So many solly.. BTW looks like the homebrew thing is also a SuperBowling party or something. On Sunday the 7th..

 

Thats Rob and Emily, right? Just got the evite. Probably wont know until Monday whether or not I'm working that day (or the 6th for that matter too).

 

Yep that's the.. BTW... No Pliny that I could find at the Hamilton Whole Foods... So having an H-Bomb IPA at Rock Bottom right now.. Wife likes the house so we might be living in Campbell soon.

 

Awesome! Whenever you move, let me know ahead of time and I'll see if I can help you guys.

 

So I was at BevMo picking up supplies for my photo midterm (California beers) and I overheard who I'm assuming is the beer manager there talking to a friend of his (who I'm assuming works at Whole Foods) about Pliny the Elder. From what I overheard is that Vinnie, the brewer at Russian River won't let BevMo carry Pliny until ALL of their beers are in fridge units. I'm assuming this is because he doesn't want Pliny to receive the "BevMo abuse" and therefore lose its amazing hop aroma and flavor before reaching the consumer. Bravo to Vinnie on this one!

 

That is funny because I was just there and the manager guy (glasses, slicked back hair) was telling me that exact story, about Vinnie and how he hates BevMo and that if I really want some Pliny I need to head to Whole Foods.

 

Kind of short guy? I vaguely remember glasses, but didn't pay attention to the hair. If I were him though, I wouldn't be saying that stuff on the sales floor because it just screams "We mistreat our product so badly that some companies refuse to work with us." But I guess they feel that the lost revenue from not carrying those beers/not ensuring the quality of the beers they do sell is less than the cost of installing refrigeration units.

 

Yep.. Shorter fellow. He also said that he found a 12er of Mirror Pond in the back that was expired... Along the same lines IMHO. This is the same guy who recommended the Sculpin and said New Belgium's IPA is a "good effort" haha...

 

Did I tell you that I saw Sculpin down in OC at a home brew shop? Also, I picked up the New Belgium Ranger IPA while I was there.

Arrogant Bastard
Moylan's Hopsicle
Mendocino Eye of the Hawk
NB Ranger IPA
$21

EDIT: I thought you guys might enjoy my photography midterm

 

I did, but there was so much awesomeness that it brought me back from the dead...Also tried Deschutes Abyss the other day on the recommendation of a brewer friend. Bought 2, one to age and one check as a baseline HOLY $(-)!7 that stuff knocked me on my ***...

 

I shoulda bought more when I saw it, cuz they were gone a few days later. They had maybe a dozen.....where in Campbell is the house?

 

I was just there again this morning and no Pliny. Honestly, as many times as I have had this beer and such - I have not once seen it in the bottle, as in, cannot confirm the existence of such. Odd.

The house is not really in Campbell, but back in the Hursts, a few streets east of Bascom, less than a block off Hamilton. Easy walking distance to Rock Bottom which equates to major stokage.

 

Nice, I'm on the other side of the freeway. Kennedy @ Railway, a few blocks outside downtown and about 10-15 minute walk to RBB

 

Nice, well I am sure I will see you around. I really hope we get the place. We liked it a lot. Can't wait to be walking distance from so many awesome places, and the Campbell Oktoberfest which is so much fun.

 

I'm just happy with all of the couch options in the area

Unfortunately I must agree with the Bevmo guy that the Ranger IPA is an "ok attempt" at an IPA. It didn't have much upfront bitterness after the first few sips, it was more of a weird bitter aftertaste. I don't hate it, but its not something I'll buy again. Not sure that you can really expect much from a $3 IPA though.