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Russian River Pliny the Elder

Russian River Pliny the Elder - Imperial/Double IPA

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 Percentile 
100
overall
Brewed by Russian River Brewing
Style: Imperial/Double IPA

Santa Rosa, California USA

bottled
common

on tap
common

Broad Distribution
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 Ratings  Average  Score  ABV  Style Pctl  Serve in 
10364.23/5.04.22/5.08%99.6Snifter, Tulip
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Commercial Description:
Pliny the Elder was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Although not considered his most important work, Pliny and his contemporaries created the botanical name for hops, "lupus Salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs." Hops at that time grew wild among willows, much like a wolf in the forest. Later the current botanical name, humulus Lupulus, was adopted. Pliny died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle's legacy by documenting much of what he observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Pliny the Elder, the beer, is brewed with 40% more malt and over twice the amount of hops as compared to our already hoppy IPA.
 Most Recent Top Raters Highest Ratings Who's Rated This?  
 Slayer85 (582), Firenze, Italy
3.9 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/103/58/104/516/20
Mar 23, 2009  
Bottle. A lightly hazy dark golden/orange beer with amedium sized and fast disappearing white head. The aroma is maltier than usually for the style, but however is highly hoppy with notes of pine, grapefruit, oranges. Leafy too. The flavour has a medium sweetness and some acidity. Again enough malty, lightly bready and herbal and citric hops. So, quite balanced for the style. Medium body, lively carbonation, dry long finish with medium to high bitterness. Smooth mouthfeel and alcohol well hidden. Not the best appearence and maybe not big bodied as I expect in a DIPA, but apart this, really good.


 haggis03a3 (132), Piedmont, California, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/104/58/104/517/20
Mar 23, 2009  
From the bottle. Light orange color with a white head. Aroma is amazing like walking through a pine forest. Flavor is pine, herbal dry hopped flavor and caramel malt. Nothing is overwhelming or unbalanced. Flavor ends bitter and flavorful. Palate is very pleasant and smooth.


 Pawola22 (676), Kansas City, Missouri, USA
4.4 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/104/59/104/518/20
Mar 22, 2009  
500ml bottle. Pours a golden orange body with a light haze. Finger-width, pure white, foamy head that dissipates quickly, but leaves a good deal of delicate lacing. Aroma of bright, fresh, juicy citrus and big, robust caramels. Very similar to the Blind Pig, but more orange peel and much fuller malt profile. Not quite as assertive on the nose, but still very nice and full. Light amounts of pine, but again...the malts are more pronounced and don’t allow the big hop profile to become too sharp. Flavor is a very well balanced DIPA. Lots of orange as well as some tropical fruits mix their way in nicely with the big, sweet caramel malts. Slippery finish before slowly drying and leaving a sugary citrus linger. Not the extreme hop aftertaste that the Blind Pig offers, but much sweeter and balanced. There is a light zest and pine throughout, but I can’t stress how well balanced this is. The palate is light to medium, but very clean and smooth. Overall, this is living up to the hype. Clearly the juiciest and most well balanced CA brew I’ve tried recently. It is loaded with fresh citrus and a big malt profile, but stays relatively mellow throughout while maintaining extreme floral qualities. Very well done.


 jonno (542), Brisbane, Australia
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
10/105/58/104/516/20
Mar 22, 2009  
Yes the best double IPA I’ve had along with the ruination. Pours a gorgeous dark yellow with a creamy froathy head. The nose is an unbelievable hop extravaganza. The mouthfeel is smooth and medium to full bodied. Taste of grapefruit, citrus and pine. Lingers in the mouth for a while, but not in an overpowering way. I stumbled across this in Tanakaya and it was 1260 yen well spent. Who knows when I’ll be able to try this amazing brew again, if ever!


mike69neilson (5), New Zealand
does not count click to see why this rating of Russian River Pliny the Elder does not count
4.8 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
9/105/59/105/520/20
Mar 20, 2009  
WOW!! Fantastic balance of malt and Hops!! Perfect balance of bitterness!! The aroma is just bursting out of the glass Tropical fruit citrus fruit and a bit of pine. I dont know what better smelling it or drinking it!! Amazing!!


 andersand (271), Malmö, Sweden
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/59/104/518/20
Mar 20, 2009    Updated: Apr 22, 2009
Rather awsome brew with allot of pineapple in both the nose and flavour alongside other tropical fruit, minimal malt character and a dry, very bitter finish full of pine needles. Wonderfully smooth mouthfeel aswell making it dangerously easy to drink. Thanks to fredandboboflo.


 mattmc1973 (300), Sterling Heights, Michigan, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/105/518/20
Mar 17, 2009    Updated: Jul 22, 2009
500 ml bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours a golden/light amber color. Aroma of strong hops, pine, citrus, and grapefruit. Taste of grapefruit and piney hops. Mouthfeel extremely smooth, probably the smoothest I’ve tasted in such a strong beer. Light to medium bodied with nice crisp carbonation. Very good DIPA!!


 MeisterBrew (138), Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA
4.3 Aroma Appearance Flavor Palate Overall
8/104/58/104/519/20
Mar 16, 2009    Updated: Apr 18, 2009
Bottle. Pours a hazy golden color with a decent size white head. Aroma is heavy on the grapefruit with a hint of pine. Flavor starts out smooth then progresses into a full ass kicking punch that tastes like biting into a grapefruit, rind and all. I like this one.



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