Beer Forum

Wow! I have always considered myself as not a "hop head", but I can appreciate hoppy beers for what they are ... my wife would argue that I am a "hop head" because I do make beers that she considers too hoppy. On a recent trip to Olympia, WA I was blessed with the opportunity to try Pliny on tap at the East Side Tavern. I saw it on tap and knew I had to order it even though I was sure I wouldn't like it. The wife ordered a pint of Damnation (which is excellent).

... Well, Pliny is an absolutely amazing beer! The hops are very much present and the backbone of the beer, but the bitterness is so well balanced with the piney hop flavor and crisp malt backbone that I, not being a hop head, have been dreaming of that beer for three days. The wife, hesitant from the aroma and not fully versed in all the flavors of hops, really liked the beer, and, believe it or not, stated that it was not a hoppy beer ... I now know that "hoppy" to her is unbalanced bitterness.

I write this for those folks that are not hop heads and might pass this beer up. This is a definate MUST try for every real beer drinker!

You know I just had the chance to try this beer for the first time a couple days ago too. I had brewed a clone back in August and figured I must have screwed something up cause I didn't perceive it as crazy bitter. I loved it and it also took first place in a comp, but I figured the real Pliny would be pretty different. Boy I was wrong. I'm sure my clone wasn't totally spot on but it was at least much closer than I thought it was.

Now I know what the rave is about. Yes, it's very hoppy. But it's balanced and very drinkable. I could easily drink multiple pints of it. Of course, now I'm even more dissapointed that we can't get Pliny here in Nebraska!

My first Pliny was a bottle brought back from California by a friend. I thought it was brutal. I drank it, but wasn't sold. Back in June, we stopped at Russian River before NHC and I had one on tap. Absolutely amazing! One of the best beers in my life, though I did switch over to Sanctification the rest of the stay there. I had it a couple more times before leaving. I'd like to go back to California someday and hit the breweries I didn't have time to visit. But I would spend a whole day at Russian River.

Dirk McLargeHuge wrote:I'd like to go back to California someday and hit the breweries I didn't have time to visit. But I would spend a whole day at Russian River.

I'm with you Dirk. The last time I got out to California, I didn't get to spend nearly enough time at RRBC. I got to have some Blind Pig (didn't have any Pliny at the time) and some sours, but would've loved to have some pizza and chill out. I have to recommend Bear Republic if you get back out there (Healdsburg). Their beer selection that you can only get there is amazing. They make some great stuff that never gets distributed.

Dubba_Brew wrote:

Dirk McLargeHuge wrote:I'd like to go back to California someday and hit the breweries I didn't have time to visit. But I would spend a whole day at Russian River.

I'm with you Dirk. The last time I got out to California, I didn't get to spend nearly enough time at RRBC. I got to have some Blind Pig (didn't have any Pliny at the time) and some sours, but would've loved to have some pizza and chill out. I have to recommend Bear Republic if you get back out there (Healdsburg). Their beer selection that you can only get there is amazing. They make some great stuff that never gets distributed.

Agree on all counts with both - though I've never had the chance to try pliny. I keep meaning to brew it from the BCS recipe, but just haven't for several reasons. All three of the Bear Republic beers I can get my hands on here are fanfuckingtastic. I'm particularly fond of the Hop Rod Rye and my wifes a big Racer 5 fan.

Also, I'd throw in Green Flash as a San Diego Brewery I'd love to visit that's criminally under distributed.

mmmmm I can cruise by the grocery store here and pick up any of the beers mentioned here.
- suckers

That was a great time, wasn't it Dirk?

Yes, it's awesome having so much good beer available.
My local QFC grocery store has Russian River, Ninkasi, Bear Republic, Lost Abbey, and a whole host of CO, WA and OR stuff that most have never heard of. (They have a certified sommelier and he loves great beer, so he stocks up all the time). Nothing like walking into the grocery store and picking up some Damnation and some Pliney or a six pack of Racer 5.

BDawg wrote:That was a great time, wasn't it Dirk?

Yes, it's awesome having so much good beer available.
My local QFC grocery store has Russian River, Ninkasi, Bear Republic, Lost Abbey, and a whole host of CO, WA and OR stuff that most have never heard of. (They have a certified sommelier and he loves great beer, so he stocks up all the time). Nothing like walking into the grocery store and picking up some Damnation and some Pliney or a six pack of Racer 5.

It was, indeed, a good time.

This was the tab for then ten of us.