The Bar Towel

from Russian River Brewing in California.

A friend brought me back the only two remaining in the store he visited in Seattle.

Bottled on September 23, 2010 and poured into a Duvel glass. Very hazy appearance with not a great deal of head. Smell is very strong of citris and pine.

Tastes very fresh with strong presence of pine at the end. Very drinkable for an Imperial IPA.

To me this an absolutely stunning beer. I could drink it every day if it was available to me.

Probably my favourite DIPA. Awesome, awesome beer.

I'm surprised how many people think it's drinkable.

I think it's a great beer... an incredible sipper... but a bit over-the-top.

It's not really meant to be balanced... and it works.

I find it is more about the juicy hop flavours and aroma than the bitterness, which is what makes it highly drinkable for most. I actually prefer a little more bite in my DIPAs, but yeah, it is still pretty good.

It is the best beer I've ever had and I can't wait until I'm in Oregeon/California starting Thursday so I can drink as much of this as possible!

Derek wrote:I'm surprised how many people think it's drinkable.

I think it's a great beer... an incredible sipper... but a bit over-the-top.

It's not really meant to be balanced... and it works.

Not every hockey player is a good 2-way player. Pliny is the Mike Green of Double IPAs (the ofensive defenseman - pun intended - of beers.

markaberrant wrote:I find it is more about the juicy hop flavours and aroma than the bitterness, which is what makes it highly drinkable for most. I actually prefer a little more bite in my DIPAs, but yeah, it is still pretty good.

I had a pint of this on tap at Russian River last weekend. Totally agree with your assertion of ridiculously juicy hops and that it wasn't the bitter bruiser I was expecting. I'm excited to try the couple of bottles I brought back and compare it to how it presented on tap.

It's interesting how differently people perceive this beer. I though it was just a fantastically balanced IIPA, but as Derek notes, there are many others who get the opposit impression and that's what they really dig about it. A definite top 3 IIPA for me.

Their Blind Pig IPA has a leaner and more bitter profile in my opinion. I enjoy them both.

boney wrote:

markaberrant wrote:I find it is more about the juicy hop flavours and aroma than the bitterness, which is what makes it highly drinkable for most. I actually prefer a little more bite in my DIPAs, but yeah, it is still pretty good.

I had a pint of this on tap at Russian River last weekend. Totally agree with your assertion of ridiculously juicy hops and that it wasn't the bitter bruiser I was expecting. I'm excited to try the couple of bottles I brought back and compare it to how it presented on tap.

It's interesting how differently people perceive this beer. I though it was just a fantastically balanced IIPA, but as Derek notes, there are many others who get the opposit impression and that's what they really dig about it. A definite top 3 IIPA for me.

Had this fresh on tap at the Horse Brass at the beginning of October, and it was totally different to the bottle 'version' I had that was bottled about 2 weeks prior.

Totally agree with how you felt it was on tap. Bitterness was balanced and just felt like a real easy drinking IIPA; dangerous!!

God I wish I could get this over the River. It's really one of the beers at the top of my must try list.

I have a bottle or two of this in the mail right now (en route from San Diego). Hopefully this will be in my fridge by the weekend (and not in some CRA customs agent's fridge)...

I can't wait to try it!

A bunch of it (as well as Blind Pig and Damnation) was shipped to SK earlier this year. Sold out pretty much instantly. I still don't know the particulars of how it was brought in by the SLGA, but I do know Vinnie C found out and was pissed.

TheSevenDuffs wrote: Hopefully this will be in my fridge by the weekend (and not in some CRA customs agent's fridge)...

They probably drink well, those Confiscatory Ripoff Agents.

Threads about amazing beer we can't get here piss me off. Pliny Pliny Pliny... OK enough of this thread.

markaberrant wrote:A bunch of it (as well as Blind Pig and Damnation) was shipped to SK earlier this year. Sold out pretty much instantly. I still don't know the particulars of how it was brought in by the SLGA, but I do know Vinnie C found out and was pissed.

I heard that the RR stuff was brought in specifically for a tasting and that the liquor store ended up putting some of it on the shelves for sale. However, that account isn't rfom the horses mouth at RR or from those in SK.

Belgian wrote: Threads about amazing beer we can't get here piss me off. Pliny Pliny Pliny... OK enough of this thread.

Duuuuude. Make some trades and hope for some good luck at the border. Even if you lived in the States it's not like you can get Bell's in California and Russian River in Michigan.