Are you a craft beer lover? Do you always make sure you're buying the freshest batch possible? Then this article is for you! As craft breweries sky rocket in popularity, there have been growing concerns about shelf turds (aka. Beers that have been over-stocked and forgotten in the back of convenience stores). In this article, we'll uncover why brewers and distributors need to stop saturating markets, why brewers need to date stamp their packaged beers, and why stores need to get control of their inventory. Finally, we'll discuss what you can do as a consumer to make sure you're buying the freshest beer possible. So, if you want to make sure you're sipping the best of the best - then don't miss out on this article.
Craft beer is one of the most popular alcoholic drinks out there, especially among Millennials and Gen-Xers. But for as popular as craft beer is, there is a darker side to the industry that many don’t know about. Too often, outdated beer — often referred to as "shelf turds" — makes its way onto store shelves and online marketplaces, causing craft beer fans to buy beer that is either stale or downright bad.
What can the industry do to tackle this problem? Brewers and their distributors need to stop shelf turds from continuously appearing on store shelves. To do this, everybody in the industry needs to play their part. Brewers need to date-stamp packaged beers, stores need to get control of their inventory and consumers need to look for dates and buy accordingly.
Shelf turds is a term used to describe packaged beer that is past its expiration date (or within a few months of the date), has been on the shelf too long and doesn’t taste nearly as good as when it was freshly brewed. Unfortunately, shelf turds are all too common in craft beer stores, supermarkets and other places that sell packaged beer.
Many beers contain "born on" dates, which are dates that provide information about when the beer was bottled and where. Beer that doesn’t contain this information makes it difficult for shoppers to determine how old it is. The only way to tell is to open the bottle and determine the taste, which makes shopping for beer an unpredictable affair.
As craft beer becomes more and more popular, shelf turds become an even bigger problem. Brewers need to use stricter date-stamping procedures to ensure that the beers they produce are of the highest quality. Otherwise, they risk damaging their brand and reputation.
Date-stamping is an essential step in brewing beer. By date-stamping bottled beer, retailers and consumers can easily identify how old the beer is and, therefore, when it was brewed and where. This helps to eliminate the guesswork involved with shopping for beer.
Date-stamping also helps craft beer brewers control their product from batch to batch. Brewers can use the dates to test batches of beer and pinpoint which batches have the best flavor. This helps brewers make sure their product is consistently of the highest quality. This is especially important in the craft beer industry, where small, independent brewers are competing against each other.
Aside from date-stamping the beer, brewers need to invest in packaging that’s designed to keep the beer fresh for longer. Many brewers are already doing this, by using cans and bottles with specialized liners or coatings. Some brewers are even utilizing nitrogen-purged, sealed packaging like growlers and crowlers. This helps to ensure that the beer will stay fresh for longer, reducing the chance of shelf turds appearing on store shelves and online marketplaces.
Retailers also need to do their part in preventing shelf turds from appearing on their shelves. Too often store inventory is left unchecked and outdated beer slips in. Thus, it’s important for retailers to actively manage their inventory to ensure only fresh, quality beer is sold.
Retailers can begin to tackle this problem by getting rid of outdated beer. Beer that is two or three months old should be discarded, regardless of whether the beer has a "born on" date on it or not. Retailers should also use first in, first out (FIFO) inventory management, which helps to ensure the oldest beer is sold first. This helps to keep their shelves stocked with beers that are of the freshest quality.
Retailers also need to pay attention to the beer storage temperatures. Beer should be stored at a cool, consistent temperature, as heat can affect the quality of the beer. If a store does not have a prime location for beer storage, investing in a cooler or refrigerated shelves can help to ensure the beer stays fresh for longer.
Just like brewers and retailers, consumers need to play their part in stopping shelf turds. The most important thing consumers can do is to look for date-stamps on the beer they buy. A labels such as “bottled on,” “brewed on,” “canned on