I remember my second time in the US when I wasn't a beer guy yet and I went into this pub in San Francisco. I asked for something special and they gave me the Pliny... waaaaaaaaaoh in your face young beer noob!!!!!
If you like a good Vermont IPA take a trip to a brewery called Hill Farmstead. I was blown away by the beers they had, I'm sure you two would be equally impressed.
@@michaelpopovitch6645 I haven't had crusher yet. Focal Banger isnt better or worse than Heady imo. Heady is a hop combo, and Focal is a citra + mosaic combo. Which ever you like better really depends on the style.
I was lucky enough to have Pliny on tap near my house, then found Heady Topper in a can the next day. I really love them both, but I honestly like Pliny 3x more at least. Pliny is definitely my favorite beer I've ever had. Heady Topper is good, but it's a bit too pungent with citrus for my personal preference. Pliny on the other hand is by far the best balanced beer I've ever had. So much dank aromas and hop flavor, but somehow at the same time, it has a nice small bit of malt to it, which balances it all out. If I hadn't looked at the IBU, I would have probably guessed it would be around 70 or so; I was so surprised it's a 100 IBU brew. It is just so smooth and balanced. It also has a hint of citrus to it, but unlike the Heady Topper, it isn't overpowering, which is nice. Pliny: 4.85/5 Heady Topper: 4.4/5
I used to go to the Russian River brewery weekly when I lived in Santa Rosa, Ca. Their beers were very strong. people are crazy for Pliny. My wife's cousin gave their son the middle name Pliny. So many great breweries in northern California. I truly miss it there.
I live near Santa Rosa California, it's easy for me to get Pliny. Please note Pliny is very very perishable. If it isn't refrigerated for 2 days room temperature or 2 weeks in the fridge it starts losing flavor. I left some Pliny in fridge for about 6 weeks, and it lost its mojo. This beer went from being a 10 rating to a 7 in my book after 6 weeks in the fridge. If you want to taste Pliny as it was designed to taste, it should be no later than 1 week refrigerated from its born on date. It's the best beer you will ever taste.
Totally agree! Although I'd say it's the same for practically all IPAs and other hoppy styles. We've now had it fresh as a daisy in Santa Rosa, and have an interview with Russian River's owner Vince coming to the channel soon!
The Craft Beer Channel Please ask Vinny if he can sell Pliny the elder kegs of 5 gal to the public. Greatly appreciate it. Yes all IPA should be dranked fresh, but I feel the elder is more fragile than the other IPAs. It's a good beer but I wouldn't touch it after 6 weeks. Instead I would do a trade. There's other IPAs I can drink after 3 months and still taste great but not Pliny.
Ok, boys I’ve watched this video many times but this time I’m matching your heady topper with an hazy double ipa from kettle head brewery out of New Hampshire called “the most pulpiest thing in this world” and it is a beautiful beer. You two really need to try this beer
Vermont also has Magic Hat and (my favorite) Long Trail making the good stuff. Try some of Long Trail's Double Bag sometime; almost molasses-ey overtones.
+Styxhexenhammer666 Oh, boy - I had myself Magic Hat's Heart of Darkness a few years ago (I don't even know if they brew it anymore or all year long) : what a great experience!
I've recently had both beers for the first time, and compare drinking them to listening to Led Zeppelin and The Beatles. Pliny is like listening to The Beatles. No one aspect of the songs really stands out and screams for attention - the bass, the drums, the guitars, the vocals. If you heard Ringo Starr playing drums on a track for some other band, you wouldn't usually think to yourself "Wow, that sounds like Ringo", unless you are a drummer yourself and really know your shit. The same goes for everyone else. But the entire package of a Beatles song is a perfect synergy of musicianship and songwriting that you really can't duplicate. Heady Topper is like listening to Led Zeppelin. Every aspect of it stands out - the malt characteristic is really bready and almost smoky, the hops smack you in the face, the bitterness is really pronounced but soft at the same time, the yeast esters are noticeable. It's like Led Zeppelin, where the drums are unmistakably Jon Bonham because no one can play like he did, the bass is that perfectly balanced blend of tasteful funk and rock that JPJ is known for (listen to the bass on The Lemon Song), and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are obviously legendary, unique and irreplaceable. I love both beers and think both are worth the hype. Both are also dangerously drinkable. But it's easier to homebrew Pliny, I think. And it's more than the fact that the recipe for Pliny is known while the recipe for Heady Topper is an educated guess. My most recent Pliny clone is somewhat close, but there is something about Heady Topper that makes me think that there is some proprietary magic that happens in the production and canning process that simply can't be replicated at home. It's like they spray the inside of the can with concentrated hop resin or something before they add the beer.
+chuangtsu I raise my glass to you, dude. Perfect analysis. By the way, I haven't tried Heady Topper yet. I intend to go to Burlington on a thursday - when it's available in some of its pubs - to see if I can finely have my own taste of this famous beer (at least it was very famous when double IPAs were all the rage).
It may taste more powerful out of the can because of hop particles and proteins that have settled to the bottom of the can that you're not getting in your glass
I wish I could find either of these two beers in Illinois but I can't. I had to settle with Surly Axe Man IPA today, which is pretty great too, but these sound like the very best
Here in California it is a bit passé to say you love Pliny. That does not stop it from going dry where ever it is, if and when you can find it. I could care less, it is the most balanced DIPAs I have had. I thought the same thing when I first tried it. The guys up at Russian River scoffed at my wife and I ordering it first. They were much more into Blind Pig. It was good but was much more hoppy and more like the rest of the West Coast IPAs I have tried.
I think Cali has that Hipster culture of turning away from something that is popular. But Pliny got its reputation for a reason and when it sells out at local bars this proves how good it is.
