Pliny the Younger in CO (2017)

Pretty sure Firestone Walker is also doing fine. The problem they've had isn't necessarily them falling out of favor but freshness issues via distribution. I don't know if I've ever heard anyone dis their beers, but more that we (and other places) always get them when they're several months old.
Unlike New Belgium and Great Divide, California still has a mighty reputation in the IPA world. Especially when you see their stuff on the east coast, southeast, midwest, etc. Those markets still think they're a massive, massive deal. We're spoiled and our market is unusual. It's one reason why it's even debatable if Founders or Bells can succeed here. That idea is laughable in about 2/3 of the country.

 

Had some Union Jack dated 11/29 last night and it was flawless.

 

@raynmoon i recall a point when people were on a call list for Pliny, and if you weren't on the list you didn't have a chance in hell of getting a bottle. Flash to today and I see that beer sitting on shelves over a week after it drops, while beers like * don't make it a day on the same shelves. While I agree that Russian river doesn't need to worry about me, I am just one guy, they have to worry about their distribution areas like mine where I can get better beers for less money. Case in point, Avery. Their gold foil sours used to fly off the shelf when they were the only game in town. Now they have competition on Colorado shelves. Not only do we have crooked stave and Casey coming at them locally, we have wicked weed, almanac, and cascade coming in along with all of the Belgians as well now. Avery saw the change, and made their own changes. Personally, I see Russian river in the same situation in our market. Don't agree? That's cool, but it is something we have seen time and time again. FWIW the last three times I bought Pliny it was trade bait, and now I can't even seem to use it for that.

 

Probably worth noting with newer places - they're still benefitting from the "new kid on the block" effect. We're also one of the very, very few places where you can buy Melvin beers.
I wouldn't draw any conclusions based upon any beer or brewery that has been on the shelves for less than 24 months.
Pliny might "linger" for a week these days...but is that really bad? I mean, like 99% of craft beer on the shelves sticks around that long. I'd be shocked if any store in the metro area has ever had an issue moving it. At least the ones that actually put it out instead of making people randomly ask. We've been getting PtE for more than 10 years and it's still moving like that. That doesn't count the various posts where people are looking for it on tap and are shocked that the FRTH has it almost all of the time. IMO, it's easy to overlook how big of a deal these beers are because we've had them for so long and we're numb to everything that isn't brand new. Not saying Melvin won't be killin' it in 10 years, but I wouldn't compare anything that hit our market a year ago to something that's still selling out in a week from 2007. It isn't aged in barrels or limited production either, it's just a normal 'ol non-seasonal beer.

 

Working beer retail in Colorado, Pliny the Elder is still the #1 most asked about beer by a wide margin.

 

Confirmed.

 

I'm just glad I spent my $12 on a 4 pack of Citradamus over a single 10oz serving of PtY.

 

Confirmed...

 

Vinnie is the bomb yo!!!!! Blind pig what what! Beer ever.
McGirt
Melvin Brewing

 

Best!!!!!!!!!

 

I would go crazy for the pig like dudes go bonkers for the elder if only it made it here.

 

It does. Draught only, but it gets here.

Lambda > Younger. That said, I was happy to get a pour of PTY. It's always a nice beer to drink.

 

I would like to get a Notorious, Lambda, Younger taste test going.

 

It's on tap at Backcountry roughly 95% of the time.

 

I don't get out often enough to find it really. Most of my drinking is after the kid goes to sleep, and by then I don't want to leave the house.

 

I was fortunate enough to live fairly close to the "source" for Russian River for many years, and with each time I visited I found myself drinking Blind Pig more and more. I still LOVE PtE and still consider it a paragon of the style (and still buy it when it is available at bottle shops), but if Blind Pig bottles made it here more frequently I choose those almost every time.

The Pig has such an impressive and bold character for being only around 6% ABV and it is just plain FUN to drink. Everyone knew that Toronado in SF always had PtE on tap, but they also almost always had Blind Pig as well and whenever I'd order the latter I'd actually get a thumbs up or smile out of the bartenders there (maybe even a few words of conversation). Considering their world-class reputation for surliness, that was a nice beer "compliment."

 

I was able to try PtY for the first time last night at Freshcraft. Luckily I only had to wait a few minutes. The pour was really small, but I enjoyed it. I don't think I'd want to wait much longer for it though, because to me it was similar to 2x4 which I can easily get anytime I want.

 

When we first started getting PtE, Blind Pig was also available in bottles. No clue why they stopped sending those.

 

Laws yes. The pig that is blind sees all!