Russian River Pliny the Elder

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

this is a great beer. Had off the tap at BJs in Boulder CO. Beautiful aroma, lots of hops, great thickness on the palate. I love this beer.

500 ml bottle
Thanks to a friend for sending this along with some other West coast specialties. Knowing that it would only decline with time I cracked it open at the first available opportunity. My reward was one of the best double IPAs I have tried. I know this will move to the top of my list whenever I can try it on tap.

Aroma / Appearance - The reddish orange body surged with carbonation like air bubbles escaping through a pile of raked leaves just fallen from the trees. Peach, grapefruit, and mango bring me to a tropical island far from the chilly fall weather. Crisp and distinct it leaves little to the imagination.

Flavor / Palate - Hoppy from the first time it touches the lip this fills the mouth with sweet and bitter aspects. Peach, mangoes, and straw converge before a dry finish not unlike a tart champagne. I would not sit on this long; if you have a long queue bump it to the front immediately.

Nice full-bodied Ipa.Grapefruit.somewhat bitter.Orange color,clear.We just had a Wholefoods store open here in Santa Barbara,and they had this in stock.First time I have seen it for sale in the area.Looks like I have a new favorite beer stop.the flavor from this nicely lingers.I want another!!

Bottle thanks to scrizzz. Thanks Clint! Pours clear golden orange with a big frothy white head, leaving loads of sticky lacing all along the glass. The head itself fades to a ring. Aroma is surprisingly mellow. Perhaps it’s too cold still. Picking up notes of mango, pineapple, citrus, very fruity. Not a lot of malt to back it up in the nose, some brown sugar/caramel. The same notes return in the flavour, along with a big pine resin and citric finish, drying up the palate for a second before the spit starts rushing back in for a new sip. Carbonation is prickly and refreshing. At this point, I am somewhat disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very good beer. Thing is, my expecations were fairly high, due to the high rating, and I don’t think it’s better than a fresh NØ dIPA or Ægir IPA. It was bottled in mid august, so obviously it’s not that old either. I feel it lacks a little in body, and I would like a tad stronger malt backbone or a more intense hop profile for it to absolutely blow me away like it seems it does with several other people on here.

500ml bottled Aug 31/09. Pours a hazy orange, and this thing is mother fucking delicious. Incredibly easy to drink and so damn good. Not a hint of the alc.% at all. Goes down so smooth. I loved the hints of grapefruit and bitterness to this beauty. Worth the hype, and then some.

Enjoyed this one at the GABF this year, then scored a few bottles, by miracle, at Dam Liquor in Nederland CO. Pours bright gold and clear. Nose of Simcoe hops (pine citrus and resin) low to no malt aroma. Taste is clean, clean, clean, with a showcase of citrus hops. Medium malt profile is mostly in the background with this one. Finish is clean and dry with a lingering hop bitterness that coats the mouth. Only thing about this beer is its not big enough in body or bitterness for a classic example of a Double IPA. Could pass for an excellent American IPA. Still a great beer, and will always be a favorite of mine. Best consumed fresh as possible!

Tap at Falling Rock. Amber. Thin lasting head and lacing. Strong citrus aroma. Hop juice, pure and simple. Hop fumes. Each sip remindse you how good and nicely balanced this creation is. Nicely balanced. Short finish.

Where Blind Pig hits the right notes, this is just a bit over the top. The hops lose some of the mildness and makes it a tad too harsh.