Peter Bys Best beer in the country? That's cute. I'd rather have 100's of great breweries than one that makes a few great beers. Come to California and have a few pints. It's nice here.
california is good for beer but it does not touch New England - Hill Farmsted - Treehouse - Alchemist - Otter Creek and countless other in NH and Maine
From the can would also put the beer in a different part of the mouth like the most expensive and unique wine glasses do (Redele wine glasses for example, I hope that is the right spelling).
I went to school in Vermont where The Alchemist brewery is and even there it was damned hard to get Heady Topper; had to show up at the right liquor store at the right time, basically. I love the beer but I definitely couldn't drink it too often.
I wouldn't despair too much.. I've sampled some unbelievably good locally produced IPA's (AUS/NZ) that stack up pretty well against anything. Wellington Brewer Garage Project is a perfect example of world class brewing at home and most of their beers are available in AUS
From the color the Heady came out of the can it looked somewhat old. Although I like heady slightly aged most people like most very fresh. Remember that when rating. They say to drink from the can because there is a constant layer of Co2 that protects the beer in the can for every sip. When you pour it in a glass it get totally exposed to oxygen and ruins the taste.
+garretts91 it was only two months old! We agree it tasted better from the can, but it's so rarely black and white. Drinking from a can reduces aroma for a start. Only solution is to have two and do both so you never have to decide.
The Craft Beer Channel I hear ya. I go to Vermont all the time (I live in New Hampshire). When I buy a case or more it obviously sits in my fridge for some time. From that I can say, this beer ages fast. By two months your tasting a totally different beer for sure. Like I said I like it somewhat aged. Everyone is different but, that's why we have so many craft beers to try! Cheers
+The Craft Beer Channel When you put the can up to your nose, the aroma is concentrated further by only being allowed out of that tiny hole in the can, rather than flying off into the air from a glass. That's what the folks at the Alchemist say anyway.
Jim Johnson copied from my other reply below. Beavertown Brewery, London recently released the UK's first canned DIPA and TIPA. These are world class beers and IMO both better than Heady, which I tried for the first time two weeks ago. Pliny is still the best beer I've had overall, but the Beaverton beers are very good. Magic Rock Brewery do an annual release of a TIPA version of their core IPA called Un-Human Cannonball which is also very good.
The Craft Beer Channel Oh really? I though this year's was the best so far. I only had it on tap however so can't rate the bottles. Me and 6 friends only managed to get 3 bottles at a launch with the brewers in Leeds, had plenty of it on tap though. Still see it some places around Leeds actually.
Great reviews! The Alchemist produces mostly Heady Topper, but they've released other beers such as Focal Banger which have even more limited availability than Heady Topper. How do these double IPAs compare to the ones being brewed by UK craft brewers? Cheers!
The Brewed Palate to answer your question about UK brewers, Beavertown Brewery, London recently released the UK's first canned DIPA and TIPA. These are world class beers and IMO better than Heady, which I tried for the first time two weeks ago. Pliny is still the best beer I've had overall, but the Beaverton beers are very good. Magic Rock Brewery do an annual release of a TIPA version of their core IPA called Un-Human Cannonball which is also world class.
Richard Evans The Brewed Palate Buxton also do some fantastic double IPAs and a good triple one too. And Brewdog's Born To Die was stunning, and a similar ABV to Pliny and Heady. A lot of British breweries are doing beers that rival the big Americans - they just can't do it as often because getting the hops is increasingly hard...
The Craft Beer Channel I love Buxton a lot, but I think their double/triples are always missing something, not quite sure what it is but I never enjoy them as much as I do their other beers. Born to Die was very good, I had it side by side with Enjoy By and think it was better than the Stone, but the Enjoy By 07/04/15 was the worse batch I've had so far. Usually flawless but it was missing something this time round.
I finally had the time to watch all your videos and this one is by far is my favorite. I love the wrestling analogy and i really appreciate what you guys do. Ive learned a lot about beers i don't often get a chance to try but hopefully will in the near future. Thanks again. :)
I completely understand. I have the same problem. Haha. I have yet to brew any of my own beer but its something im going to do very soon. I want to make a living brewing beer at some point in time and i feel at 25 im a bit behind. Learning all that i can in the name of beer and learning from all of you is a great push in the right direction. So again thank you.
Well Bells 🔔 two hearted ale has place #1 three years in a row so ummm... yea. I’ve tried both of these... pliney is good but Russian river shoots themselves in the foot by trying to create the “limited” supply they brew.
We've had Two Hearted many times since and it is absolutely delicious, though we find Pliny a little better balanced and nuanced. Not much in it. As for limiting the supply the they brew, it's not that they "try" to limit it, it's that they aren't so interested in running a huge brewery and distributing all over the country - suddenly being a brewery becomes more about logistics than creativity. That said, they have just done a huge expansion though nothing like the size of Bells.
Pliny is also the worlds first American double IPA so no matter how hazy the haze craze gets , also considering that they have never sold out , Pliny always deserves respect.
So you're really telling me that some people Brew beers on purpose and these people brewed this one and it was an accident and became one of the best ever?😊
Heard you talking about this one on the bus yesterday. Great review and I agree Pliny is way more balanced...but nothing beats a fresh can of heady and it's ludicrously amazing smell. Now you have to track down Lawson's Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine to get the trifecta.
Drank a bottle of Pliny the Elder last week. Just over 2 weeks old, bought in to the UK. I think back in 2015 when this video was made it may have been at the top of its game, but drinking it in Apr 2018 i personally found it ok/nothing special . The UK craft beer scene has churned out some epic beers in the last 2 years, hence my lack of wow factor.
