BEST BEFORE

[farmer brown]

I bought a 7.4% IPA last night and on the bottle it read BOTTLED 6/6/12 and BEST BEFORE 6/10/12
I thought strong'ish IPA's would last longer than this + I thought beer get better with age?
Can somebody explain as I feel I'm missing something?!

 

[alanywiseman.]

Generally beers do improve with age but each brew will have a point that it is at its best. With IPAs and hoppy beers the longer it is matures the less hop aroma so it is a fine balance between giving it enough time so it is not grassy but not to much that you loss the aroma.

 

[farmer brown]

Thank you for a nice clear explanation.. That's explained a few things :)