I caught the two nearest mom 'n pop stores selling really stale beer. For instance, a microbrewery IPA that tasted like crap, on closer inspection was over a year out of date. The guy made it right, but it still ticked me off.
Then the other night I went to get a six pack of Becks Ockoberfest, and saw that the dates ranged from mid 2004, back to sometime in 2001. And the cardboard carrier had "2002" on the side (some anniversary).
I suspect that the distributor is maybe getting credit for the stale stuff and is supposed to be destroyed, but it is getting "rescued" and sold illicitly, either on regular deliveries, or is getting sold out of some distributor employee's "side business".
And then there's always the possibility of less-than trustworthy corner store people.
This torques my balls. I understand the game they play with the milk, but it seems to be getting out of hand when you have to inspect every damn bottle of brew that you buy. Yaaaaarrrrrrr!!!
What do you guys think is going on?