Russian River Pliny the Younger

Served on tap at O’brien’s TION night in a 10oz taster. One of the first pours of 2009, I almost didn’t want to drink it. The first keg blew in 7 minutes... Color is a hazy, glowing orange, white head, aroma of floral hops, pine, citrus (more citrus in the nose than elder). Taste is similar to smell, full of grapefruit, pine, slightly sweeter than elder, but maybe a bit more in bitterness up front. The 11% is very well hidden, and the brew is balanced to perfection. It’s a shame it’s so rare. I’ll be going out of my way to get a few pints when it hits beachwood/hollingshead next week...

Tried this last spring and this is indee a good beer. Tons of floral hops just popping out but plenty potent without being overly bitter. Yum!!

side by side against the elder at capones, the color was straw gold, head was fluffy and faded down to lacing (didnt have the best glass, so I am being a bit generous here) huge hoppy, citrus, grass and pine aroma...this was what i would imagine chewing on a hop flower would be like. i know there were malts in the flavor somewhere, but they were hidden behind huge flavors to match the aroma. body was oily, which i loved.

Bottle 66cl. @ [ Tasting by cgarvieuk ].
Unclear medium orange color with a small, frothy, good - fair lacing, mostly lasting - diminishing, off-white head. Aroma is moderate malty, caramel, moderate to heavy hoppy, pine, grapefruit, resin, citrus, light alcohol. Flavor is moderate to heavy sweet and heavy bitter with a long duration, and a alcohol - peppery bitter spicy finish. Body is medium, texture is oily, carbonation is soft to flat, finish feel is moderate alcoholic. [20090411]

Appearance: Pours an orange gold with 1 inch of dense, fluffy white head. Aroma: Grapefruit zest and flowers. Some caramel sweetness and a great presence of honeysuckle and pineapple. Finished with some great sturdy bitterness. Taste: Grapefruit, toffee, caramel and some pine. Mouthfeel: Unique to the style, this was creamy and sticky, but the stickiness didn’t last long. Overall: I am so fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time. David of Lucky Baldwins just tapped this keg as I was finishing my Rueben sandwich. The mouthfeel is incredible, because you first think it is going to be too sticky and cloying, but it winds up not being the case. A great showcase of hops and master brewing.

Sampler tray at Naja’s Place. Clear light amber with a small head. Intense grapefruity hop aroma. Hopping gone mad- this is as bitter as it gets. Citrussy hops make it just a pleasure. Full body, a bit oily. This beer is one big worship to the US West Coast hops. Do not expect a balanced approach.

golden orange color like all the best IPAs look like. I was only able to find this once and am interested with trading for more if someone has bottles if they even make bottles they want to get rid of. The aroma is of sweet hops of course. The taste is out of this world its flowery citrus and has that great hop bite at the end. The after taste sits but not super long. A great IPA

Amber orange, with a fluffy white head. Heavy, beautiful hop aroma. Bitter flavor. A bit of sweetness and alcohol. Yes, this is very hoppy - there’s a little bit of citrus, more noticeable floral and pine elements - but the bitterness overwhelms. Full and heavy - very slow drinking. Tasty, interesting, and well worth a try...but not quite the delicious masterpiece achieved with the Elder.