Help me find Pliny in San Diego

You'll get more good information by posting this request in the Pacific forum.

 

I can't help very much but can share my SD experience...

I stayed out in SD (Liberty Station..but I was all over the town & beaches every day) 3 years ago for 1 week. I visited all the top recommended stores almost daily for the full week and never found any. Did have some on tap at Pizza Port, so that place might be an option to sample some.

At the end of the week, I found several pint bottles of Pliny (fresh as well) in a sketchy corner liquor store that was either in Pacific or Ocean Beach (can't remember which one). It was a miracle find.

 

RussianRiver.com has a list of all of their accounts in southern calfiornia so you can use that to determine which location, closest to you and where you are staying, may have some. It still doesn't last long on the shelf here and is usually received every other week or so.

If you just want to drink it, then I recommend hitting up O'Brien's, Toronado, or Hamilton's.

Otherwise look in here for the Visiting San Diego thread (I think last updated one was winter) with the better bottle shops listed.

 

To make it even easier, here is the link for the visiting thread with and a section of the "Good Bottle Shops" copy/pasted here.

https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/visiting-san-diego-winter-2016.372021/

"2) Pliny is not reliably available at any given location, and sells out within 24 hours at most places. If you REALLY want it, look at the list of accounts on Russian River's website, call the shops to find out their delivery schedules, and see what you can do."

 

If you're only coming to SD for the weekend, check out the bottle shops in the thread that SDreaper posted, and beyond that just enjoy one of the best beer scenes in the country and don't worry about Pliny. There are more breweries in San Diego area than almost anywhere else and it's just a great place to hang out. Save the Pliny bottles for a trip to Northern California.

 

Side note, pliny is not that good compared to what's out there anymore. Plenty of better options in SD in my opinion.

 

I am really proud of everyone! This is the second pliny thread that no one is has said they should drink something else

 

Damn it... spoke too soon.

 

I do agree that they should seek other beers, especially when in san diego, but Pliny is still a bucketlist beer for people so figured they there is no point in trying to dissuade someone from their goal. I know I am stubborn and when I want a specific beer I will go find it and not go towards something else because it is "better". Rather complete my quest then go try the others and realize that perhaps I wasted time or that those other bastards that told me to find this instead were so very wrong in my eyes.

 

Don't listen to the haterz.
I've been to SD several times times over that past few years...and there actually isn't many beers better than pliny out here. I can't think of one that is fairly available off the top of my head...

 

The Apprentice and the Pupil.

The Miser during Feb competes easily with Younger.

Edit: It also isn't being a hater it is offering more suggestions of beers that are not as widely known and might be enjoyed by many if they knew about it.

 

The Pupil is about it...and it's not better to me. It's easier to drink for sure because it's lighter bodied and abv'd. It's usually my go to. Still not sure why they aren't canning that stuff, but they are bottling sours?
The apprentice...not so much. Astringent finish.

Every time i'm in SD...I always hear this talk about other beers to drink, and pliny is meh, etc.
I quit listening 3.5 yrs ago when this guy behind the bar was trying to convince me that Hess was world class. lol.

Rip current has decent stuff...but not on the same level for the most part.

 

When my family and I went to San Diego a week or so ago, I found 3 bottles of Pliny at Bine and Vine.

 

Not SD based but sometimes available at better bottle shops in the area are Noble, El Segundo and Beachwood. Not balanced like Pliny but not meant to be. Not a h8er I just crush a lot.

 

SD County IPA's I've rated as highly (or higher) than Pliny (note: some may have been one-offs, or are seasonal; you know the deal with Alpine/Green Flash)

IIIPA
Pizza Port Thruster

IIPA
Mother Earth Hop Diggity
Stone 19th Anniv (Thunderstruck)
Stone 18th Anniv
Pizza Port Herban Legend
Rip Current Double Impact Zone
Alpine Keene Idea

IPA
Alpine Nelson
Alpine Duet
Alpine HFS
Modern Times Booming Rollers
Modern Times Attack Frequency
Societe The Dandy

 

I'll also admit that (for me) the very best California IPA's aren't made in SD County. Noble and Cellarmaker are tops, with the best SD versions in the 2nd tier alongside Russian River, Fieldwork, Monkish and Beachwood.

 

Alpine Keene Idea.....oh it has been too long.

 

Moral of the story...just go to Hamilton's or O'Brien's to try it on tap.
Depending on your timing, parking sucks tremendously at O'Brien's and the pour I had there last weekend tasted off (dirty lines came to mind)