Buying beer that is not in the cooler..

[Lalo]

Hello, this is my first post here. I have noticed that a lot of places like trader joes and world market don't keep their beers in coolers. Is the beer still good like this? I also ask because my local beer seller has a shelf full of his overstock beer. He sells them a little cheaper because they are not cold. Should I just pay the extra money and buy the stuff in the cooler? Thanks in advance for any information...

[newportstorm]

Beer will stay fresher longer when kept cold and protected from light. That said, most retailers don't have the space or $$ to keep all their beer in coolers. I've had bad beer from both the cooler and warm shelves. If the beer on the shelf is discounted, yet still relatively fresh (carries a bottled on/best by date), I say go for it. If you get burned, stick with cold beer.

Honestly though, most beer has gone through temperature changes at some point during it's trip from brewery to retailer. Few breweries, and ever fewer craft breweries (Anchor being one of them), require their beer to be shipped and kept cold until it reaches the retail level.

Save some $$ and grab the "warm" beer.

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

Welcome to the board. There is really not that much wrong with most beers not being kept in the cooler as long as the ambient temp. is relatively cool and does not fluctuate. The beer being kept in the light would worry me more. Some beers do need to stay refrigerated but most will be ok as long as they are not already old. Refrigeration slows the aging process of beer. But even though it is in the cooler in the store it may have been sitting unrefrigerated in the brewery, distibuter warehouse, and delivery trucks. Imported beer sits in pallets on ships sometimes out on the decks and then on the docks before being loaded. So it may not have even been in the cooler all that long before it is purchased. If I was given the choice, I would always try to buy it from the dark back shelf of the cooler but keep in mind, many of us on this board do not keep all of our own beer refrigerated. I certainly can't fit all of my beer into even several refrigerators. as long as it is kept in a cool dark place it is usually ok for a while. Many of us cellar beers for years as some will improve with age. But if you intend to drink it within a month or two and it was reasonably fresh when you bought it, it should be ok. I'd be more worried about the beer sitting under the lights. Try to always select your beer from closed cartons or at least the darkest area of the cooler or shelf.

[Lalo]

Thank you both for your quick replys...The shelves are pretty deep so I was thinking about buying the beers that are at the very back. From what I have read I should avoid the clear glass bottles that have been exposed to light. Thanks again, I will post up what I purchased later...

[zoom6zoom]

From what I have read I should avoid the clear glass bottles that have been exposed to light.

...and the green ones.