Russian River Pliny the Elder

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

This is a very solid offering for a double IPA. It is very hoppy, but not so overhopped that you can’t taste anything else after drinking it. It is pretty easy to drink and has an enjoyable aroma, flavor and aftertaste. There is definitely some pine and citrus mixed in with the flavor as well. A great offering if you have a while to enjoy a beer.

Bottle. The beer poured a slighty cloudy dark gold with a foam small head. The smell is a blast of pine and grapefruit. The taste is like the smell with a crisp finish and not too bitter. Good carbonation.

Draft @ Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol, CA. Pours an amber/orange color with a small off-white head. Has a malty grassy hoppy pine needles aroma with hints of grapefruit. Sweetish slightly malty bitter hoppy grassy piney flavor with some hints of grapefruit. Has a long bitter hoppy piney finish with a long bitter aftertaste. Very nice!

In short: An archetypical IPA that brings together all that is good about American IIPA. One of the best American hop fix. Second only to Masala Mama (imho).
How: Bottles. Many times from many people (Hophead84, Kegbear, more…). Thanks a millon to you all and keep these coming!!! Always consumed fresh immediately upon reception.
The look: Glowing dark orange body topped by a medium white head
In long: Nose brings oranges, foresty notes, citrus notes, grapefruits notes, resinous elements. Basically this beer smells like a resume of the all-in-one American (I)IPA. At first I was surprised at how soft the body and carbonation were with its soft airy bubbles and soft velvety body but the more I drank it the more fitting I thought it was. All the fruity elements of the nose are present in the taste but the foresty character takes over in the finish with a tasty pine-tree bitterness. Nice fruity caramel. The beer has a pleasant dryness with a little dry orange peels and sawdust sensation. A very tasty brew but unlike many top-rated IIPA this one focuses on high drinkability more than intensity. No alcohol apparent, drinks like a like 5% IPA. Definitely in my Top-5 IPA/IIPA. Ok now for the first time in my life I have respect for the Elder.

bottle...hazy yellow pour,decent head good lacing.aroma of citrus and grapefruit.citrus hops upfront to a piney resinous bitterness.medium bodied ,very smooth for the hop profile

Floral lemon candy nose. Rich amber with a frothy medium head. Resiny sweet with multiple layers of hop bitterness, extraordinary balance and depth. Massive effervescence, fruity piney and finishes smooth and long. Extremely well put together beer

500 ml bottle obtained by trade with toncatcher. The pour was amber and clear with substantial floaties in glass #2. Slick white head trailing minor lacing. Aroma is killer - honey malt with a sharp blast of grapefruit and pine hops. Citrus hops are very upfront and tingly on the ton, followed by resinous pine and finally settling into the sweet malt. More balanced than many IIPAs, and dangerously drinkable despite the ABV. Mouthfeel was sticky and slick with lower carbonation than described in other reviews. Would love to try this one a little fresher to see if there’s a substantial difference in the hop profile. (Bottled 9/4/08)

Big thanks to drgonzo (of BA fame) for obtaining and sharing a fresh growler of this fine treat with me. Light copper body with a heavy orange tint. Frothy white head that diminishes leaving a steady trail of lacing behind. Slow carbonation, we felt this was due to the growler being a few days old but nonetheless it didn’t seem to affect any of the important attributes. Powerful grapefruit nose joined by lemon and evergreen aromas. Nuts and bread scents could be had as well, this smells awesome. Hearty, filling brew that is exceptionally creamy and remarkably drinkable. The ability to drink this with ease may be it’s best quality. Big bitter aftertaste with a resinous feeling. Fresh citrus fruit flavors followed by pine and doughy malt. A hint of caramel and a solid nutty taste help add plenty of substance to the flavor.