We hear that a lot and sympathise. No doubt it is a less modern beer and palates have shifted, but we have never tasted a west coast IPA this good anywhere else in the world. We still think it is the best - as for best IPA in the world...if the test is how it drinks by the pint we would go for this too!
indeed! It's quite different though - a much sweeter aroma and upfront taste than these two. I've got both in my fridge so I might try it and report back or even film it.
The Craft Beer Channel Drink it how you will. I have family in Vermont but currently live in California so both two very hard to get beers are relatively easy to get with some effort. I noticed in the glass it is softer and becomes more balanced. I keep the last 2 inches in the can, spin it around to collect the sediment, then pour all that good stuff into the glass. Drinking from the can IMO keeps it a 100% hophead experience.
mitchell2719 The reason for drinking it from the can (as explained by the brewery owner) is that because there is so much hops in the beer, that the hop oils stick to the inside of the can, so if you pour it out into a glass, you leave all of that behind. By drinking it out of the can, the sloshing back and forth of the beer in the can, will work the hop oils back into the beer. If you must drink it from a glass (as I do), pour 1/3 into a glass, and then swirl the remainder in the can around to get the hop oils off the can side, back into the beer, pour another 1/3, and repeat, then pour the last 1/3.
Heady Topper is a very delicate beer. You have to keep the can in the fridge until you open it and, to enjoy this beer at its best, you have to drink it as soon and fresh as possible. The color of your Heady seems a bit dark, are you sure it was not a "too late" can?
it was 2 months old but can't comment on how it had been stored and such. Had a few cans since and this was the best condition we've seen it. It was a dark pub so maybe that's why it looks tainted!
if anyone is willing to do a beer trade, I live two hours away from Russian River Brewary and drive up all the time to get Pliny but it's so hard to find Topper here just like I'd imagine it's hard for East coast people to find Pliny. Anyone want to ship me like two Toppers for two Plinys?
You don't need Heady, man! You've got Cellarmaker and Fieldwork an hour drive away, fresh as a California morning. ...And now I really want to be in San Francisco again.
The Craft Beer Channel I guest I wasn't clear. I've never tried Heady Topper and I don't see myself being able to get it anywhere around here. I actually attempted to get a few times a while back and was unsuccessful but hey, maybe one day I will. I'll definitely be checking out those other breweries you mentioned. Thanks man!
The Craft Beer Channel Went to Cellarmaker last Friday. I was absolutely blown away by how good their beer is. so fresh, danky and hoppy. thanks for recommending that. good thing I don't live 5 min away haha.
we did a duel taste test...i brew and other guy was pro brewer....our choice was Heady...but they are both good,,,,, . unfortunately u have to kill someone to get either
The Craft Beer Channel 😕 ah. Maybe when I'm 18 I can come over and try some. Cause I've had a little bit of drinks here with my friends. (Unknowlingly to some people 😬) But I've never been able yo recreationally drink at a good bar. I want to try some quality British craft beers.
Great to see you blokes enjoying beer from the new country! Never had Pliny but was lucky enough to find Heady yesterday fresh off the truck whilst up in Vermont. My goodness, what flavors! I didn't find it as off-balanced as you did, and the finish stayed with me for a long time. But it's all good, and thanks for the Mano a Mano comparo!
As I'm sipping heady and being from Portland where we just got lucky to get a shit ton of heady some how🥺 I have to say heady is definitely not a NE style IPA in the sense of the word that people would call a NE IPA. Reminds me alot of this iconic beer we have here in Oregon called sticky hands by block 15 that's been around for as Long. This all being said heady topper is one hell of a beer, just not what I'd consider a NE IPA now a days and that's not a bad thing.
@@lysolkills99oftherona42 heady is the original neipa, they invented the style. neipa has devolved into something almost entirely different and should be called something different.
As I was saying to a friend : I simultaneously hate you and love you. Never had a chance to hear what these beers tasted like. I have some Westvleteren, care for a trade ? ^^
The Craft Beer Channel Fantôme is a very small brewery created in the 80's and located in a small village of Wallonia (Soy). The beer is an interesting belgian saison style but the guy produces heaps of interesting stuff (always in very, very small quantity). Rullequin is a Stout (if I remember you love stouts ^^) born due to the collaboration between Rulles brewery and Geuzerie Tilquin. I don't know what it tastes like ... I have one bottle that I save for a particular occasion !
+The Craft Beer Channel I highly recommend anything from Treehouse Brewing; out of this world. Other Half out of NY, Foundation, Maine Beer, Lawson….many excellent beers out of New England. Cheers!
true but it beer the colour, filtering, head etc are all vital to how we appraise it! We could have made it so we didn't know which was which, but knowing one is very hazy and the other not would have given the game away...
+The Craft Beer Channel you guys need to try some Treehouse beers...better than both if you ask me and ive had them all. Julius, Juice Machine, and King J are phenomenal! Also Epiphany by Foundation Brewery and Swish by Bissell Brothers are top notch!! NE IPAs all day!! Cheers!
+Tyler Bissel we haven't tried any of those unfortunately! We need another mystery benefactor to send us some. Or when we come over we'll get some! Just need to book that trip...
in retrospect they are two completely different beers really so not entirely fair to compare at all! But at the time it was all people talked about so we thought we'd compare them.
We think it does! The thing is they are totally different styles, which I dont think we appreciated enough at the time. The yeast profile, bitterness and dry hopping are off the scale in Heady while Pliny is all about balance.
Yeah they do now but at the time we filmed this the others were only seasonal. Now it seems they're all year round, which is awesome! Never heard of Shut the Hell Up, a little bit of history gone!
haha, there are few facts in the beer world! What we have learned is they are very, very different beers. One is dank, tropical hazy and incredibly bitter; the other piney, grapefruity and perfectly balanced. We think both are world class, and both have their perfect moment.
