Bottle Beer Expiration Date???

[FireSide]

I'm working on my third batch and still have a few bottles from my first left. They are about 10 weeks old and seem to have less flavor then when they were first ready. Is there an average age that home brew bottled beer will last and keep full flavor? My first 2 batches were brown Ale's and my current batch fermenting is an IPA.

 

[C-Rider]

I've had some good homebrew over a year old.
IPA's may loose some flavor over time but I don't think 10 weeks is old.

Off Topic a bit....we have a local supermarket that often sells "expierd" Craft Beer for $5 a 12 pack. I can't brew that cheep and the stuff is STILL VERY GOOD. Love it when they have Sierra Nevada on salle like that.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Most beers have a shelf life, but what that life is varies widely. IPAs, APAs, Hefeweizens, Witbiers, anything that is best young and fresh I try to have consumed 2 months after brew day (maybe 2 weeks in the fermenter, 2 weeks in the bottle, and then 4 weeks drinking it). Going longer is ok, but the hops drop off quickly after that, or with wheat beers they can go pretty dull.

Others will keep for a VERY long time. Most non highly-hopped or wheat beers beers are usually just fine for a few months to a year (although most will show age towards the older end). Some beers, particularly the darker, the stronger, and especially the sour, will keep for a very long time. Lambics in particular can be good for decades, and Barleywines and Imperial Stouts almost as long.

 

[flars]

Minor oxidation can also cause flavors to be less pronounced. If oxidation is the problem air could have been introduced in a secondary with to large of headspace, racking to the bottling bucket, or during the bottling.

 

[PADave]

I still got some brews from my first attempt at home brewing. That was 15 years ago. Should I try them?

 

[Psylocide]

I still got some brews from my first attempt at home brewing. That was 15 years ago. Should I try them?

Yes.

 

[pat10323]

I still got some brews from my first attempt at home brewing. That was 15 years ago. Should I try them?

Wow.. I wanna know how it taste

 

[FireSide]

Thanks for all the feedback. The batch I was questioning was 10 weeks "after the full process" so 15 weeks since it was started. It was Bass Ale so not very Hoppy and the taste was a little weaker then when first tested. I think I'll try to drink (or share) it within 8 weeks after its ready to be sure it's at its best.
Hoppy Holidays