Russian River Pliny the Younger

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

sample from a growler filled 8 days ago and traded to me by Abusedgoat. Big thanks to Dan for trading this highly soaght after beer and pantanap for contributing in the trade. pours dense golden with creamy white head. nose is loaded with tropical fruity hop notes and sugar, along with some grapefruit and piney notes. flavor is pretty much the same. a wonderful balance and extremely drinkable. i could drink a whole growler to myself happily. i think it could stand some more bitterness to balance the sweet notes. alcohol is very very well hidden. carbonation is low and the feel is really smooth. the body is a bit light to medium. a wonderful clean fruity finish that begs for more. and i drank more. i grew up on dreadnaught and this belongs right with it but not as complex. a wonderful ale.

Filled my Growler, brought it home and poured a small glass. I have waited a long time for this to be available and it was worth the wait. Without a doubt the best over the top DIPA I have ever partaken, and this is my favorite beer type. Poured a hazy gold tending toward orange with a soap suds head that left big chucks of lacing. Huge citrus hops nose, and a rich mouthfeel that feels like port wine on the palate. Flavors are citrus hops and the finish is long and bitter, but enjoyably so. I was prepared to be disappointed after the long wait, but this is the best brew ever for me. So sad I only have a growler. I really love this beer.

Draft at brewpub: Slightly hazy orange, good lacing and retention. Aroma is basically a bigger version of the Elder... huge PNW grapefruit/citrus notes. Medium to heavy body, big big bitterness, some alcohol. Monster flavors with finesse, but lacks the complexity of Dreadnaught.

Simply put, this is one of the best extreme IPA’s I’ve ever had. Mild sweetness, and the bitterness is well pronounced troughout with highlights of citrus, and do I dare say a I notice a slight pine taste well hidden in the backside? Very drinkable, and I could easily session this beer all night long. If you get a chance to drink this jewel in the Santa Rosa /San Fransisco area, make it a must.

One of the best DIPA’s around. Super hoppy on both the nose and on the palate. Thick, syrupy, and heavy in the mouth. Definitely tastes like an 11% beer. Is there a category for a triple IPA?

Had it on tap at the brewery while headed north. Taste like sucking on fresh hop. Almost stings the tounge at first. Thick and chewy. This was a great smack in the face!!!

Sllightly hazy orangish-gold color with small head. Sharp grapefruit and citrus aroma with a hint of the alcohol to come. Taste is sweet with a subtle, but obvious, alcohol burn. It’s not the biggest hop bomb ever, but is balanced oh so nicely. The sugary sweetness and alcohol are never too far behind the hops. Even this hand bottle session was quite fizzy, and the bitterness is bearable.

Date: 03/03/2007
Mode: Growler
Source: Tasting

cloudy orange, frothy off white head, streaks of lace, sweet citrus aroma, huge sticky sweet citrus flavor, sugar laden grapefruit, not a lot a complexity but lots of flavor,

Aroma: 8/10; Appearance: 7/10; Flavor: 8/10; Palate: 7/10; Overall: 16/20
Rating: 4/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: ***+/4