Plight for Pliny

[flatfour64]

I agree. I work in a liquor store and any time we get a case it's gone within the day. I mean, it is good... but not that good. These customers act like it's the only IPA left in the world. Personally, I'd rather put my money towards a sixer of racer 5 than one Pliny

I would agree to a certain extent. The chase and catch is a big part of the fun for me. Part of the reason I dig RR is the fact that they are happy to be a small brewery and make truly awesome product. However, this is truly the best commercial IPA I have ever had. Blind Pig is also good, but not as good IMO. I find Racer 5 to have a cool label, but the beer is very average to me.

I would agree that home brewed beer is better due to freshness, but, the real backbone to a great beer is the recipe and technique of the brewer. I would say that if I could home brew the clone of PTE spot on to the way it should be done, and my fermentation and transfer process did not induce oxygen, and I was totally sanitary, PTE would be the best IPA I could make at this point.

However, believe me when I say it, I keep making versions of my own IPA recipes and tweaking them so that one day I can say my IPA was better!

 

[LandoLincoln]

Well, you guys convinced me. I've got a friend out in Cali right now doing the legwork for me to track down some of this beer.

 

[eastoak]

It's still a great beer but other rivals have come onto the scene over the years and Pliny is no longer a unique thing. So for those that can't get it, just brew up the clone and be happy.

my wife does the shopping around here and every week spends $30-$100 on random bombers of craft beers from around the country and we have yet to come across the an equal to the quality of russian river beers. they might be out there but we have not found them yet. we will continue looking. blind pig and the pliny's get all of the attention but the have some other gems like their aud blonde and happy hops

 

[bottlebomber]

Its funny to hear this... Russian River is 45 minutes from where I live, and I've never even tried Pliny

 

[Sacdan]

Its funny to hear this... Russian River is 45 minutes from where I live, and I've never even tried Pliny

What are you waiting for? While you're there, get a growler to go!

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

I'm form Arizona, and I recently returned from San Diego where I purchased a few bottles of Pliny to enjoy when I got home. I have to say it is a spectacular IPA, and I was extremely surprised at how good it was, I have two bottles left, they will be gone before the weekend is out!

I wish RR would distribute to AZ.

 

[bottlebomber]

What are you waiting for? While you're there, get a growler to go!

I think I will... I might just have to be there in february when they unveil the Younger too

 

[flatfour64]

There are many reasons why we all live where we live in this country. I used to live in California, was there for four years. But for several big life reasons we moved out here to CT. There are 3 main things I miss about California, the tremendous IPAs produced by local breweries, the aircooled VW scene, and the general laid back and relaxed feel. I grew up in AZ, but the only thing I miss about that state is having a great mexican food joint on every corner! Here in CT, the local breweries excell at smooth malty lagers and ales. I am convinced it is the difference in water supply from the west coast. We also have the best Italian food and pizza I have ever had anywhere!

My intended point on the above rambling was to say this, make sure you get out and ENJOY your local establishments and regional fair, you never know how long you will be there!

 

[bottlebomber]

There are 3 main things I miss about California, the tremendous IPAs produced by local breweries, the aircooled VW scene, and the general laid back and relaxed feel. I grew up in AZ, but the only thing I miss about that state is having a great mexican food joint on every corner! Here in CT, the local breweries excell at smooth malty lagers and ales.

Ill actually take the micro malty ales and lagers over the IPAs... its all anyone brews over here! I can't even buy good imported beer in the town I live in, but the supermarket shelves are packed with IPAs, IPAs, IPAs... half of them taste the same. Im actually having to learn about other beer by brewing it. Never had an Alt before I made one. Or an Irish Red Ale... or an ENGLISH IPA even... im so burned out on cascade hops... we have great mexican food but the pizza scene sucks. Maybe I should move to CT

 

[mrgstiffler]

Pliny is indeed a VERY good beer. If you don't have access to it, look for Mikkeller I Beat yoU. It's a decent substitute.

 

[bigbeergeek]

Good luck finding I Beat yoU where you can't find Pliny!

