Founders Brewing prints a packaging 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.
How to read MM/DD/YY date codes
Standard American date format: month, then day, then year. 03/12/26 reads as March 12, 2026. Watch for European prints that use DD/MM/YY — usually noted by an explicit label or the location of the brewery.
Founders Brewing's code is a Pack date — the date the beer was packaged, drink within a window after
Where to find the date code on Founders Brewing cans and bottles
On Founders Brewing packaging, the date code is typically found on the bottom of cans or on the bottle neck. Some bottles also print it on the back label. Bottled-on or canned-on date, MM/DD/YY format.
How long is Founders Brewing beer fresh?
Founders Brewing produces a range of styles, each with its own drinking window. For their most common categories:
- West Coast IPA: peak through 45 days, drinkable through 90 days.
- Imperial Stout: peak through 1 year, drinkable through 3 years.
- Stout: peak through 180 days, drinkable through 1 year.
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.
Where to buy Founders Brewing
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