Russian River Pliny the Elder

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

A: Poured with a large, white, frothy head that hung around for a bit before easing down to 1/2-finger or so. Body is a really nice-looking golden orange color, and hazy. S: Oh yeah, now that’s a strong-smelling IPA! Average hops (actually not overpowering at all) that are very perfumed, with citrus, pine, cut grass, and celery coming through. The pine in particular is quite strong. T: This is a damned smooth-drinking beer. Of course the hops are present throughout the whole time, but the finish is much milder than I would have expected from that powerful aroma. Pine and citrus are very present and in your face, but they don’t push their luck. 8% ABV? I would never have guessed that high. M: One of the smoothest, creamiest beers I’ve had, with a perfect balance of soft-average carbonation with the full-body. T: I was a little nervous about trying this beer... no way it could live up to the hype. But it pretty much did... one of my first (THE first?) DIPAs I’ve had... I’ve probably been spoiled from here on out.

Bottle thanks to glouglou. Pours pale amber with a small head. Long retention. Nice lacing. Nose is floral hops, some grapefruit, a bit citrusy. Taste is floral hops. Not so bitter. Quite dry. Finish is bitter. Some hints of fruits. Very drinkable and sessionable. Very good beer. Really need to try this one again..

500mL bottle > goblet My nose picks up nettles and freshly picked grapes. The appearance is quite appealing apricot hue. Head is thin off-white and thins out quickly with persistent lacing. Flavor is superb balance of fruity and hoppy - geranium twang with mild raspberry and spruce notes. Mouthfeel is slightly watery smooth and not so oily, which is a pleasant surprise. The more I drink it the more I like it. Makes me think ’nectar of the gods’. (Also makes me think up things I’ve never thought of before, like "geranium twang" - wtf?!) I really can’t imagine how Russian River did this without using magic. Want more now.

Bottled. A golden beer with a thin beige head. The aroma is sweet hoppy and malty with a lovely fresh grapefruit note. The flavor is sweet malty with notes of fruit - especially grapefruit - leading to a good bitter finish.

Botella, thanks a bunch Shaun! Hazy orange colour. Lovely ripe fruity piney aroma. Good well filling mouthfeel. mouthfeel. The flavour has lots of ripe fruits, pine, bitter hoppiness and a pleasant sweetness. Long lasting dry bitter fruity pine finish.

A incredible brew of this style...this is the quintessential Douple IPA. Pours a nice orangy gold with a one finger head of tiny, compact bubbles. Aroma is huge with pleny of grapefruit and pine. While there is plenty of hops in the flavor, especially on the finish, this isn’t one of those over the top hop bombs that will take the enamel off your teeth. This one is much more balanced with plenty of malt. A very well balanced Double. Lives up to its reputation.

bottle, shared by shaun. (thanks a bunch) orange, small white head. aroma is very nice strong, yet balanced hoppy. flavor is a bit more watery than the aroma, still it’s very fine.flowery, faint malty.

This Beer blew my mind. I cannot think of this as a double IPA. I love double IPAs, but this is something more. I have had this beer once and the flavor is perfect. I have found articles on cloning this beer in home brewing and information on dry hopping. This beer made me go out and learn something new and expanded my understanding of what beer can be.