I'm very lucky to be able to purchase Pliney twice a week
+Miguel De La Cruz Yes. Yes you are, and we all hate you for it! :)
Great review. I'm drinking a two-week old Pliny that I got from Pacific Market in Sebastopol, CA. as I write this. Incredible as usual...
I highly recommend you try blind pig from Russian river. It's the lesser hyped, but richer, and better-balanced IPA.
Awesome channel guys!
+Yonatan Schkolnik we've heard some prefer it. Now to try and get some!
+The Craft Beer Channel I had both at the Toronado in SF and preferred the Blind Pig. I think the Pliny hype counted against it in a weird way.
I like both about Equally.
I remember my second time in the US when I wasn't a beer guy yet and I went into this pub in San Francisco. I asked for something special and they gave me the Pliny... waaaaaaaaaoh in your face young beer noob!!!!!
Haha. baptism of fire man!
If you like a good Vermont IPA take a trip to a brewery called Hill Farmstead. I was blown away by the beers they had, I'm sure you two would be equally impressed.
+James Pistell we've had many of their beers - hill farmstead are one of the best breweries in the world! In fact we're ageing a few of their sours.
+James Pistell we've had many of their beers - hill farmstead are one of the best breweries in the world! In fact we're ageing a few of their sours.
I'm jealous!
The Alchemist brews several beers. Heady Topper, Focal Banger, Petite Mutant, and Luscious to name a few.
Indeed! But aren't all those just seasonal?
Focal Banger and The Crusher are both better than Heady
@@michaelpopovitch6645 I haven't had crusher yet. Focal Banger isnt better or worse than Heady imo. Heady is a hop combo, and Focal is a citra + mosaic combo. Which ever you like better really depends on the style.
I was lucky enough to have Pliny on tap near my house, then found Heady Topper in a can the next day. I really love them both, but I honestly like Pliny 3x more at least. Pliny is definitely my favorite beer I've ever had. Heady Topper is good, but it's a bit too pungent with citrus for my personal preference. Pliny on the other hand is by far the best balanced beer I've ever had. So much dank aromas and hop flavor, but somehow at the same time, it has a nice small bit of malt to it, which balances it all out. If I hadn't looked at the IBU, I would have probably guessed it would be around 70 or so; I was so surprised it's a 100 IBU brew. It is just so smooth and balanced. It also has a hint of citrus to it, but unlike the Heady Topper, it isn't overpowering, which is nice.
Pliny: 4.85/5
Heady Topper: 4.4/5
I used to go to the Russian River brewery weekly when I lived in Santa Rosa, Ca. Their beers were very strong. people are crazy for Pliny. My wife's cousin gave their son the middle name Pliny. So many great breweries in northern California. I truly miss it there.
Wow! That is serious love for Pliny! We need to meet this guy.
Heady Topper and Focal Banger are my favorite Alchemist beers
Great idea pitting these two against each other, they are both icons of the beer world in their own right.
Jake O indeed. And well worth the wait.
Only 10 years late to the party, but finally tried both and whilst both amazing, i would pick Heady if only given the choice of one.
Come to Cali in Feb. We'll get some Pliny the Younger, aka The Younger Games.
Super jealous of you guys for finding those, but excited to see the world enjoying the art of craft beer! Cheers mates!
Corey Calvin cheers to you!
I live near Santa Rosa California, it's easy for me to get Pliny. Please note Pliny is very very perishable. If it isn't refrigerated for 2 days room temperature or 2 weeks in the fridge it starts losing flavor. I left some Pliny in fridge for about 6 weeks, and it lost its mojo. This beer went from being a 10 rating to a 7 in my book after 6 weeks in the fridge. If you want to taste Pliny as it was designed to taste, it should be no later than 1 week refrigerated from its born on date. It's the best beer you will ever taste.
Totally agree! Although I'd say it's the same for practically all IPAs and other hoppy styles. We've now had it fresh as a daisy in Santa Rosa, and have an interview with Russian River's owner Vince coming to the channel soon!
The Craft Beer Channel
Please ask Vinny if he can sell Pliny the elder kegs of 5 gal to the public. Greatly appreciate it.
Yes all IPA should be dranked fresh, but I feel the elder is more fragile than the other IPAs. It's a good beer but I wouldn't touch it after 6 weeks. Instead I would do a trade. There's other IPAs I can drink after 3 months and still taste great but not Pliny.
Ok, boys I’ve watched this video many times but this time I’m matching your heady topper with an hazy double ipa from kettle head brewery out of New Hampshire called “the most pulpiest thing in this world” and it is a beautiful beer. You two really need to try this beer
I have 5 gallons of Pliny in my keezer, brewed using the Russian River grain bill kit sold by MoreBeer. Brewing a second batch next week.
I’ve tried both and love them both equally!
Vermont also has Magic Hat and (my favorite) Long Trail making the good stuff. Try some of Long Trail's Double Bag sometime; almost molasses-ey overtones.
We'll see what we can get our hands on!
+Styxhexenhammer666 Oh, boy - I had myself Magic Hat's Heart of Darkness a few years ago (I don't even know if they brew it anymore or all year long) : what a great experience!
Magic hat is a joke, no self respecting vermonter drinks that stuff.
I've recently had both beers for the first time, and compare drinking them to listening to Led Zeppelin and The Beatles.
Pliny is like listening to The Beatles. No one aspect of the songs really stands out and screams for attention - the bass, the drums, the guitars, the vocals. If you heard Ringo Starr playing drums on a track for some other band, you wouldn't usually think to yourself "Wow, that sounds like Ringo", unless you are a drummer yourself and really know your shit. The same goes for everyone else. But the entire package of a Beatles song is a perfect synergy of musicianship and songwriting that you really can't duplicate.
