I have found my Pliny Killer

Me too but the phosphoric acid really falls off after a couple weeks.

 

If it makes you feel any better (or worse), I'm not even willing to drive across town for a world-class IPA.
Fortunately there's no need.

 

I have been lucky enough to have had Head Hunter, Heady Topper, Pliny, White Rajah, Double Sunshine as well as many other incredible IPAs. All are really great beers, and although I've never done a head to head with all of them at the same time, my notes and memory tell me that Double Sunshine is by far one of my favorites. The great thing is that we all have completely different palates, and with the complexity of IPAs and hop varieties available to us, this is the greatest time in history to be a hop head!

 

Head Hunter is phenomenal, but I personally prefer White Rajah. Head Hunter is aggressive and in your face, while Rajah is balanced and refreshing. From a DIPA standpoint, Lawson's Double Sunshine, Columbus Bodhi, and FFF Dreadnaught are my faves.. At the end of the day, it's all subjective, but heading into 2013, Pliny definitely isn't the end all be all.

 

Nor should it—or any other beer—be. That's kind of the point.

 

I never said any other beer should. But apparently everyone still thinks Pliny is considering this is another "Pliny vs" thread..

 

From the thread title can you blame them?

 

Mathias by Haymarket here in the Chi is my favorite D/IIPA by a country mile...

But I've only had Pliny once, so I wouldn't dare say Mathias is a Pliny-killer. To me, they're very different takes on the hop monster approach, and both do their thing exceedingly well. I just prefer Haymarket's approach to the style over Russian River's.

NBD, imho.

 

I guess I'm just saying this could've been a Head Hunter appreciation thread. No need to even bring up Pliny.

 

Blatz is a Pliny killer! Seriously, Pliny is the most over-hyped and worst beer I've ever tasted. My whole tasting group feels the same way. I feel like a putz posting this, but I'm not trying to rain on anyones Pliny parade, but citrusy beers ... I just don't get it.

 

Pliny is quite possibly the most overhyped beer out there. To my taste at least, and in my notes I have 55 beers in that same style I enjoyed more.

 

I brought this up in another "top 5 IPA" thread after someone mentioned his top 5 as Zombie Dust. Doesn't make sense to me but then again, I haven't had Zombie Dust yet.

 

Would you want SNPA to "upgrade" as well? How about those Trappist ales? They surely need an upgrade too... ;-)

 

I'm kinda new to the style, but of the ones I have tried Pliny is among the best. Without much experience in the style I have also come to enjoy some other extremely delicious examples:
Kryptonite
Boy King
Bad Boy
Nelson
Abrasive
Knuckle Sandwich
Aroma Coma
Dreadnaught
Maharaja
Kern Citra
Heady Topper
Ephraim
HF Double Galaxy
Double Sunshine
Unearthly
2XIPA
Double Standard
Tricerahops
HopHenge
and they all are in the league of Pliny in terms of quality. They feature different amounts of attenuation, varying darknesses of caramel malts, and a staggeringly diverse use of hops.

Which is best? The fun is in the finding, but for me it's Kern Citra. That said, fresh Pliny = yummmmm

 

pliny and heady topper are the best in my book. but six point resin and lagunitas hop stoopid are great cheap ipas

 

MASALA MAMA!

 

Funny...Drinking Pliny right now. With my boss. In the office at work.

/ya be jealous.

 

Bought this tonight based on your post. Love Jacks Abbey anyway but holy f&cking shit this Kiwi Rising is fantastic. Last one on the shelf so I hope they get more. WOW! What a surprise. Thanks Tendermorsel.

 

Jack's Abby Kiwi Rising, Heady Topper, and New England Brewing Ghandi-Bhot

Pliny is legit though. Let's not pretend it's crap.