Old Pliny

Discussion in 'Cellaring / Aging Beer' started by Johnnyramirez, Jan 7, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    Has anyone ever purposely drank an old bottle of Pliny The Elder? I've lately been drinking mainly different IPA's and I have 2 bottles that I frankly haven't been interested in cracking because I've had it so often and I have other beers I'm interested in and am trying to lower the amount I drink. I know it's best fresh, but I can get fresh Pliny at will, and I'm curious to see how much it changes with some time. *I know, it's not advised* but has anyone actually let it sit for a while and is it awful after? I guess I'm just burnt out on Pliny and IPA's as a whole for right now.
     
  2. RaulMondesi

    RaulMondesi Grand Pooh-Bah (5,209) Dec 11, 2006 California
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Don't think I'd want to. I've also had my fair share and am trying to trade what I have right now instead.
     
    Johnnyramirez likes this.
  3. brewbetter

    brewbetter Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 Nauru

    The delicate hop aromas and taste will fade and it will become more bland and generic tasting.
     
  4. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    But is it bad? Or is it gonna be just a drinkable, albeit not amazing, beer?
     
  5. brewbetter

    brewbetter Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2012 Nauru

    The latter.
     
  6. Thehuntmaster

    Thehuntmaster Initiate (0) Sep 2, 2009 South Africa

    I have had a 6 week old bottle that was pretty good and then a month old bottle that was quite flavourless.
     
  7. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    maybe, just maybe, you should pop it open, and share your thoughts here :wink:.
     
  8. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    I got month old bottles right now. Not too old, but I usually notice a muted flavor after like a month. That's why I asked this question
     
  9. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    The bottles I have aren't too old yet. But I just might let them sit for like 2-3 months and try it
     
  10. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    Ohhhh, okay. I have hardly had Pliny the Elder, but I just remember drinking it and thinking "man that is good" but never feeling "holy shit this is the best thing ever manzzz". But a few days later... I started to crave it. Never have a I ever craved a beer, really.

    That is when I realized Vinnie was a genius at making the most balanced beer ever.
     
    SammyJaxxxx likes this.
  11. lemongelo

    lemongelo Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2008 North Carolina

    The only known way to age an IPA with benefit is to take one that is very high in alcohol and allow it to take on barley wine characteristics.
     
  12. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    It's a great balanced beer. I just get it whenever I want that I think I'm burned out. I'll crave it again soon I'm sure.

    Like 120, right? Yeah, I'm wondering if anyone has ever done it with a lower ABV IPA and how was it?
     
  13. raynmoon

    raynmoon Initiate (0) Aug 13, 2011 Colorado

    You should try the KBC ipa from Tarder Joe's. It's terrible.
     
    Dizbro21 likes this.
  14. VonZipper

    VonZipper Pundit (959) Feb 9, 2011 New York

    Yeah, my Distributor does it all the time. Sometimes, I have the misfortune of taking some from the shelves.
     
  15. Thehuntmaster

    Thehuntmaster Initiate (0) Sep 2, 2009 South Africa

    Remember that my bottles traveled half way around the world. I don't think Pliny travels well.
     
  16. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    I'm sure that will get me craving Pliny REAL QUICK. Usually one day drinking BMC swill or a crappy IPA does that and gets me back in the swing of things with IPA's. Barrel Trolley is my personal worst IPA I've tried so far.
     
  17. Johnnyramirez

    Johnnyramirez Initiate (0) Nov 17, 2012 California

    Oh yeah, the temperature when traveling has to be taken into account too. I can't imagine it's the same even at a month old when it literally goes through a complete seasons change while being shipped
     
  18. Spaceloaf

    Spaceloaf Initiate (0) Nov 27, 2008 Oregon

    It depends on how long you let it sit. My brother had some ancient 2-year old Pliny stuffed away somewhere and it was quite frankly terrible. Without the front-loaded hops what you are left with is a very bland (think BMC) base beer with a slight assy/skunky taste.

    It is interesting from an academic/homebrew perspective to see how plain the base beer actually is. The malt backbone is not strong at all (quite different than what many "balanced" IPAs are like). I guess that's the brilliance of Pliny; the weak base allows the subtleties of the dry-hopping to come through so you don't have to jack up the IBU to insane levels to get a full hop taste.

    But honestly I would actually refuse if another one that old was offered to me; it is not good at all.
     
  19. gtermi

    gtermi Initiate (0) Apr 21, 2010 Texas

    I've only had it fresh and will only drink it that way. I don't know why anybody would not drink that as soon as they got it
     
  20. naloxone

    naloxone Initiate (0) Aug 7, 2010 Connecticut


    The oldest I've had was a bit over 2 months. It wasn't bad, but it didn't taste like much of anything.

    Hate to sound snobby, but I don't even bother with it unless I know it's less than a month old now.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.