Russian River Pliny the Younger

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

Sometimes a beer kept in such high regard can falter when actually faced with reality. This beer somehow became even better than the old stories I had heard for years befor having the chance to try it out. The same DNA as the "Elder" but richer, velvity, and the best finish I’ve ever experienced with a beer ever. Aroma is also lifting, needed as the light in color beer is still huge in style and hop weight. Magic hops maybe? There is no other way to explain it. Please please please bottle this beer!!

On tap at hollingshead. Triple IPA with a huge floral nose. Taste of citrus, some pine and a slight smooth maltyness. This is the best imperial IPA I’ve ever had.

on tap, big floral nose with great citrus follow through, tangerine color with hop, pine and citrus taste, salty sour finish makes it special

Thanks to Iowaherkeye for the chance to try this. Handbottle. Didn’t know if I would get the chance. Poured a light gold color into the glass. Aroma was all tropical fruit. Papaya, mango, sweet and awesome. Taste was huge tropical notes as well, piney as well with malt character that doesn’t get in the way. Not quite as crazy as I expected, actually, this is up there for one of the most drinkable big beers out there. I can’t think of anything that beats it. At 11%, this stuff is very dangerous. I can’t even imagine it on tap. Wow, I wish I had a keg of this for the summer.

A- Tangerine colored brew pours with a light head which dissapates fairly quickly with some lacing. S- Smell is very piney, some deep sweet malt notes, reminescent of Pliny the Elder but much bigger with hints of alcohol. T- Taste is phenomenal. A very complex IPA, a boquet of piney, floral hops, big malt backbone, hard to describe but everything you could ask for in a triple IPA and more. M- Mouthfeel is thick with carbonation a bit on the low side which suits this brew. D- I could honestly drink this beer until I passed out. One of my favorite beers, bar none, and I don’t say that a lot.

On tap @ Hollingshead. Had this beer many times (here, RR pub, GABF, etc.) and it is consistently tasty. Huge, complex wall of hops in the nose - lots of citrus and some pine notes - a bit of malt gets through.. Flavor is dominated by hops as expected with some warming alcohol on the finish. Body is moderate considering it such a big beer. Doesn’t dry out as much as a regular IPA at the finish but overall it’s balanced in an unbalanced IPA way. Very drinkable and enjoyable but I prefer Elder.

Thanks Pepsican for the BREW!!!!!!! Amazing aroma, I wont bother mentioning the hop aromas I got because they were all there. Taste had dankness, grapefruit. Wonderful fresh hop character. Right up there with Dreadnaught.

on tap at hollingshead Great stuff superbalanced and great nose and the taste my favorite triple IPA ever actually easier to drink than the elder.....strange huh?