Russian River Pliny the Elder

Bottle provided by and shared with Rogueone. Pours a medium amber with a 1/2 inch head. Aroma is grapefruit and hops with some malt on the back end. Flavor is hop that lets you know it’s there, but doesn’t slap you in the face. A touch of sweetness gives this beer a great balance. Finish was surprisingly a bit thin. The bottle is a few months old and the label emphasizes to drink it fresh, so that may have something to do with it. Still a very good IPA. Would love to try it fresh. Updated 2.6.09 - Guess what? Got to try it fresh. Aroma is out of this world. Citrus notes are more pronounced while keeping the malt character. The flavor is also much more crisp. Truly outstanding stuff.

In the bottle.
Pours a clear dark yellow with thick head and great lacing. Immaculate hop funk aroma. Slightly barn-yardy. Mouth feel is thick without being syrupy and a light but perfect amount of carbonation. A great malt support team that envelops you mouth. Taste is all citrus! Tangerines, lemons, limes, grapefruits, passionfruits. At one point I thought I had accidently poured a glass of orange juice. Beautiful taste!! Reminiscent of a Bridgeport-type Hop Czar. Alcohol is low for an Imperial and nowhere to be found in the taste. IBU’s are VERY nicely kept in check. Amazing BEER!!

bottle brewed 9/4/08 poured into a tulip glass has an orange straw color and a thin white head that laced the glass nicely. aroma is a wall of hops delivering grapefruit, apricot, lemon peel, resins, and has a delicious dry hopped topper. sweet, fruited, and inviting. mouth feel is medium light with brisk carbonation that bites at the tongue a bit. flavor has a full malt body but the main attraction is the hops. bitterness picks up as it warms and a honey sweetness smacks the lips. grapefruit citrus mix is amazing up against pine and resins. finish gets hold and just hangs on with bitters and citrus coating the tongue. have wanted to try this one for a while and it does not let down it’s reputation.

Thanks to Josh for the bottle. The bottle poured a perfect clear golden liquid, with a good amount of carbonation and a nice little head. Good lacing with this DIPA too. It smells fresh and sweet, a good amount of floral hops with a fruity sweetness. Its taste is a little less hoppy than the smell, but pleasing since I drank the beer alone. I would have needed food had I had more than 1. It has a light feeling in the mouth that finishes pleasantly. I’m happy to have had this DIPA!

Bottle from Davidson’s in Littleton, CO. Pours golden with a medium to thin white head. Smells like citrus, pine, flowers with some sticky, sweet caramel. Taste is phenominal, reminds me of Double Simcoe. Nice pine and grapefruit taste, some sweetness, great stuff. Full mouthfeel, great bitterness. I can drink this forever.

Draught at Falling Rock Tap House, GABF 2008. Pours dark yellow with an average, creamy, white head, mostly lasting with excellent lacing. Aroma is heavy malt (grain, cereal, meal), heavy hops (flowers, pine, spruce, grapefruit), average yeast (dough, sweat) with notes of apple and pear. Medium bodied, sticky texture, lively carbonation, and a bitter finish. Long duration, light sweetness, heavy acidity and bitterness.

You could mistake this beer for a Christmas tree in the next room. Big and piny with some undertones, must, banana, peach. Light clear sparkly. A beautifully dense head which settle leaving prodigious lacing. Much lighter than expected. Tastes like a ruby red grapefruit rind. Bitter but with a soft finish. A brilliant DIPA.

Draught. Low bujt lasting off-white head. Clear golden body. Powerful hops piney aroma. Very bitter hops grapefruit flavor. Low carbonation and a long aftertaste. A bit too one sided in my opinion.