Pliny the Elder....not as good as it use to be

[SirBC]

I bought a case of Pliny the last time I visited the brewery. The bartender said, "You're in luck. These were bottled yesterday". Yep. Birth date on the bottle was 24 hours old. The first couple of days the beers were just insane. Then over the next week or two they came back down to earth to something less than The Beer of the Gods to more like, "yeah, this is a good beer". It's amazing what a few days does to this beer. Fresh Pliny is one of Life's little pleasures.

 

[triangulum33]

Pliny has changed. I enjoy Ruination and Double Jack.

 

[bobz32]

Living on the east coast, I never had a Pliny until a month ago. I have to say that it was rather underwhelming. Not terrible by any means, but did not live up to the hype.

 

[GodsStepBrother]

I loved it. I have had it 4 times and every time it has been amazing. I love how it conceals the alcohol. That being said I think Sculpin by ballast point is better if not coming in right near it.

 

[triangulum33]

Pliny the Younger on tap? Now your talkin!

 

[jonmohno]

I loved it. I have had it 4 times and every time it has been amazing. I love how it conceals the alcohol. That being said I think Sculpin by ballast point is better if not coming in right near it.

I agree and i can think of a few others(lagunitas) which are as good almost or close.I just got a fresh bottle in the fridge of Sculpin that the worker at the small liquor store pointed out. Hes a homebrewer also so a quick trip turns in to a long discussion sometimes.First time i tried it a few mo ago it was on the shelf for some time and i loved it i can imagine it fresher.
Although as limited as Pliny is regionally there are still lots of winners.

 

[cthulu1975]

Some DIPAs that Ive grown to like better Pliny-

Bells Hopslam
Heady Topper
Surly Abrasive
Bootleggers Knuckle Sandwich
Kern River Citra
Pizza Port Poor Mans
Alpine Exponential Hoppiness
Avery Maharaja

+1 maharaja

 

[ITz-Supreme]

Just found some port brewing mondo ipa its amazballs, also sink the bismark by brewdogs but I passed $110 a bottle

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

Haha I am glad there is a Pliny bashing thread. You all better hide though, I can hear the pitchforks being sharpened.

Pliny was rated the best IIPA because of two reasons: first it is a benchmark for a balanced IIPA, not necessarily an example of a wow IIPA. Second, I think the low availability pushes up the hype and somehow the drinking experience of Pliny.

I have only had it once on a trip to CA and I was slightly disappointed when I had it because it wowed me in a sense of balance, not WOW I WANT TO SELL MY FIRST BORN FOR MORE!! If anything, it made me more proud of our MI beers here because I think they hold up strong vs Pliny.

 

[JoeBronco]

If you can get it drakes aroma coma is great, brew dogs hardcore dipa, ballist point sculpin or darado personaly I prefer kern river just outstanding ipa

Glad to see a local Drakes drinker... Black label is Epic...

I have found that most all CA micro-breweries make a damn good IPA. Russian River was the first to push the envelope and make a DIPA when Pliny came out, then the first push forward with Pliny the Younger as a TIPA.

That being said, IPA's are not meant to be aged. The fresher the better. A week old Pliny is still a good beer but Vinny's "Magic" has since fallen out... Off tap is by far the best ever and still great. Younger included. If you have ever had the pleasure of tasting Younger anywhere other than at the brew pub, just imagine that beer fresh off the tap. It is the holly grail of west coast IIIPA's.

Being a regular at Russian River (at least once a month) and being as i am hop head. I can attest that the beer is still just as good fresh as it has been the last few years.

Maby we are all just growing a tolerance for hops.

 

[JoeBronco]

Ya... I dont joke around...

 

[ITz-Supreme]

That's awsome glad to see another drake guy, my fav is 1500 pale ale or denogginizer I say if you want good pliny or fresh beer nothin beats homebrewed just brew your own pliny

 

[Lazarous]

I'm bias being that I live just a few minutes out of Santa rosa, but both of the Plineys are great IMO you really can't get better than a brewery fresh Pliney on tap....or supplication but that's another thread

 

[ITz-Supreme]

Your near bear republic and kern too you bastardo guess your living the good life

 

[JoeBronco]

Your near bear republic and kern too you bastardo guess your living the good life

Here in N.Cal just a 2 hour drive will get you to any of the following,

Russian River, Rouge (brewpub), Bear Republic, Lagunitas, Moylans, Drakes, Sierra Nevada, Pyramid, Trumor, Heretic (the Brewing newworks own), Concord brewing, the soon to be Altamont brewing, EJ Phair, Buffalo Bills Organic Brewing & about 10-15 more micros. Not to mention the larger Gordon B. and Budpisser. Add that with some of the best wineries in the world (Napa Vally & Livermore).

Ya, us N.California guys are a bit lucky...

 

[ITz-Supreme]

You bitch, I just have bootlegers, the breury, ballist point, green flash, karl strauss, stone brewing, lost abbey, pizza port, ale smith, coronado, but I'm still jealous

 

[JoeBronco]

You bitch, I just have bootlegers, the breury, ballist point, green flash, karl strauss, stone brewing, lost abbey, pizza port, ale smith, coronado, but I'm still jealous

Green Flash IPA & Stone Ruination are in my top 5 Favorite beers. At least we have Firestone in the middle...

 

[ITz-Supreme]

Allright truce I do love firestone pale ale usually get it when I go to cheesecake factory

 

[triangulum33]

You bitch, I just have bootlegers, the breury, ballist point, green flash, karl strauss, stone brewing, lost abbey, pizza port, ale smith, coronado, but I'm still jealous

We dogs staring at each other's bones.

 

[ITz-Supreme]

True dat home slice

 

[DisturbdChemist]

I have two bottle on the way soon. I absolutely can't wait for them.