Heady Topper is like listening to Led Zeppelin. Every aspect of it stands out - the malt characteristic is really bready and almost smoky, the hops smack you in the face, the bitterness is really pronounced but soft at the same time, the yeast esters are noticeable. It's like Led Zeppelin, where the drums are unmistakably Jon Bonham because no one can play like he did, the bass is that perfectly balanced blend of tasteful funk and rock that JPJ is known for (listen to the bass on The Lemon Song), and Jimmy Page and Robert Plant are obviously legendary, unique and irreplaceable.
I love both beers and think both are worth the hype. Both are also dangerously drinkable. But it's easier to homebrew Pliny, I think. And it's more than the fact that the recipe for Pliny is known while the recipe for Heady Topper is an educated guess. My most recent Pliny clone is somewhat close, but there is something about Heady Topper that makes me think that there is some proprietary magic that happens in the production and canning process that simply can't be replicated at home. It's like they spray the inside of the can with concentrated hop resin or something before they add the beer.
+chuangtsu amazing analogy! That was beer prose you composed in that comment there good sir. I tip my hat to you.
+chuangtsu I raise my glass to you, dude. Perfect analysis.
By the way, I haven't tried Heady Topper yet. I intend to go to Burlington on a thursday - when it's available in some of its pubs - to see if I can finely have my own taste of this famous beer (at least it was very famous when double IPAs were all the rage).
chuangtsu awesome way to describe these two beers against each other
It may taste more powerful out of the can because of hop particles and proteins that have settled to the bottom of the can that you're not getting in your glass
I wish I could find either of these two beers in Illinois but I can't. I had to settle with Surly Axe Man IPA today, which is pretty great too, but these sound like the very best
is there anywhere i can get Pliny in australia? preferably Sydney.
Most likely not, its rare even in California
Nope, You can only get it in California, only NorCal
Here in California it is a bit passé to say you love Pliny. That does not stop it from going dry where ever it is, if and when you can find it. I could care less, it is the most balanced DIPAs I have had. I thought the same thing when I first tried it.
The guys up at Russian River scoffed at my wife and I ordering it first. They were much more into Blind Pig. It was good but was much more hoppy and more like the rest of the West Coast IPAs I have tried.
arion45 Haha. I guess the beer isn't as extreme these days, but it's all phases and I bet Pliny will have its day of being cool in Cali again.
I think Cali has that Hipster culture of turning away from something that is popular. But Pliny got its reputation for a reason and when it sells out at local bars this proves how good it is.
I remember my first Pliny experience. It was what I imagine heaven is like
Heady Topper is a great beer but Pliny the Elder in my opinion beats it. I live in Massachusetts so I get the REAL best beer in the world. Tree House.
seen our video with Treehouse? ruclips.net/video/5sg4yc118Ck/видео.html
I have actually I'm glad you like it! I get spoiled living only 20 minutes away
Peter Bys Best beer in the country? That's cute. I'd rather have 100's of great breweries than one that makes a few great beers. Come to California and have a few pints. It's nice here.
california is good for beer but it does not touch New England - Hill Farmsted - Treehouse - Alchemist - Otter Creek and countless other in NH and Maine
Alexander Caroll I agree. I've had great cali beers! But I do take in some NE pride since this is my home lol
Great review guys. Where's that bar in East London?
Anybody know where to purchase the glasses they're using?
They're called teku glasses - should available online at bar or beer stores.
Great review and very jealous!
does the order you tasted them make a difference? one of you could have tried a different one first, then the other
Hmm... in retrospect that might have made sense, but for a video to be concise it had to be this way. RUclips is a tricky medium sometimes!
Blind pig is more popular among locals and its a ipa/pale
From the can would also put the beer in a different part of the mouth like the most expensive and unique wine glasses do (Redele wine glasses for example, I hope that is the right spelling).
+Tim Green this is true. And it aerates the beer a bit too. For better or worse....not sure.
You guys gotta take a trip to the states. Just go to Vermont. Visit Hill Famstead especially.
+Z Dubs hoping to some day soon!
Great vid guys
autonomistfront Cheers!
drinking anything after Pliny accentuates any "pointy-ness" lol
What were the expiration dates for the beers or born on date whatever?
Both brewed in March so two months old.
I went to school in Vermont where The Alchemist brewery is and even there it was damned hard to get Heady Topper; had to show up at the right liquor store at the right time, basically. I love the beer but I definitely couldn't drink it too often.
So cool that there is the demand like this, but so tough to be unable to drink local beer as a result!
when are you coming to Barcelona? We've got a strong craft beer scene over here!
+Michele Berto we've been! Check out our video here: ruclips.net/video/rGNIkxZzoQo/видео.html
well done!
Cheers!
Two beers we will never get in Australia :(
Or anywhere else outside the US really! But they are worth travelling for, particularly Pliny as it's readily available in San Fran and Sonoma.
I wouldn't despair too much.. I've sampled some unbelievably good locally produced IPA's (AUS/NZ) that stack up pretty well against anything. Wellington Brewer Garage Project is a perfect example of world class brewing at home and most of their beers are available in AUS
Elsternwick Cellars oh totally. GP is amazing. Their collabs are wonderful too. The ones they have done with Trillium are incredible.
how did you get Heady Topper in the UK? Fly it in?!?!
A friend went and brought it back. Tragically a one off.
From the color the Heady came out of the can it looked somewhat old. Although I like heady slightly aged most people like most very fresh. Remember that when rating. They say to drink from the can because there is a constant layer of Co2 that protects the beer in the can for every sip. When you pour it in a glass it get totally exposed to oxygen and ruins the taste.
+garretts91 it was only two months old! We agree it tasted better from the can, but it's so rarely black and white. Drinking from a can reduces aroma for a start. Only solution is to have two and do both so you never have to decide.
