Russian River Pliny the Elder

Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA
Santa Rosa, California USA

Bottle from AndyReynolds. My first Russian River brew. Obviously strong hop aroma and flavors dominate this beer. Flavor is fantastic. Full of hop oils. Even has a slight fruity character. I was surprised at how strong the hop flavor was while not having an overly bitter finish. Very smooth considering how hoppy. I can’t wait to try this one again.

1. From the Jug at the GABF, Colorado Convention Center 12/10/2007 Fruity and very hoppy aroma. Small white head. Clear golden coloured hoppy and fruity with a crisp and bitter lasting finish. 2. On Tap at the Falling Rock Tap House, Denver 13/10/2008 Lots of carbonation. Very hoppy aroma. Small white head. Golden coloured crisp fruity and very hoppy with a little dryness in a bitter finish.

Originally reviewed 8/12/2008... Thanks to Joey from South Bay Drugs for keeping this in stock concurrent with our Coronado family trip-poured into Coronado Brewing pint glass... Golden honey body with sparse visible carbonation and ample head with nice texture and lacing. Of course I can smell the hops without trying. Very sweet, oily, bountiful hop aroma with velvety caramel malt backbone. Faint alcohol serves as a binder (or a catalyst). Can’t get better than this. Of course the floral hops dominate but there’s a malt nuttiness-almost peanut brittle-that mixes with the mild alcohol essence to create beautiful chemistry. Deep, well balanced yet hop-bitter citrus grapefruit puckering finish mellowed well by velvety caramel malt. First pour could use a little more carbonation to bring out all elements but warmth takes care of this. One of the best-a stellar example of the style.

Aroma screams floral hops, color is yellow orange with nice foamy white head.... Flavor is piney yet sweet, hops dominate from beginning to end, almost a citrusy bitter finish... Great beer through and through... Always loved this guy...

Bottle dated 6/22/09. Thanks to good friend Jimmy S. Beautiful bright gold color that screams "drink me". Nice fluffy white head. Nice fruity, piney, hop nose but it doesn’t overwhelm the nose. Drinks like a west coast hop bomb but very subtle malts in the background. Bitter and dry on the end with some hints of alcohol. The flavors tend to fade out a bit on the end-dissapointing. Overall a very nice beer.

Bold hop delivery on a scale rarely equaled anywhere else. Pungent mossy taste with notes of pine, bark, and sour orange zest. Finishes with a pleasing dance of the senses.

I can’t imagine what else one could ask for from a DIPA. I’ve served this to people who would normally recoil from a well-hopped beer, and they love it. At the same time, my seasoned beer-drinking friends also appreciate how good this beer is. If the universal appeal of this beer isn’t a testament to how good it is, then I can’t think what is. Wonderful hoppy nose, with an incredible hop flavor. There is a reason it occupies the 100th percentile in these rankings. If I had a keg of this at home, I would probably become an alcoholic.

On tap at Falling Rock in Denver. Thin white head caps the transparent gold brew. Sheets and drips of lacing leave a nice history of this great beer. Strong hops aroma, a sweet start, tart flavors, and a dry finish. Nice balance of carbonation. Deserving of it’s 4.2 average score!