Regular Heady Consumer Tries Pliny The Elder

Seems to me that, if anything, hop-bombs are less of a big deal now than a few years ago. Especially up here in the PNW, up through 08-09ish, the answer to every question was "MORE HOPS!". Then the hop shortage hit and brewers had to try other stuff.

Now with barrel-aged stuff, sours, and a general broadening of palates, the hop train rolls a bit slower. Don't get me wrong, if you want to sell a beer up here, make it an IPA. Got a slow mover? Dry-hop it beyond recognition, and you won't be able to keep it around.

With craft beer growing, and more people using sites like BA, RB, and Untappd, perhaps there's a lack of perspective and time? I remember when Three Floyds Alpha King and Victory Hop Devil and Hop Wallop were considered the hoppiest things around. We rarely see their names mentioned now.

 

Abrasive is damn good. I have had all 3. If u live close to Surly no way it can be beat for price and taste. Heady is awesome but pricey. Pliny is so smooth and balanced its ridiculous. All 3 bring it in 3 different ways and I thoroughly enjoy when I get to partake in any one of them

 

When you think about it HT is priced like most ipa's , 4 16 oz cans = a sizer, $11.99 I believe. Two Hearted Ale is $10.99
here .

 

for me its an apples and oranges kind of thing. pliny is the perfect example of what an DIPA should taste like. Heady is like the race gas of IPAs. depends on what you're in the mood for!

 

Im 100% certain it has been tweaked. I feel like canned Heady is different from what I had on draft at the old brewpub. But i also think draft is different from the cans since its still possible to compare at a couple waterbury locations.

Can't the same be said for Pliny though? Brewing has evolved a lot over the past ten years. Pliny probably didn't have hop extract back then.

 

I have yet to meet anyone who would send me a can of Heady so on that, I, unfortunately cannot comment. But... I drink Pliny all the time. Pliny is a finesse beer and so often, people who believe the IPA/DIPA "hop bomb", rip your vocal cords out bitterness, 10,000 IBU, Ruination is child's play crowd often fail to recognize the level of sophistication that Pliny the Elder brings to the table. In the past, I've purchased cases of Pliny, threw them in the back of the truck and went about my business for the day only to put the Pliny's in the fridge that evening. After a day of being warm, THAT Pliny just didn't taste right. I've gotta tell you guys, Pliny should be refrigerated constantly. To people who do trades and send Pliny across the country, that's great but I believe that those who are receiving this beer are tasting something that is far from what we taste in California.

I would assume the same to be for Heady trades. If for once I could get an overnight shipment, in a properly dry iced package that would be a dream come true.

 

From Glassware to personal preferences and freshness debate, Schitt Storm in 5..4..3..2...

 

Guess what folks? Neither Pliney the Elder nor Heady should be anywhere near the top 5 list.

Both are very solid beers, but I've had numerous IIPAs that were better than both. This is the worst recurring debate that I've ever seen, and basically boils down to east-coast/west-coast homerism

 

Relax TBALLZ. Puff your Dube, grab your Furious and enjoy the show...

 

I don't think the change to hop extract for bittering would have had a dramatic impact on the beer. I mean, it's just changing the means to the end. It's not a major recipe overhaul but rather an update. If all other ingredients and methods remained constant, you should have a very similar if not identical tasting beer. I've only been drinking Pliny for 6 years, but the beer tastes pretty much the same to me now as it did then. I can't say the same for Heady Topper. Pliny is an old ass recipe, and one which time has treated well, though that doesn't mean it automatically deserves respect. But it should be noted that it's being measured against a beer that has an old school name but an evolving identity and one that is nearly unrecognizable when compared to what it was a couple years ago.

 

Completely agreed, I admit I have not had Pliny but I have tried numerous IPAs and double IPAs and Abrasive is simply the best balanced, most delicious IPA I have had so far.

 

That video is great. Forget all their flaws to trying to do a blind taste test, but all the comments about the nose, etc. that ended up being the HT is exactly what I have found. It just isn't as approachable or drinkable for many (sometimes subtle) reasons.

 

I see what you mean but I can believe heady would've been a pretty outstanding DIPA back then too. Maybe a regular at the brewpub can talk about it.

 

Correct. Source: Drank Heady my first trip to the Alchemist pub in late 07-early 08.

 

I can barely get either of them, so both of these beers are still dear to my heart. There's nothing like walking into Toronado in SF and ordering your first Pliny of the night, but there's something just as magical about cracking a can of HT after the planets line up.

 

I have had both a bunch of times super fresh.Drank a Pliny bottled (5/9/13) last weekend.

Edge to Pliny.......I love that beer.Literally,my cup o' tea.

Cheers All.......

 

It's funny, as I was popping an 8 pack of canned Sculpin like Tic Tacs on Memorial day I was laughing and content at all the jack asses that claim it's fallen off to a shadow of itself. Thank you fools, more for me.

 

Awesome.

The opaque/translucent cups are a necessity, because Heady is very recognizable in a glass because of all the floaties. Having drank all 3 of those beers many times, I am not at all surprised that Sculpin was the favorite.

 

I'm sure it was. I wish I'd been able to try it.

 

every message board needs the man who sets the uninformed majority straight