So I walk into my favorite beer store yesterday evening to try some new stuff, and lo and behold a bottle of Pliny the Elder is sitting there. I pick it up immediately but as soon as I do the owner comes over and says, “I’m sorry but it’s my private collection, I just left it here temporarily.”
OH the HUMANITY! But at least I got to hold a bottle.*
*Yes, this is silly because it’s overhyped all the time, but still I’d love to try some.
Sorry that happened >:(
It is a great beer, and really worth trying as an archetype of the IIPA.
You know you could make something that tastes pretty close.
http://beerdujour.com/Recipes/1Pliny%20the%20Elder%20clone%20PDF.pdf
if it’s your favorite beer store, I’m assuming you’re in there regularly & know the owner. if so, you should have said - ok, I understand… you can have it back, but you have to share it with me. :D
most of us love to share great beer (ours or commercial) with like-minded friends, he very well might have said yes.
That’s the plan, eventually, but the lag time between brewing and drinking is SO HIGH! Instant gratification fail.
I got the impression that he had a bunch of friends he had already promised to share it with. Plus he hooked me up with a freaking awesome french IIPA, so I was satisfied.
but that is only for the first pint 
@ paul blatz… haven’t brewed that big red ale yet, but i’m sending you some when i do.
and pliny is a great beer, recommended to be drank very fresh. i wonder how long he plans on collecting it?
It was for this weekend. By being the best beer shop owner in Paris it means he gets a lot of business from ex-pats who travel, apparently people get him beer gifts when they go to the states. That’s the life.
Anybody wanna come to Paris? You can stay at our guest room for free (it’s across from a chateau/modern art museum) if you bring me some bottles from Russian River.
[quote] he hooked me up with a freaking awesome french IIPA
[/quote]
Sorry, is this a joke? I’m sure it isn’t, it just struck me funny. Didn’t know Frenchies were getting known for their beers. Kind of like hearing “I just had this wonderful Canadian pineapple!”
Are you saying they don’t grow pineapples in Canada?! Wow, I figured you can grow them anywhere. Da buggahs are EVERYWHERE around here. They are weeds.
Sorry, is this a joke? I’m sure it isn’t, it just struck me funny. Didn’t know Frenchies were getting known for their beers. Kind of like hearing “I just had this wonderful Canadian pineapple!”
[/quote]
Nope, no joke.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from living abroad it’s that great beer can be found almost anywhere. Although I’d recommend against “banana beer.” Banana beer - Wikipedia I’ve tried some, they carry it because apparently there’s a lot of demand for it, but it’s not really suited for my palate. Like an explosion of Isoamyl acetate on the tongue!
They list Wells Banana Bread Beer as an example - I’ve had that, it’s pretty good for a banana flavored beer. I’d be surprised if it is actually an example of what they describe though, I’m pretty sure it is a malt based beer with banana added. I wonder if I can find any of the other ones. . .
Sorry, is this a joke? I’m sure it isn’t, it just struck me funny. Didn’t know Frenchies were getting known for their beers. Kind of like hearing “I just had this wonderful Canadian pineapple!”
[/quote]
I’ve come across a few damn fine French beers while in the south of Belgium but never a IPA style beer, blonds,saisons,BDG
Brasserie Thiriez
Brasserie Duyck
Brasserie De Saint-Sylvestre
Les Brasseurs de Gayant
Brasserie Castelain à Bénifontaine
Brasserie La Choulette
I may take you up on that offer…Don’t know when but when the mood strikes… I’ve discoverd the ease of
going to Belgium for beer. France ain’t too far away…
Update! Crackedkettle.com in the Netherlands had them and I got -TWO- along with 4 bottles of Bell’s Hopslam. Shoudl be here this weekend! Hooray!
Well, now what am I going to pay you?
MOR PLINY PLEEZ
J/k. Anything interesting is fun.
We’ve been fortunate w/ Pliny around here lately (Seattle).
I’ve had it on tap twice and in the bottle once (well, 4 bottles worth) in just the past month or so. Good stuff. 
I hate to think what they cost, CrackedKettle is very expensive compared to the De Bierkoning.