The Craft Beer Channel
I hear ya. I go to Vermont all the time (I live in New Hampshire). When I buy a case or more it obviously sits in my fridge for some time. From that I can say, this beer ages fast. By two months your tasting a totally different beer for sure. Like I said I like it somewhat aged. Everyone is different but, that's why we have so many craft beers to try! Cheers
+The Craft Beer Channel When you put the can up to your nose, the aroma is concentrated further by only being allowed out of that tiny hole in the can, rather than flying off into the air from a glass. That's what the folks at the Alchemist say anyway.
+Z Dubs very true, but when you drink it you don't have your face in it! And like a face full of beer.
Ive been looking for The Elder to get as a Christmas gift...so far no luck in finding any bottles...it sucks !
If you aren't in California that will be a very thankless task!
@@TheCraftBeerChannel I am in Cali...The san Fran area...Oakland. Its been a futile search.
Curious how these compare to UK DIPA's?
Jim Johnson copied from my other reply below. Beavertown Brewery, London recently released the UK's first canned DIPA and TIPA. These are world class beers and IMO both better than Heady, which I tried for the first time two weeks ago. Pliny is still the best beer I've had overall, but the Beaverton beers are very good. Magic Rock Brewery do an annual release of a TIPA version of their core IPA called Un-Human Cannonball which is also very good.
Richard Evans yeah man UHC was unbelievable last years. This year's wasn't quite so clean.
The Craft Beer Channel Oh really? I though this year's was the best so far. I only had it on tap however so can't rate the bottles. Me and 6 friends only managed to get 3 bottles at a launch with the brewers in Leeds, had plenty of it on tap though. Still see it some places around Leeds actually.
Anyone in AUS know where you can get a beer tasting glass?
did no one help!? We'll look into it.
Great reviews! The Alchemist produces mostly Heady Topper, but they've released other beers such as Focal Banger which have even more limited availability than Heady Topper. How do these double IPAs compare to the ones being brewed by UK craft brewers? Cheers!
Thanks for correcting us...We'll try and find some seasonal....somehow.
The Brewed Palate to answer your question about UK brewers, Beavertown Brewery, London recently released the UK's first canned DIPA and TIPA. These are world class beers and IMO better than Heady, which I tried for the first time two weeks ago. Pliny is still the best beer I've had overall, but the Beaverton beers are very good. Magic Rock Brewery do an annual release of a TIPA version of their core IPA called Un-Human Cannonball which is also world class.
Richard Evans The Brewed Palate Buxton also do some fantastic double IPAs and a good triple one too. And Brewdog's Born To Die was stunning, and a similar ABV to Pliny and Heady. A lot of British breweries are doing beers that rival the big Americans - they just can't do it as often because getting the hops is increasingly hard...
The Craft Beer Channel I love Buxton a lot, but I think their double/triples are always missing something, not quite sure what it is but I never enjoy them as much as I do their other beers. Born to Die was very good, I had it side by side with Enjoy By and think it was better than the Stone, but the Enjoy By 07/04/15 was the worse batch I've had so far. Usually flawless but it was missing something this time round.
I finally had the time to watch all your videos and this one is by far is my favorite. I love the wrestling analogy and i really appreciate what you guys do. Ive learned a lot about beers i don't often get a chance to try but hopefully will in the near future. Thanks again. :)
Leo Ferguson cheers! Glad you like the videos. We're trying to get a bit more international in our beers, but the need to drink fresh limits us a bit!
I completely understand. I have the same problem. Haha. I have yet to brew any of my own beer but its something im going to do very soon. I want to make a living brewing beer at some point in time and i feel at 25 im a bit behind. Learning all that i can in the name of beer and learning from all of you is a great push in the right direction. So again thank you.
Leo Ferguson you're very welcome. Good luck with the beery career!
Well Bells 🔔 two hearted ale has place #1 three years in a row so ummm... yea.
I’ve tried both of these... pliney is good but Russian river shoots themselves in the foot by trying to create the “limited” supply they brew.
We've had Two Hearted many times since and it is absolutely delicious, though we find Pliny a little better balanced and nuanced. Not much in it. As for limiting the supply the they brew, it's not that they "try" to limit it, it's that they aren't so interested in running a huge brewery and distributing all over the country - suddenly being a brewery becomes more about logistics than creativity. That said, they have just done a huge expansion though nothing like the size of Bells.
Pliny the Elder is the best beer I have ever had.
Pliny is also the worlds first American double IPA so no matter how hazy the haze craze gets , also considering that they have never sold out , Pliny always deserves respect.
Amen to that
Blows my mind that someone who brewed the first of its kind also made the best of kind. Like how does that happen?
The Alchemist all day. Pliny is OG.
Where does Jai Alai IPA fit in?
It is a lovely beer but doesnt compete with Pliny's drinkability or Heady's all out synapse assault.
Had both, both are amazing. I know it’s a different style but I think Zombie Dust is better than both of them
So you're really telling me that some people Brew beers on purpose and these people brewed this one and it was an accident and became one of the best ever?😊
Heard you talking about this one on the bus yesterday. Great review and I agree Pliny is way more balanced...but nothing beats a fresh can of heady and it's ludicrously amazing smell. Now you have to track down Lawson's Finest Liquids Sip of Sunshine to get the trifecta.
Rock on Beer Blog We're on the hunt already!
Two very amazing beers, however unable to buy anywhere in Australia
+Steve Molloy nor can we in the uk! We've now been to see Russian river, and will hopefully do the sane for the Alchemist.
Why does the modern plimy the Edler look so different????
Drank a bottle of Pliny the Elder last week. Just over 2 weeks old, bought in to the UK. I think back in 2015 when this video was made it may have been at the top of its game, but drinking it in Apr 2018 i personally found it ok/nothing special . The UK craft beer scene has churned out some epic beers in the last 2 years, hence my lack of wow factor.
