Russian River Pliny the Elder

Wow, what a surprise. Rolled up to the Captial Ale House (Innsbrook) for a Richmond beer run. To our surprise the front cover of the beer menu listed a few Double IPAs and Pliny was one of them. Didn’t see this coming.

Draught. Appeared a orange copperish color with a small white head. Lacing was decent. Aroma was bursting with hops. Everywhere hops. Citrus, piney, floral, spicy hops. Hop heaven. Oddly enough, some great bready/caramel malt notes were in the aroma as well. How they made its way through the hops, I do not know. Flavor was equally hoppy. Floral and citrussy and intense. Bitterness was pleasantly lingering and in your face. Some moderate ester profile was present: slight apple and peach. Doughy malt and some caramel sweetness was also present though it finishes dry without any astringency as I would expect from a beer as heavily hopped as this. Body is perfect for a DIPA and perfectly silky smooth with perfect carbonation. Man I loved this. Side by side with Ruination, 90 minute and Stoudts DIPA, the latter 3 tasted like Sierra Nevada. Excellent beer. Yes this is a 5 to me though let me note that it doesn’t top or equal Dark Lord. It is just the top DIPA that I have had.

BlueDevil0206 and I went up to Richmond on a run for Stone Imperial Stout and stopped in at Innsbrook Capital Ale House to find this beautiful little surprise. Orange/coppery color with a thin white head. Aroma is in your face amarillo hops as soon as the glass was set down. When I first smelled it, I was instantly reminded of DFH 90 min. Some malty notes made their way through the citrussy pine forest in the aroma, too, but hops dominate. Palate is good and full, though not oily. Just a slick, big DIPA. Flavor is incredible as well. Strong citrussy, piney amarillo flavor. Malt is sweet caramel and bread, but it’s very much in the background. The bitterness in the finish was IMMENSE. We ordered samples of 90 Minute, Ruination, and Stoudts DIPA and found them all blown out of the water in terms of bitterness (that gave us a nice perspective on their respective malt profiles.) The bitterness is clean, though -- in your face sharp, but not harsh. Impressive as all hell. I’m excited about the younger.

A fine, excellence, wonderful, super awesome double IPA - quite possiblty thr best double or imperial IPA possible. Just super hoppy, but not noticible hop overload....well balanced and tasty.

Enjoyed this one on draught at the brewery in Santa Rosa, CA back in July of 06. Imperial or "Double" IPA’s might come close, or get as good, but they don’t get any better than Pliny the Elder. This beer is a true bench mark of Imperial IPA, and is just dripping with hop character. This beer pours to a burnt orange color, with a thick, creamy, white head, and a soft carbonation. This beer just explodes with zesty and pungent, citrus/grape fruit hop aromas that flood the nose. The palate is firm, with good pale and carmel malt flavors, paired with really zesty grapefruit hop flavors that zing on the tongue. Pliny the Elder finishes with more fantastic citrus hop flavor up front, then ends with a citrus bomb of hop bitterness that lingers, and just hangs on the tongue, with some peppery alcohol. The ultimate aperitif beer, or an after dinner cocktail, as impressive as Imperial IPA gets.

Finally got to try this one on-tap at Barclay’s in Oakland. Pours a nice amber orange with a pillowy, creamy white head. The nose on this brew really blew me away. Smells of all kinds of fresh fruit, citrus, and flowers. The taste is also very nice. There’s an underlying taste of sweet malt, but the hops really steal the show here. The hops don’t overpower you the they do in some other brews though. Mouthfeel is medium, with very good carbonation. A great brew that I am very glad to have tried. Believe the hype folks. If you get the chance to try this one, don’t pass it up.