Russian River Pliny the Younger

This is the PERFECT beer. I had the pleasure of attending Russian River’s beer tasting at Hollingshead Deli in Orange last weekend. While I will eventually comment and rate all 13 beers on display, I simply could not wait to report on this nectar of the gods. This beer is suprising through and through. It has the most powerful and delectable aroma of any beer I’ve tried. Like the previous reviewer, I noted intense peach and tropical aromas. In taste, I was surprised that this Triple IPA wasn’t super bitter, it was pleasantly balanced with a sweet and creamy mouthfeel. Since I don’t consider myself a true ’hophead’, I was shocked that this beer had so much character. Although the alcohol, packs a punch, it is nearly indetectable while savoring the flavor. Honestly, I can’t recommend this beer hightly enough. I only had two disappointments: that the keg ran out before I could purchase a growler of it; and that this won’t be available in bottles for at least two years. Other than that... SIMPLY AMAZING!

This beer is a Triple IPA by style and has 3 times the amount of hops found in Russian River’s regular IPA, and is dry hopped 4 times. It comes in at a mighty 11% abv and the brewery states "GOBS of BU’s" or bitterness units. I don’t know how many are in this beer, but it has to be well over the 100 IBU mark. I am happy to say I had the pleasure of enjoying some Pliny the Younger IPA, as this beer just lives and breaths hops. It has massive hop aroma, hop flavor, and hop bitterness, and was the perfect beer to end a tasting of hoppy beers with. This is a draught only beer, that can only be found at the brewery/brewpub in Santa Rosa, and select markets in Northern and Southern California. Pliny the Younger IPA pours to a beautiful deep golden color with a thick and creamy white head, and a good bit of carbonation. The nose on this beer hits you from a mile a way. Very pungent, very zesty aromas of lemon/citrus and pine flood the nose in a major way. The smell of this beer alone is hoppier than some IPA’s. The palate is firm with good pale and biscuit malt that supports wonderful, zesty, juicy grapefruit/lemon hop flavor. Pliny the Younger finishes with more zesty hop flavor up front, then ends with a mouth puckering, zesty and tangy hop bitterness that explodes on the tongue and lingers for quite some time. Hops, hops, and more hops. This beer is a neutron bomb of hop character. Pliny the Younger IPA is not for the timid, and is an extreme hop blast of a beer. This beer is dangerously drinkable, and all that pungent hop character masks the fact this beer is 11% abv. You could get into some real trouble if you did not drink this one in moderation, but it is one anyone who loves hops must try. A beer like this should not be matched with food. Enjoy this one slowly, and savor every drop.

Another Amazing RR Brew. These guys are Top five on the planet! Bangs out with a sharp biter finish.

The bigger stronger tasting brother of pliny the elder this rocket fuel is delicious and packs a punch

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.