Let's start with a clear point: craft beer does not have a true expiration date.
The date found on the labels is not actually an expiration date, but rather what is called the "Minimum Shelf Life" (TMC). These two concepts, although similar, are distinct and consequently regulated differently by Italian law.
Expiration Date and Minimum Shelf Life: Differences
The expiration date indicates the deadline by which a product must be consumed to avoid health risks due to its deterioration.
This date is therefore applied only to highly perishable products, which cannot be sold or stored beyond this limit.
On the other hand, the Minimum Shelf Life indicates the date until which – if properly stored – the product will maintain its original organoleptic characteristics.
In essence, it is the period during which the producer guarantees that the quality of the food remains unchanged, perfectly matching the organoleptic characteristics it had when produced.
This term is often indicated with phrases like “best consumed by” or “use by end of”.
Exceeding the TMC or the expiration date therefore has different implications and consequences: if a product passes the expiration date, the consequences may concern health; if it passes the TMC, the repercussions are only on quality, making it less appealing but still safe to consume.
And craft beer, as we said at the beginning, does not have a true expiration date, but a minimum consumption term.
Craft Beer and Consumption Date, What Happens After?
We might then wonder what we could experience when opening a beer near or past the TMC... well, here’s what we can likely expect.
After the TMC, it is possible that the beer no longer expresses 100% of its organoleptic characteristics.
It should also be said that the extent of the change from that 100% also depends on the beer style: some beers, like light or heavily hopped ones, may experience a more marked decline, while others can hold up excellently even well beyond the TMC. Some beers, suitable for aging, can even improve over time.
It should also be noted that the TMC is decided by the producer and therefore varies depending on the type of beer; and – last but not least – often approaching the TMC is an opportunity to buy beers still in great condition at discounted prices: in fact, on Maltese you can find beers with a TMC within 30 days discounted by 40% and those within 60 days discounted by 20%!
