019, 12:11:36 pm

Quote from: CAMRAMan on 29 May, 2019, 10:11:05 am

Thomas Hardy's Ale is available from here: https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Thomas-Hardy's-Ale-Golden-Edition-50th-Anniversary-(33cl-bottle)-2018/3635618 I bought a couple of bottles before Christmas and managed to ward off temptation.

Ooh, that was out of stock last time I checked - think I might pick up a couple of bottles.

Quote from: ElyDave on 29 May, 2019, 09:30:48 am

My '14 and '17 are not in danger of being drunk any time soon.  If you stop into the Fullers pub at Kings Cross you'll see the prices they are selling them for now.

Yeah, I've got a couple of bottles that are supposedly worth north of £100 each, but I'm not sure anyone actually pays those kinds of amounts, and anyhow I'd prefer to save them for a special occasion.

Title: Re: I'm drinking out of date beer here.
Post by: Wowbagger on 29 May, 2019, 08:16:53 pm

Bloody hell! £7.99 delivery for 4 bottles? That makes it over £20 a pint!  :o