Russian River Pliny the Elder

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

Poured from a 500ml bottle (Bottled on 12/30/08) provided by snojerk321. Served in a tulip. Poured a mostly clear amber with a somewhat diminishing head of beige foam. A heavy coating of lace was left around the glass. The aroma was full of stong hop vapors of grapefruit, mango and peach. Super fragrant! The flavor included tropical fruits, grapefruit, and a very light residual sweetness. A mostly dry, crisp bitterness lingered on the tongue long after each sip. The mouthfeel was full-bodied and clean. Just a slight oiliness. Lightly carbonated. A nicely crafted DIPA. I would love a chance to try this fresh on tap at the source!

Courtesy via trade with Chewy...thanks man! I never thought I’d get to try this! Aroma was nice. Strong grapefruit hoppiness with a weird melon touch. Wow...in looking at previous ratings I see I’m not the only one who picked that up. Pour was a nice still and murky orange with lots of nice tiny particles floating around. Taste was a mix of bitter hops and a sweet honey and cantaloupe aftertaste. I want to try this on tap to see if the hops are stronger fresh. This was great, but the sweet melon thing takes away from it Either way, I’ve tried a legend!

Rating 100. Bottle pours a cloudy orange with a thin white head. Aroma is semi-sweet with notes of hops, gass, and melon. Taste starts with a sugary sweetness followed by hints of pine and saltiness, then finishes with a bitter hoppiness. Mouth feel is surprisingly coating and creamy. At 3 months of age the hops already seem to be fading. A strong IIPA but not the best.

On draft at O’Brien’s A- Pours a clear orange gold hue, light bubbles and frosting on the top layer, big sticky lacing all over the glass S- Nose dominated by huge hops, pine and citrus proliferate throughout drinking, some floral and grass tones hang in the background, truly a olfactory hop masterpiece T- No surprise at this hop bomb, pine resin hops dominate the hop taste profile, followed by some slight citrus/grapefruit, midway enters essence of bubblegum and cotton candy, finishes dry and bitter M- Medium-bodied, oily texture coats the mouth, moderate carbonation D- Wonderfully hoppy DIPA that lives up to its reputation, well-balanced and complex hop bouquet, the alcohol is well-masked, I could drink this all night long but the extreme hops could be a barrier for others

Cloudy orange color with a foamy white head. Really fresh hops flood your nose, with whiffs of grass and florals. The taste is dominated by hops, but has a nice, rich malty balance. There is a real crisp finish that makes this beer so easy to drink. All-around this is a fantastic beer. Amazing balance.

AtTornado, San Francisco - September 2006: Nice orange color, medium head, nice Chinook Hops Nose. Medium hoppy - also orange fruit taste. Medium Long lasting.

Pours a clear golden color with a nice white head. Aromas of pine, hops, and grass. Taste is dominated by the hops but not in an overly overt sort of way. nice and not overly carbonated. smooth. a great offering.

On tap at Russian River. Wow, I’d like to have this every day. Golden-amber color with an off-white head. Piney, delicious hops with sweet malt on the aroma. Excellent hop flavor - piney, citrusy, and a little floral - with sweet caramel malt providing that perfect balance. Smooth mouthfeel with hop oiliness. Heavenly.