Pliny The Younger 2018

Guessing its good?

 

It's good, but it's also not worth standing in line for three hours.

 

Hype_Train is right then, I think I'd rather wait 3 hrs for Monkish Cans.

 

If I had a good experience at some of the other Sacramento breweries I visited in the same trip I would have a reason to go back, but I didn't and I eventually got tired of visiting breweries because they were mostly sub-par. Though now I have a new reason to go so I can visit Moksa. In general the few IPAs I had at Moonraker that time were either too overpoweringly acidic with hop acidity, overly herbal, or muted in aroma. Nothing close to Modern Times, Monkish, Fieldwork, even Offshoot.

 

even offshoot?

 

Offshoot over Moonraker is definitely a
hot take.

 

This was July 2016 Moonraker so I'm sure they've improved a lot since then. But I wasn't blown away by their Pure Project Colab either.

 

Welp, I made it halfway across town on the 10 with Library Alehouse's webcam going live on my phone before they wiped Younger off the board.

Maybe next year!

 

Do you happen to remember the recipe names you tasted? I ask as Moonraker is one of the few CA brewers that I feel approaches the NE-style pillowy/creamy mouthfeel with some of their recipes. I've had a few from MT that are on a similar level, but most FW brews are off from the East Coast reference points I've had previously. TIA

 

Was Modern Times doing their limited release haze cans in Summer of 2016?

 

It's so cool to complain about hoppy beer nowadays.

"Oh and Moonraker actually sucks. The Hazy double IPA I had wasn't quite as good as Tree House. A- beer, really enjoyed it. But super disappointing. Wow. If it's not mind blowing (which they cant be anymore because everybody makes these beers and they're all starting to taste the same), then I'm gonna write a bad review online about it."

 

They had just started. Attack Frequency was in July 2016.

 

To be fair, Moonraker only opened up in April 2016. They were 3 months in. First batch of Yojo was May 2016. Yojo part 2 (which later became The Hermit) first batch was July 2016. They only had 2 NE Style IPAs at the time.

Yojo can releases started fall of 2016. They started getting some pup then. But, they really found their stride about the beginning of 2017 with many new beers. Holy Hermit, Electric Lettuce, Dojo, ect...

 

Had Younger last night at Tustin... overall a little disappointed. Did not live up to my memory over it and it was the only Russian River IPA they had on tap (according to the menu board)

 

I don't know much about Moonraker but I had their "All Hops on Deck" double IPA at the Bistro DIPA (and TIPA) Festival a couple weeks ago and was thoroughly impressed and though it was the best in show. I wasn't the only one either as it won 1st place in the judging. Sure, the judging isn't GABF but still, it was worthy of a 1st place finish while PTY didn't place at all nor did it win People's Choice.

I tried the Younger this year (only waited 45 minutes to get into the festival) and it was good...not great (IMO). My first taste of the Younger was in 2009 when my wife and I walked straight into Russian River at lunchtime, was seated right away, ordered two Youngers a piece (though no limit at the time) and pizza bites, and left with a half case of Consecration. I was floored with the flavor and complexity and my review and rating of my still standing #1 beer I've tried, reinforces that. I still remember the experience and the taste of the Younger like yesterday and sadly, it has not been the same.....the Younger tastings, not the wife experiences.

 

I didn't attend the festival because I was worried about having to wait in line to buy a ticket and get in. Only had to wait 45 minutes from the time you showed up and roughly had your first taste? That's a much shorter wait than what I thought.

 

My wife and I were honestly going to drive up to Russian River that Saturday morning to sit and wait for it and see what happens but I decided to not wake her up at 3 am (like I did) and make the 1 1/2 hour drive and 6+ hour wait. We instead took BART to Hayward and waited 45 minutes in line from the time we arrived until I took the first sip. Vic had two 15 gallon kegs this time so the Younger was flowing for at least an hour with 5 ounce pours I believe. I saw some people walking into the festival well after it started and walking directly up to get a pour! Once the kegs kicked, it was back to just enjoying the festival. Very happy I made the right choice that day. I think there are sooo many events going on the first Saturday of SFBW that the numbers are dwindling for some of the old school events. Good for the beer community. Sho'nuff.

 

That's great, I'm always surprised how many people don't attend this festival for this reason alone. I'll be there next year for sure.

 

Is there a "what's your hottest beer take" thread? Offshoot over Moonraker would be a fire take for that thread!

 

I had a 10oz pour of the Younger at Bobby G's in Berkeley and was blown away. There's a level of sophistication in Younger that I found staggering for such an over-the-top crazy genre of beer. In fact, it was so good I had to sell my second ticket before I got in to trouble. I waited all of 5 minutes for the beer and enjoyed pints of Elder for the rest of the evening. Awesome night.

With all of that said, I would not wait in line for the Younger. It's a killer beer, to be sure, but the best beer of all is the beer I have right now.