Russian River Pliny the Elder

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

Cloudy orange color with a foamy white head. Really fresh hops flood your nose, with whiffs of grass and florals. The taste is dominated by hops, but has a nice, rich malty balance. There is a real crisp finish that makes this beer so easy to drink. All-around this is a fantastic beer. Amazing balance.

AtTornado, San Francisco - September 2006: Nice orange color, medium head, nice Chinook Hops Nose. Medium hoppy - also orange fruit taste. Medium Long lasting.

Pours a clear golden color with a nice white head. Aromas of pine, hops, and grass. Taste is dominated by the hops but not in an overly overt sort of way. nice and not overly carbonated. smooth. a great offering.

On tap at Russian River. Wow, I’d like to have this every day. Golden-amber color with an off-white head. Piney, delicious hops with sweet malt on the aroma. Excellent hop flavor - piney, citrusy, and a little floral - with sweet caramel malt providing that perfect balance. Smooth mouthfeel with hop oiliness. Heavenly.

This is a very solid offering for a double IPA. It is very hoppy, but not so overhopped that you can’t taste anything else after drinking it. It is pretty easy to drink and has an enjoyable aroma, flavor and aftertaste. There is definitely some pine and citrus mixed in with the flavor as well. A great offering if you have a while to enjoy a beer.

Bottle. The beer poured a slighty cloudy dark gold with a foam small head. The smell is a blast of pine and grapefruit. The taste is like the smell with a crisp finish and not too bitter. Good carbonation.

Draft @ Hopmonk Tavern, Sebastopol, CA. Pours an amber/orange color with a small off-white head. Has a malty grassy hoppy pine needles aroma with hints of grapefruit. Sweetish slightly malty bitter hoppy grassy piney flavor with some hints of grapefruit. Has a long bitter hoppy piney finish with a long bitter aftertaste. Very nice!

In short: An archetypical IPA that brings together all that is good about American IIPA. One of the best American hop fix. Second only to Masala Mama (imho).
How: Bottles. Many times from many people (Hophead84, Kegbear, more…). Thanks a millon to you all and keep these coming!!! Always consumed fresh immediately upon reception.
The look: Glowing dark orange body topped by a medium white head
In long: Nose brings oranges, foresty notes, citrus notes, grapefruits notes, resinous elements. Basically this beer smells like a resume of the all-in-one American (I)IPA. At first I was surprised at how soft the body and carbonation were with its soft airy bubbles and soft velvety body but the more I drank it the more fitting I thought it was. All the fruity elements of the nose are present in the taste but the foresty character takes over in the finish with a tasty pine-tree bitterness. Nice fruity caramel. The beer has a pleasant dryness with a little dry orange peels and sawdust sensation. A very tasty brew but unlike many top-rated IIPA this one focuses on high drinkability more than intensity. No alcohol apparent, drinks like a like 5% IPA. Definitely in my Top-5 IPA/IIPA. Ok now for the first time in my life I have respect for the Elder.