I lived around the corner from a bar in LA that had Pliny on tap all the time (Father's Office, Culver City). I've had the beer fresh, on tap more times than I could count. For me the beer was never a Holy Grail, just the best damn hop-forward beer I've ever had. I agree that the Elder is better than the Younger. The Younger IS a hype machine. A fantastic beer, worth savoring if you get the opportunity, but the Younger is not nearly as refined and balanced as the Elder. The Elder strikes such dynamic equilibriums when it is fresh. I've had quite a few old mishandled bottles of Pliny that are so-so at best. If you ever had a bottle of Pliny that was so-so, you had a bad bottle. This beer not only lives up to the hype, it exceeds it. Believe me.

Brewery fresh Firestone-Walker Double Jack gives Pliny a run for it's money. That is an amazingly UNDER-hyped beer...

 

[cmoon]

Any ideas for a Pliny the Younger recipe?

As far as PTE, I think it is a great beer for some reasons glossed over here. Like a good Belgian beer, it hides its alcohol content, and like few other IIPAs, it is hop forward without being like sandpaper to your pallet. I'm sure in a blind test, most would vote other IIPAs as having a higher IBUs, because the hops are themselves balanced well; the hop bursting somehow compensating for the extreme bitterness. Somehow your think PTE is a drinkable beer. It IS a drinkable beer. Compare its drinkability to a 90 min IPA (which actually feels like a barleywine) to understand how brilliant PTE is.

And yes, for those of you who can't get it, brew your own. It might end up being better for its freshness.

 

[BrewKnurd]

Good luck finding I Beat yoU where you can't find Pliny!

I'm actually able to fine I Beat yoU, as well as a handful of other Mikkeller beers, around here (louisiana). Have a simcoe single hop in the fridge right now, in fact.

 

[BrewKnurd]

As far as PTE, I think it is a great beer for some reasons glossed over here. Like a good Belgian beer, it hides its alcohol content, and like few other IIPAs, it is hop forward without being like sandpaper to your pallet. I'm sure in a blind test, most would vote other IIPAs as having a higher IBUs, because the hops are themselves balanced well; the hop bursting somehow compensating for the extreme bitterness. Somehow your think PTE is a drinkable beer. It IS a drinkable beer. Compare its drinkability to a 90 min IPA (which actually feels like a barleywine) to understand how brilliant PTE is.

yup. that's a pretty spot on summary if you ask me.

 

[beowulf]

I usually pick up a few Plinys when we vacation in Colorado each year. They have tons of stuff there that we can't get here. A few stores do have a label with "one Pliny per customer". I thought it was kind of funny. The exclusivity is part of the fun, but once you've had it, you can enjoy it, say you had it and then move on to what's available. I do love the beer, but am content with the other outrageously hopped brews we have available, including my own brews. I agree I Beat yoU is really good. We get tons of Mikkeller beers including all the single hops...probably 10 or so total but no Pliny...or Stone...or Dogfish Head...or half the stuff folks talk about on this site...go figure

 

[cmoon]

Of the Mikkeller, I really like 'I hardcore you'.

 

[BrewKnurd]

I usually pick up a few Plinys when we vacation in Colorado each year. They have tons of stuff there that we can't get here. A few stores do have a label with "one Pliny per customer". I thought it was kind of funny. The exclusivity is part of the fun, but once you've had it, you can enjoy it, say you had it and then move on to what's available. I do love the beer, but am content with the other outrageously hopped brews we have available, including my own brews. I agree I Beat yoU is really good. We get tons of Mikkeller beers including all the single hops...probably 10 or so total but no Pliny...or Stone...or Dogfish Head...or half the stuff folks talk about on this site...go figure

No Stone? Bummer. At least I can count on a good selection of Stone around here.

 

[g-star]

YAWN.

Elder is a good DIPA, but the actual experience of drinking one doesn't live up to the reputation that precedes it. Over-hyped.

 

[Hatchbrew]

At every grocery store around me

 

[flatfour64]

I drank my other (last) bottle of Pliny last night. It has no flaws as an IPA, it is flawless. The art of packing that much hop flavor and aroma into such a drinkable and stunning to look at beer just blows me away as a home brewer. Fanatastic.