What's Up w/ Pliny?

This is entirely a matter of taste, but I agree; well, actually, I think there more than 10 IIPAs > Pliny. I have liked a good amount of them better, many of which I have revisited since my trip to Russian River last month and confirmed. It's all about what you like.

Pliny is pretty balanced, so it may not suit those like myself who like their IPA action more hop forward. I won't list them all, but basically THB, Nebco and HFS IIPAs all float my boat more so then Pliny.

 

Thirding (fourthing?) the request for said 10 DIPAs that are better than Pliny so that I can begin looking for and purchasing them.

It's easy to say there are 10 better. It becomes much harder to actually name them.

 

I've noticed aroma variation with different batches. Still a fantastic IPA but the nose does vary

 

i had pliny the first time this weekend, compared to abrasive ale and heady, it was by far the most mild/bland of the three, even tho the abrasive was canned on 01/01/14 and the pliny was 03/18/14... just a side observation but it did not live up to the hype at all when compared to the others... something has to be wrong imo

01/07/14 for abrasive i meant

 

I just didn't want to be 'that guy'- I see a lot of threads lately asking for lists of favorites, etc. Figured I wouldn't turn this into one, but if you insist...


Keep in mind, this is my own opinion, as no beer is actually technically better than another without some kind of grading rubric.
1. Toppling Goliath King Sue
2.Lawson's Double Sunshine
3.Toppling Goliath Sosus
4. Hill Farmstead Double Galaxy
5. Hill Farmstead SS #6
6. NEBCO Fat Ten-er #2
7. NEBCO Ghandibot
8. Hill Farmstead Double Citra
9. TreeHouse/Toppling Goliath David
10. NEBCO Coriolis
11. Tree House Juice Machine
12. Trillium Mettle
13. Hill Farmstead Abner
14. Kern Winter
15. Heady Topper

... I won't keep this list going since it is just my opinions, but rest assured this is no attempt at trolling. I loved Pliny when I tried it at the dawn of 2011. It actually got me into my IPA/ IIPA kick. When I made it out west to Russian River this year, however, I was underwhelmed. Its a matter of opinion.

I havn't tried Toppling Goliath Twisted Galaxy, Pipeworks Square Grouper or Unicorn Galaxy, Hill Farmstead Society and Solitude #4 or #5, Alpine Bad Boy, or anything from Tired Hands. I hear these are all also contenders, at least based on recommendations from folks with similar flavor profile preferences to my own.

 

well hell, at least you mentioned a bunch of easily attainable, year-round shelf brews

 

Well, I do appreciate you taking the time to provide some substance behind the claim. And based on said substance, it's pretty clear you aren't trolling, just sharing an opinion. I can appreciate that for sure.

But alas, it was really my intent to insist on the person who dropped by to share an "it's overrated" comment only to disappear again share his 10 better IIPAs.

And unfortunately, the only beer off your list that I've had the fortune of trying is Heady Topper. So I lack the ability to really share my opinion about your list. Except for HT, of course, so here goes... to me, they are so close in quality that it's hard to separate them. PtE is a 4.66 in my scores, compared to 4.58 for Heady, and given how different they are (for beers in the same style categorization), that score difference is almost negligible. Heady Topper is a deliciously pungent hop bomb. I love it. Pliny, on the other hand, is the epitome of IIPA balance. It's so balanced that to me, it just tastes like amazing "beer", if that makes sense. It sort of defies categorization, although it's obviously hoppier than styles that aren't typically hop-forward. That doesn't make it better or worse (necessarily) than HT to me, but I can see how it might come across to some as bland (not your words, just an example) in this day an age of aggressive flavor profiles. And don't get me wrong--not poo pooing aggressive flavors. I love those too.

But again, thanks for the thoughtful reply.

 

How did I know that it was going to be a list of beers I've never ever seen in any store in my area... ?

 

I personally don't know how Pliny the Elder got so high up on the list. It is readily available on draft and yes it's an easy drinking IPA which is why I think a lot of people dig it. That being said, when you get into IPAs more you actually want to taste the hops and different hop profiles.

Pretty big variability in RRs PtE and PtY. I remember Younger being a hell of a lot more complex and interesting last year than this year. I've also had the pleasure of tasting bottles of PtY one that was one week old and one that was two weeks old with a noticeable difference.

 

The list of readily available shelf IIPAs that can bang with Pliny would be pretty short, if a list at all. Last I checked getting a Pliny in New Jersey is probably not that much easier than many beers on the list here.

You knew because those beers are the ones that can contend with Pliny. Pliny doesn't come to my stores/half of the country, but I still have an opinion on the matter.

I totally agree with your post whole heartedly, especially the pieces about balance. I find the decision between Heady and Pliny extremely difficult as well, both great in their own right.

 

A double whammy. The inevitable last year was better and the hops drop off after two weeks.

I am glad my palate isn't that refined because PtY this year was awesome and I don't notice the difference between two week 2 PtE and 1 week.

 

While I've only had 9 of those on the list, that list is surprisingly similar to my preferences. Nice to see other people out there agree.

 

It's cold comfort, at least, that the beers supposedly better than Pliny the Elder are even more difficult to obtain than Pliny...

 

My preference is as follows:

Surly Abrasive
Heady Topper
TG Sosus
Double Sunshine
TG King Sue
Victory Dirt Wolf
Double Crooked Tree
Sixpoint Hi Res
Odell Myrcenary
TG Twisted Galaxy
Hopslam (depending on year)
DFH 90
NG Thumbprint series
Firestone Double Jack

Now, don't misinterpret me, I really like Pliny. It's damn fine beer but in the scope of what's available now from a wide variety of breweries, Pliny is just there....I'd pass by it on the shelf in lieu of my list.

 

You're right. The batches vary more over the last 2 years than ever. Honestly, before they started bottling PtE, it was a much different and more potent animal. Don't get me wrong, every now and again they nail it, but less often.

My .02

 

Cliff Notes for this & every subsequent: "What's up with Pliny" (or insert other high rated titles) thread are basically:

guessing: this changed, this release was not as good as the last, which that one wasn't as good as the one before it either, so on & so forth.

the actual solution: my long list of favorites is a better option anyway. no i'm not biased or plugging my own list, i'm just being helpful so that you actually learn "what's up with Pliny". what's that you say? my list doesn't help you figure out what's up??? wait. what was the question again???

as others have pointed out & while it doesn't appear to be the OP's intention, these threads are pretty predictable & function like "clockwork" ...to the point one can use them to set their watch!

 

One of these days, I'll get a list of better options that includes a few brews I can nab locally...

 

I felt the same way with the first time i had this having a "wow" aroma, taste, etc. Then i got 4 bottles in Feb or March and drank them at 9 days with friends and it was no longer the case. Maybe just a few bad batches? I talked it up like crazy then everyone loved it but not anywhere near what my first experience was

 

I wish I felt this way. I could go to the store this instant and pick up Myrcenary or Double Jack, but neither would sate my desire for Pliny. Neither would the others I've had on your list, but Heady would be close enough so as not to matter. Unfortunately, I can't go pick that one up... wah wah.

 

I was there yesterday:



And FWIW, it tasted as frickin' amazing as ever to me...