The ever evading beer

Had a FW 15 with a friend recently and would suggest not waiting that long to drink yours.

Cheers

 

That's very interesting, I appreciate the tip. I almost opened it a few weeks ago but I looked at the beers it was blended with and I thought it would age okay since there wasn't quite quite as many hoppy beers in the blend (aside form wool or and double Jack).

I am moving cross country in a month or so. Perhaps I will open it then.

 

You guys are weird. I don't think Pliny (Elder or Younger) is bitter at all, and is probably the most balanced IPA I've had. Worth the hype? Nothing is, but it's always solid.

 

3 Floyds Zombie Dust

 

Finally got the elusive Zombie Dust in a trade recently. Was a touch underwhelmed by it but still enjoyed it. My beer nerd pal was amazed by it though.

 

Personally prefer PsuedoSue (At least the stuff made in Decorah) to ZD

 

Yeah I got King Sue, Todd the Axman, Pseudo Sue and Zombie Dust in a trade. That was my preference (best to least from left to right). With that said my ratings were awesome for all 4 of those, so definitely not knocking Zombie Dust, but just expecting a little more "umf" in flavor.

 

I don't get the balanced idea. There is no malt presence at all, I can't taste anything. Balanced (IMO) is having a bit of malt presence to cut through the bitterness and add to the flavor profile. It doesn't need to be sweet, as I do like 'em dry. While Heady Topper, etc, are quite aggressive with the hops and have a good bite of bitterness, there's much more going on with the malt profile that really improves the drinkability.

 

But that's the thing, I think it does have a decent malt presence. In fact, my wife hates IPAs, but I did a blind taste test with her and she picked Pliny the Elder as the best of the lot. Her favorite beers tend to be sweet bourbon aged/imperial stout things (Firestone Walker Parabola, Bruery 8 Maids a Milking, Allagash Curieux, Allagash Oddysey, etc.).

On the other hand, since you're in NH, I wonder if you got an old Pliny? I held onto a bottle of PtE for almost a month, and I had to drainpour it when I tasted it. It really doesn't hold up against time.

 

KBS. I live in Southeast TN and apparently one of the only spots in the state that they don't distribute.

 

Comparing Pliny to Blind Pig and the many other IPA/DIPA out of Cali, I find it doesn't have nearly the malt presence as many others. As for age, I've had Pliny at 3 weeks in the bottle a bunch of times and had several pints of PtE fresh on tap. Age isn't an issue. (I've had 6 week old Pliny that definitely was subpar compared to the 3 week old).

 

pretty much anything from Vermont

 

Been wanting to try Chocolate Rain for years. I gave up long ago.
Heady Topper would be a treat as well.