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Respect the Elder: Pliny Takes Top Honors

Jun 27th, 2009 by

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Posted in Beer

8 Responses to “Respect the Elder: Pliny Takes Top Honors”

  1. Matt says:
    June 27, 2009 at 10:20 am

    Thanks for posting this. Some things stuck out to me. Pilsner Urquell?? Hoegaarden?? Sam Adams Lager?? Not that these aren’t good beers. It just seems odd that they would fall in to group with the likes of Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron or Alaskan Brewery Smoked Porter. Maybe that is just my “fight the macro-brew” self. (Yes, Sam Adams is a macro-brew).

  2. David Flaherty says:
    June 27, 2009 at 10:52 pm

    No doubt, Matt. I was surprised, as well. After loving Sam Adams Boston Lager initially, I later went into a multi-year ban of the stuff due to it “not being micro”. But lo and behold, over the last year I’ve come back around to it whole-heartedly and find it damn tasty.

    It’s actually a “Vienna Lager”–a pretty rare style originally from Germany, that believe it or not, is the same as Dos Equis and Negra Modelo. For that, I guess you got to give it Jim Koch…

  3. Justin Christoph says:
    June 28, 2009 at 10:56 am

    Sam Adams makes a great spiced beer around the holidays, called old fuzzywig, i think you can only get it in the variety pack.

    Not surprised the survey is westcoast biased, with the number and history and microbreweries out there as well as the culture out there is a little more conducive to homebrewing(and the association is based in CO).

    I don’t think it’s “selling out” to vote or like a macrobrew anymore than it is to like a winery that is more wellknown or has a larger production, good stuff is good stuff; but it’s more fun and soul supporting by supporting and touting the little guys.

    How can Guinness be only #10?

  4. David Flaherty says:
    June 28, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    Justin, definitely agree on the Fezziwig. Here’s a little info on it: http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/35/1881
    Got some solid reviews. I was also struck by the sheer number of different styles Sam Adams has produced. They still have the spirit of experimentation which is good to see.

    But it is always killer to find that little brewery that’s making great beers on a tiny scale, fueled by passion. Six Point in NYC is one to watch…

  5. Vince says:
    July 2, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    Well said about the Sam Adams, David. I’ve seen it take a lot of flack lately, as the microbrews continue to explode (always a good thing). But it has maintained its quality over years and years, just as Sierra has, and that is one of the trademarks of what I consider “Best Beer”. I’m one of the ones who voted for Pliny, it really is my favorite and it’s a hometown brew to boot (and I get happy hour prices at RRBC all the time with my AHA card). :)

  6. David Flaherty says:
    July 3, 2009 at 11:08 am

    Right on, Vince, thanks for dropping a line. When Sam Adams went to bat to help out the other brewers during the hop shortage, they won some serious points with me. It’s all about community and they stepped up in style. For those of you who hadn’t heard about it: check it HERE.

    But enough about Sam Adams, because I had my first Pliny last night out here in Seattle (you can get it in the grocery store!), and it blew my mind. How the hell they managed to keep that massive wallop of hops in balance was truly a feet of mastery. Great stuff and definitely worthy of the top spot.

  7. David Flaherty says:
    June 18, 2010 at 1:47 am

    Yep, @bellsbrewery Two Hearted Ale is put-on-pink-panties-and-smack-your-mama good. Wow. No wonder its #4 on the list: http://bit.ly/aKQeQy

  8. Stefan Fiddian says:
    January 1, 2011 at 4:17 am

    Zymurgy Magazine's Top 50 Favorite Beers List | Grapes and Grains https://www.grapesandgrainsnyc.com/2009/06/27/respect-the-elder-pliny-takes

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