Boston Beer / Sam Adams prints a best-by date on every can and bottle in MM/DD/YY format. Use this page to decode your code instantly and check if your beer is still fresh.
11/30/26 → November 30, 2026. Best-by date on bottle neck or can bottom.Standard American date format: month, then day, then year. 11/30/26 reads as November 30, 2026. Watch for European prints that use DD/MM/YY — usually noted by an explicit label or the location of the brewery.
Boston Beer / Sam Adams's code is a Best-by date — drink before this date for peak quality
On Boston Beer / Sam Adams bottles, the code is laser-etched or printed on the neck or shoulder of the bottle. Cans typically have it stamped on the bottom. Best-by date on bottle neck or can bottom.
Boston Beer / Sam Adams produces a range of styles, each with its own drinking window. For their most common categories:
These are guidelines, not laws — well-stored beer can outperform the curve, while heat-abused cans can stale much faster than expected. Storage temperature matters as much as age for hop-forward styles.
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