Side-by-side fresh Pliny vs. Zombie Dust

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by gueuzedreg, Apr 8, 2013.

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  1. gueuzedreg

    gueuzedreg Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2013 Colorado
    In Memoriam

    Currently doing, and twice overall; and I raise the hand of ZD both times. Though it went 12 rounds. I know I don't have the 100% correct answer, what do you think?

    (getting Heady in a few days; I can't wait to do all three)
     
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  2. Nectar

    Nectar Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2013 New Jersey

    Seems you like Zombie Dust more than Pliny. Some people like Pliny more than Zombie Dust.

    Both excellent brews that come down to the individuals palate. I had ZD and loved it. No pliny yet though :slight_frown:
     
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  3. RBassSFHOPit2ME

    RBassSFHOPit2ME Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2009 California
    Deactivated

    What do I think...Hmmm, I don't think they're really all that much alike.

    I've done that side by side, rather it was a zombie dust, then opened a PtE right after. I did this with my brother and my father in law. Taste is subjective, but for my preference, and the others, PtE was by far the better beer.

    Cheers! Enjoy those Headys. Here's subjective for ya....I'd take both Zombie Dust and Pliny over Heady! Ohhhhh SNAP!
     
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  4. Shagator

    Shagator Initiate (0) Mar 17, 2012 Kentucky

    Have not had either at the same time, but I have head dreadnaught and PtE in the same night. The Pliny was new but it did fly across country, so I dont want to say I have had fresh Pliny, but Dreadnaught blew it out of the water. PtE did not impress me as much as I had hoped. hoping to to have it again soon. With that being said, I would rank Dreadnaught, Rye Da Tiger, Zombie Dust, Stones Enjoy by, TIPA, Ruination 10th anniversary, and a few more ahead of PtE. Dont get me wrong, it is a great beer, but for the hype I was expecting so much more.
     
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  5. --Dom--

    --Dom-- Initiate (0) Dec 22, 2012 Missouri

    different styles.......
     
  6. hopsbreath

    hopsbreath Savant (1,133) Aug 28, 2009 Florida

    I think Flex was better than Ronnie, but both were better than Cormier.
     
  7. nc41

    nc41 Initiate (0) Sep 25, 2008 North Carolina
    Trader

    Completely different animals, both great. Fresh ZD is amazing though.
     
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  8. APB

    APB Initiate (0) Dec 15, 2012 Nebraska

    I would have to agree that they are completely different, I had fresh Pliny and ZD this past week and I have to say if I could only have one I would take the ZD but they are almost incomparable. Pliny seems to have less of a bite to it then zd and I know some of you will dog me for saying this but I put both the Pliny and ZD over Heady, I really enjoyed the HT I just favored the Pliny and ZD over it. I think there is a lot of hype surrounding the HT because it's not available to everyone so most people (including myself) have to trade for it and are only able to get small amounts to sample. Just my 2 cents :slight_smile:
     
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  9. BlakeAM

    BlakeAM Initiate (0) Nov 6, 2011 Illinois

    the more I see these types of comparisons the more I become convinced that it depends on how fresh each beer is. I've yet to see someone from California rank one of that states' signature beers behind a midwest or east coast brew, and the same holds true for those regions. Two of the exceptions seem to be Enjoy By and Sucks, but both of those beers have distribution power that allows for relative freshness across the country.

    Of the three beers being mentioned here I've only had Zombie Dust, but I've had it incredibly fresh and it's pretty amazing. Same goes for Hopslam, anything after 3-4 weeks is basically a different beer.
     
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  10. beercanman

    beercanman Initiate (0) Dec 17, 2012 Ohio

    I'd give the nod to ZD. Completely different styles though
     
  11. willbm3

    willbm3 Initiate (0) Feb 19, 2010 Massachusetts

    Pliny doesn't even remotely taste like Zombie Dust and neither tastes remotely like Heady. For me it's Heady > Zombie Dust > Pliny as a distant third
     
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  12. MetalMountainMastiff

    MetalMountainMastiff Initiate (0) Oct 1, 2012 California

    The tastes are different so it goes by personal flavor not true comparison....

    sooo..... Zombie Dust..Pliny < SUCKS! I said it!
     
  13. bayareahustla

    bayareahustla Zealot (632) Jul 13, 2012 California
    Trader

    Pliny > ZD..........but i dont think ive had ZD at its optimal freshness. Got some coming soon so i will see!
     
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  14. beerhan

    beerhan Savant (1,201) Apr 28, 2010 Ohio

    What you should be doing is Zombie Dust vs. Oddside Ales Citra Pale Ale. Oddsides is the clear victor in my opinion and worth seeking out for any Zombie Dust fan.
     
  15. Orca

    Orca Grand Pooh-Bah (4,441) Sep 18, 2010 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I have no idea what you're talking about but I get your point anyway.
     
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  16. badbeer

    badbeer Initiate (0) Jun 19, 2005 Iowa

    Not a lot of bodybuilding references on here.
     
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  17. ThickNStout

    ThickNStout Pooh-Bah (2,142) Mar 8, 2011 Georgia

    People keep saying these are different styles but I can justify the comparison (in my mind at least. Everyone else is entitled to their dissenting opinion):

    Zombie Dust is a pale ale that I think is hoppy enough to be an IPA. By far my favorite APA and better than many IPAs I've had.
    Pliny The Elder is an imperial/DIPA that I found too "small" and consider it more like an IPA. If I put PtE against most IPAs, it's awesome but for my tastes it can't hold a candle to my favorites like Dreadnaught, Heady Topper, Double Jack or many others.

    The mere fact that ZD (an APA) is getting so many votes over PtE ( a DIPA) seems to indicate Pliny isn't "all that".

    That said, if any CA folk want to trade a fresh PtE to prove me wrong I'm happy to try it again. I'd love to find a DIPA that is even better than my current favs...
     
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  18. dbrauneis

    dbrauneis Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,837) Dec 8, 2007 North Carolina
    Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    I did the Pliny the Elder vs. Heady Topper on Easter and it was phenomenal - both beers are world class and delicious but I would have to tip my hand to Heady (both beers were bottled/canned 3 weeks prior to the tasting so still pretty darn fresh).
     
  19. jacewg

    jacewg Initiate (0) Jan 7, 2012 District of Columbia

    Different styles and hop profiles.

    Pliny has the classic Amarillo/Simcoe thing going on. Zombie Dust is a big Citra bomb. Both are outstanding, but at 6.4% and 8%, they're not the easiest to compare.
     
  20. theCoder

    theCoder Initiate (0) Oct 24, 2011 Minnesota

    I got to try both of these for the first time at Darkness Day and absolutely loved both. But picking one over the other... really its to one's own preference as they are fairly different all around, I liked Pliny a bit more but that could be due to me now finding out I can get it a bit easier with friend's in Berkeley.
     
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