We hear that a lot and sympathise. No doubt it is a less modern beer and palates have shifted, but we have never tasted a west coast IPA this good anywhere else in the world. We still think it is the best - as for best IPA in the world...if the test is how it drinks by the pint we would go for this too!
Heady Topper I would go for any day all day.
Seen our documentary all about it? ruclips.net/video/x84OsiVaO9U/видео.html
It would be interesting including Cloudwater's DIPA v3 on that battle
indeed! It's quite different though - a much sweeter aroma and upfront taste than these two. I've got both in my fridge so I might try it and report back or even film it.
I got 6 cans of Heady Topper recently. Goddamn is it hoppy, but it's also delicious.
And you're supposed to drink it from the can! BLASPHEMER
We did drink it from the can! We tried both ways to make it a fair test...
The Craft Beer Channel Drink it how you will. I have family in Vermont but currently live in California so both two very hard to get beers are relatively easy to get with some effort. I noticed in the glass it is softer and becomes more balanced. I keep the last 2 inches in the can, spin it around to collect the sediment, then pour all that good stuff into the glass. Drinking from the can IMO keeps it a 100% hophead experience.
Dicky I only made the comment because the can actually says to drink it from the can :P
mitchell2719 The reason for drinking it from the can (as explained by the brewery owner) is that because there is so much hops in the beer, that the hop oils stick to the inside of the can, so if you pour it out into a glass, you leave all of that behind. By drinking it out of the can, the sloshing back and forth of the beer in the can, will work the hop oils back into the beer.
If you must drink it from a glass (as I do), pour 1/3 into a glass, and then swirl the remainder in the can around to get the hop oils off the can side, back into the beer, pour another 1/3, and repeat, then pour the last 1/3.
Scott Millican Nicely said.
Good beer can only benefit from a bit of aeration unless you are from (that nation you mentioned but I cannot spell)!
It's better from the can because there are hop oils and resins in the bottom
Indeed! we learnt that after filming, although why it doesn't make it into the glass is a mystery.
Topper all day, I love Pliny but Topper takes the cake.
Pliny is the best beer I have ever had.
Pliny.. 👍🏼
Did not see the smile on the faces for heady topper that i did for the pliny.
Heady Topper is a very delicate beer. You have to keep the can in the fridge until you open it and, to enjoy this beer at its best, you have to drink it as soon and fresh as possible. The color of your Heady seems a bit dark, are you sure it was not a "too late" can?
it was 2 months old but can't comment on how it had been stored and such. Had a few cans since and this was the best condition we've seen it. It was a dark pub so maybe that's why it looks tainted!
if anyone is willing to do a beer trade, I live two hours away from Russian River Brewary and drive up all the time to get Pliny but it's so hard to find Topper here just like I'd imagine it's hard for East coast people to find Pliny. Anyone want to ship me like two Toppers for two Plinys?
You don't need Heady, man! You've got Cellarmaker and Fieldwork an hour drive away, fresh as a California morning.
...And now I really want to be in San Francisco again.
The Craft Beer Channel I guest I wasn't clear. I've never tried Heady Topper and I don't see myself being able to get it anywhere around here. I actually attempted to get a few times a while back and was unsuccessful but hey, maybe one day I will. I'll definitely be checking out those other breweries you mentioned. Thanks man!
no worries! Hope you track some down one day!
The Craft Beer Channel Went to Cellarmaker last Friday. I was absolutely blown away by how good their beer is. so fresh, danky and hoppy. thanks for recommending that. good thing I don't live 5 min away haha.
Ha! Glad you enjoyed it! We loved all the beers we had - amazing to have a place like that slap bang in the city.
we did a duel taste test...i brew and other guy was pro brewer....our choice was Heady...but they are both good,,,,, . unfortunately u have to kill someone to get either
you had to kill someone? An expensive head to head tasting!
+The Craft Beer Channel life is rough ,,,sometimes you have to go to the edge,,,it is beer after all
Pliny #1!
can you guys get American beers in Europe?
LOADS of it.but freshness is an issue and the range can be a bit samey.
The Craft Beer Channel 😕 ah. Maybe when I'm 18 I can come over and try some. Cause I've had a little bit of drinks here with my friends. (Unknowlingly to some people 😬) But I've never been able yo recreationally drink at a good bar. I want to try some quality British craft beers.
Cream of the crop from vermont, but maybe hill farmstead rivals this.
Where on earth did you boys get these from? Heady Topper is like unicorn dust
Beer Farts we know a guy...who knows a guy...who is from Vermont.
+The Craft Beer Channel Maybe my guys can get with your guys and come to some sort of agreement? ;-)
Beer Farts I'll have to ask my guy to ask his guy, who could speak to your guy...
How much beer had been had before filming this video? :-)
Motte Herald None. Ok. Maybe a lot.
Great to see you blokes enjoying beer from the new country! Never had Pliny but was lucky enough to find Heady yesterday fresh off the truck whilst up in Vermont. My goodness, what flavors! I didn't find it as off-balanced as you did, and the finish stayed with me for a long time. But it's all good, and thanks for the Mano a Mano comparo!
Also had a growler of 14 Stars Tribute DIPA in Vermont. There must be something in the water (and hops) up there ... Lovely beer as well. Cheers!
Must be nice, I can't get my hands on either.
Steve H. there are beers very similar that are much easier to get hold of, but these are masterful brews.
Both fantastic beers, but im more of a NE style person, so naturally I like Heady Topper more.
As I'm sipping heady and being from Portland where we just got lucky to get a shit ton of heady some how🥺 I have to say heady is definitely not a NE style IPA in the sense of the word that people would call a NE IPA. Reminds me alot of this iconic beer we have here in Oregon called sticky hands by block 15 that's been around for as Long. This all being said heady topper is one hell of a beer, just not what I'd consider a NE IPA now a days and that's not a bad thing.
