Russian River Pliny the Elder

Aroma is very fresh (it was only a month old) with notes of grapefruit, orange and pine hops and sweet malt. Flavor is pretty mellow, with grapefruit hops being the main flavor with a mild bitter finish. I was a bit disappointed with this one though, because I thought the hop flavor was too mild..in that the hops weren’t prevalent enough. I’ll probably get criticized for this, but for me Hopslam is far better and far fresher. But, this is still a great DIPA.

Yum! Lots of hops in this one, in the nose and in the taste, but it went down really well, and they weren’t overpowering. I really wish I could get this one more regularly.

50cl, bottled on April 11. ’08, so pretty aged.. Slightly hazy deep golden, coarse pale head. Very citric, fresh grapefruity nose, honeyish sweetness, faint pine, very balanced, not that attacking. Still pretty well hopped, bitter flavor with grapefruit, flowers and moderate sweetness, very nice lingering bitterness, pretty strong seedyness. Almost full bodied, lovely smooth palate. Misses the best aroma hops already. Malts are totally secondary, this is a pale bitter show.

Tasted at Stone Brewing Company World Bistro. Pours orange amber with little head. Aroma is scrumptious fruity pine hops. One of the most delicious hoppy creations I’ve ever tasted. This might be my all-time favorite IIPA. A perfectly concocted mouth experience from sip to swallow to finale with a nicely bitter finish. I want more!

(bottle - 500 ml) Hazy orange color with a creamy tan head. Aroma is very sweet and floral with a good amount of citrus. It smelled very familiar, but we couldn’t put our finger on it. Flavor begins with juicy floral hops mixed with a heavy citrus flavor. Finishes clean and lightly bitter with some sweetness and floral bitterness lingering. Very well blended.

Awsome IIPA thanks to Odeed for this one (plus one more). Finally see what the hype is about this work of art. Everything you’ve heard about this is true, simply amazing from opening to finishing this one. This pours a bright, clear orangey copper with a white head fading to a lasting ring of lace. aroma is all about the hops, plenty of citrus and pine, this jumps out at you every sip. Mouth watering, The flavor is outstanding with sweet, juicy citrus leading the way and some piney notes as well, all the hop flavors came out without being the least bit bitter. Finished and after taste linger gently making you want more. This is truly one of the best IIPA’s I’ve had. Up there with Hopslam & Dreadnaught, but gotta give to the Midwest ones because of the availability. Once again thanks to Jake for hooking me up.

Bottle, ordered from Liquor Max, dated 4/7/09, drank 5/18/09. Slightly hazy gold, off-white head that fades but leaves nice lacing. Nose is mango, tangerine, bready malts, wintergreen. Flavor is mango, nice smooth bitterness, bready/toasty malts, tropical fruits (along the orange-y vein), a bit of cotton candy sweetness. Fruity finish w. more of that mint, strong but incredibly well rounded bitterness, tangerine. Great lower carbonation level. Not as amazing in the bottle as it was on tap (I always forgot to rate it when I was in San Diego - but I’d imagine that what I had on tap a few times was a 4.5) but I’d kill to have this available at the current cost.

Bottled on 04/07/09. Thanks to BDR for bringing this back for me. Clear gold color with a thin head. A fresh and juicy hop aroma. Very vinous, like the hops were just picked and you’re burying your nose in a pile of them. Some tangerine and caramel malt. The taste is hugely bitter... and... hmmm... nothing. Damn near nothing, at least. There was some malt backbone, but not enough to even hint at sweetness. Honestly, it was like alcoholic hop tea that was bitter as hell. No hop flavor at all. Disappointing as hell. I have another bottle and hope this was just an off one. 8/4/6/2/14

Re-rate, June 5, 2009. Bottled on 04/07/09. It is decently better. The floral and earthy hops do come out in the flavor in this bottle. Still just as bitter.