What is the shelf life of craft beers?
Most craft beers are unpasteurised, which is why we always ship and store our beers refrigerated. Since alcohol is a natural preservative, craft beers technically do not have expiry dates and are safe to consume any time. However, craft beers have freshness dates which is an indicator of quality.
Craft breweries use a variety of freshness dating methods. Some print bottling dates, others print best-by dates, while many don't even print any date as it is not required to date alcoholic products in certain countries.
Bottling dates are self-explanatory, but best-by dates may cause some confusion. Best-by dates are not the same as expiry dates. Best-by dates indicates the consumption timeframe the brewer recommends for maximum quality. Best-by dates are indicator of quality, not safety, and items past its best-by dates are safe to consume.
Depending on beer style, the printed best-by date of craft beer is typically 3 - 6 months after bottling, which is far shorter than most mass-market beers which are typically dated 12 months after production. So, don't be alarmed when you see craft beers nearing or past its best-by dates, it only means it is approaching its 3 - 6 months of youth. Chances are, they will still taste fresher and more flavourful than any other longer-dated mass-market beers.
Beyond the best-by dates, the craft beer taste and aroma may start to change slightly, but this is highly dependant on how the beer is stored. But let's face it, we all agree that it's best to enjoy your beers sooner than later.