@@lysolkills99oftherona42 Styles change over time but Heady is the flagship NE IPA.
@@lysolkills99oftherona42 heady is the original neipa, they invented the style. neipa has devolved into something almost entirely different and should be called something different.
As I was saying to a friend : I simultaneously hate you and love you. Never had a chance to hear what these beers tasted like. I have some Westvleteren, care for a trade ? ^^
Sadly we have lots of Westvleteren but we're open to offers!
The Craft Beer Channel Sadly ... ^^ I'll see what interesting drinks I can find ... Fantôme ? Rullesquin ?
Jarastlad can't say I know either of those beers - tell me more...
The Craft Beer Channel Fantôme is a very small brewery created in the 80's and located in a small village of Wallonia (Soy). The beer is an interesting belgian saison style but the guy produces heaps of interesting stuff (always in very, very small quantity).
Rullequin is a Stout (if I remember you love stouts ^^) born due to the collaboration between Rulles brewery and Geuzerie Tilquin. I don't know what it tastes like ... I have one bottle that I save for a particular occasion !
I will put Bells Two Hearted up against those two any day of the week and twice on Sunday!!
haha - Two Hearted is one of those beers that has evaded us completely. Looks like we'll have to head to the source to try it!
The Craft Beer Channel Great and I hope you do because you will be pleasantly introduced to the most well crafted and dialed in IPA on planet earth.
Pliny the Elder destroys all other beer I've ever had. It is the highest rated beer on all of beeradvocate.com. 100 out of 100.
It's a stunning beer and this is true, but there are hundreds of beers with a score of 100 on those sites! And most of them IPAs!
Next compare a unicorn to bigfoot!
can you send me heady topper I'll send pliny
It's a good example that the glass you're sing is tainted, however minor...
That might explain it!
Pliny is the definition of hype...
+Morgan McMahon true, there are better beers. But not many.
+The Craft Beer Channel I highly recommend anything from Treehouse Brewing; out of this world. Other Half out of NY, Foundation, Maine Beer, Lawson….many excellent beers out of New England. Cheers!
Maine Beer is unreal.
Heady>julius>sip of sunshine>both pliny's
+Nicholas Bouffard we've seen all the variations on this thread!
Alchemist makes more than just Heady.
indeed they do! We meant permanent. As far as we know everything else is seasonal.
+The Craft Beer Channel WERD
Heady topper can’t hold a damn candle
Disagree! Still a stone cold stunner - complex, moreish, bitter and heady in a world of juicy IPAs that kind of blend into each other.
And then they both drank from the same can, as was the style of the Before Times.
Very much enjoyed this Simpsons/apocalypse combo.
It's a trick question....you see...Two Hearted is the best IPA the US has to offer. Pliny and HT are great though.
Haha, Two Hearted is also damned delicious
Tastings are always more effective blind, at least thats how they do it in the wine industry.
true but it beer the colour, filtering, head etc are all vital to how we appraise it! We could have made it so we didn't know which was which, but knowing one is very hazy and the other not would have given the game away...
Pliny is the best beer in the world
I'll take Heady over Pliny.
pliny is much better ...try sip of sunshine from vermont.
Haha. Seems like opinion is split straight down the middle
+The Craft Beer Channel you guys need to try some Treehouse beers...better than both if you ask me and ive had them all. Julius, Juice Machine, and King J are phenomenal! Also Epiphany by Foundation Brewery and Swish by Bissell Brothers are top notch!! NE IPAs all day!!
Cheers!
+Tyler Bissel we haven't tried any of those unfortunately! We need another mystery benefactor to send us some.
Or when we come over we'll get some! Just need to book that trip...
I've had both several times and I prefer Heady Topper but it is like splitting hairs.
Stop the ANTI-SEO on Pliny the Elder, he was a fkin roman acient writer, for fucking sakes!
#sorrynotsorry
Pliney is overrated now. Compared to what's out there these days.
Shane Ridgway I still think it's a world-class beer, but certainly the competition has caught up.
pitching a can against a bottle is manifestly unfair
not necessarily, depends on how fresh they each are!
The Craft Beer Channel True, just had so many crap US bottles in the past. Ironically pliny seemed to win
in retrospect they are two completely different beers really so not entirely fair to compare at all! But at the time it was all people talked about so we thought we'd compare them.
Just having both of them in your hand in the uk is a real achievement!
haha this is true. Not gonna happen again in a hurry.
Pliny doesn't hold up if you want an ipa against heady. The younger is a different story
We think it does! The thing is they are totally different styles, which I dont think we appreciated enough at the time. The yeast profile, bitterness and dry hopping are off the scale in Heady while Pliny is all about balance.
Yeah it is a great IPA - drank tonnes when we went there. And of the pale ale they make...name escapes my memory
Blind pig?
Nah that's the IPA. Mighta been Row 2
alchemist brews more than Heady just saying and their best beer was SHUT THE HELL UP - pre flood
Yeah they do now but at the time we filmed this the others were only seasonal. Now it seems they're all year round, which is awesome! Never heard of Shut the Hell Up, a little bit of history gone!
Heady > Pliny
Heady Topper ( Fresh ) blows away Pliny. Period. That is a fact , not an opinion.
haha, there are few facts in the beer world! What we have learned is they are very, very different beers. One is dank, tropical hazy and incredibly bitter; the other piney, grapefruity and perfectly balanced. We think both are world class, and both have their perfect moment.
The Craft Beer Channel - Pliny is way down there in the beer world. Another FACT......
ckalnicki haha. You stick your own truths man. I guess it depends what you look for in an DIPA!
The Craft Beer Channel - FACTS.....