Exam Focus
- Interpret best-by, packaging, Julian, and proprietary date codes.
- Use first-dated, first-out rotation.
- Remove stale product and train staff to sell the full list.
What to know
Inventory rotation protects freshness by regularly checking date codes and moving older beer first.
Syllabus detail
- Date-code types: best-by dates, packaging dates, traditional consumer dates, Julian or ordinal dates, and proprietary brewery formats.
- Rotation actions: consume beer in dating order, remove out-of-date products, and train staff to promote the whole beer list.
- Freshness windows: roughly 45-60 days for refrigerated non-pasteurized draft, 90-120 days for refrigerated pasteurized draft, up to 6 months for refrigerated packaged beer, and faster change for hoppy styles such as IPA.
Study task
Be ready to explain rotate inventory in the context of beer storage and apply it to a realistic Certified Cicerone® service, tasting, brewing, style, or pairing scenario.
Key Terms
- Rotate inventory
- Interpret best-by, packaging, Julian, and proprietary date codes.