UPDATE: The beer was removed 2 days after my post. I had a conversation with a different manager who was very receptive and understanding about the freshness (he also knows I frequent his store quite often!). The moral is to always check labels and expiration dates.
Today is a consumer alert post, and will be a new segment for when I see issues in the craft beer community.
The Pioneer Grocery Store on 74th and Columbus Avenue has been subject to many of my posts, and I have raved about the great purchase-by-the-individual-bottle options. However, last night I went back in and noticed that there were still an incredible number of Stone's Enjoy By 07-04-14 bottles lying around.
I went and spoke to the manager and explained the issue, and why Stone does what it does with this particular beer. He said he had never heard of the beer, and I tried to explain how they put it out fresh in order to maintain quality. He non-chalantly shrugged me off, and went back to his computer.
This was disappointing to me, as I have been purchasing beer from them for over 2 years now. In addition to the expiration of the Enjoy By, they priced the beer at $11.99/bottle, at least $2/bottle higher than everywhere else I have seen. The lesson-be careful of the prices listed at stores as well as the expiration dates on bottles!
If you ever observe a vendor selling expired Stone beer, the brewery has set up a website for reporting. Note that the store will not be penalized, and that Stone will buy the beer back. That website is http://www.stonebrew.com/freshbeer/. I have reported this case on the site.
Cheers!
Scott
Today is a consumer alert post, and will be a new segment for when I see issues in the craft beer community.
The Pioneer Grocery Store on 74th and Columbus Avenue has been subject to many of my posts, and I have raved about the great purchase-by-the-individual-bottle options. However, last night I went back in and noticed that there were still an incredible number of Stone's Enjoy By 07-04-14 bottles lying around.
I went and spoke to the manager and explained the issue, and why Stone does what it does with this particular beer. He said he had never heard of the beer, and I tried to explain how they put it out fresh in order to maintain quality. He non-chalantly shrugged me off, and went back to his computer.
This was disappointing to me, as I have been purchasing beer from them for over 2 years now. In addition to the expiration of the Enjoy By, they priced the beer at $11.99/bottle, at least $2/bottle higher than everywhere else I have seen. The lesson-be careful of the prices listed at stores as well as the expiration dates on bottles!
If you ever observe a vendor selling expired Stone beer, the brewery has set up a website for reporting. Note that the store will not be penalized, and that Stone will buy the beer back. That website is http://www.stonebrew.com/freshbeer/. I have reported this case on the site.
Cheers!
Scott