Russian River Pliny the Younger

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

Serve in Shaker, Snifter

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This is an excellent IPA. On tap from coastal Oregon (Twist). Rich clear orange color with sticky frothy white head. Moderate carbonation. Flavor is of somewhat piney and citrusy hops with elements of orange. Bitterness well controlled and balanced. Smell is of sweet corn cereal with hops. 9.8 BD

Pliny the Younger is a definite favorite. I first tried it years ago from a growler my brother brought back from the brewery (when they still did that), and I went for the release this year. Longer lines each year, but it’s great stuff.

On tap at Monk’s Monday Madness. Dark gold and orange pour with a sizable off-white head, leaving sticky blebs of lacing. Aroma is strong grapefruit, citrus, and pine. Also very sweet, biscuity, doughy, and sugary pine. Mmm. Flavor is huge citrus, grapefruit, and pine, with lovely malt sweetness to balance. Really easy-drinking; smooth, low carbonation, thick, creamy. A top-notch beer, certainly worth the wait. Glad to have had the opportunity to have this and meet some great people in the process. [1102]

Delicious and worth the wait in line! I wish it was available more than once a year ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

On tap @ Wildwood last night. A: Melted gold coloration. Very thin head. Translucent. Clear demarcation of the legs on the glass. N: I can smell this while holding it at chest level. Intense pineapple notes, mango, passionfruit, and a smattering of grapefruit. Caramel sweetness. Very worthy nose. T: Massive interplay between sweet and bitter. Grapefruit gives way to some onion that is eventually defeated by earth, pine, conifer, and ash. Bitterness is a 10 on a 10 scale. This is the hoppiest beast on the market. Has the caramel of a good bourbon and some honey melon. M: Dry and desiccating as a desert. Very sticky and washes around in the mouth. Sublime. O: A beer like this is worth the effort of the chase if you haven’t had it. Clearly, this is true. Yet, as I drank the 8oz, the desire for another one diminished with each sip. I’ve had it 5 times now, and I don’t see much reason to continue tracking it down year after year.

On tap @ Ladyface Alehouse. Powerful aroma of piney hops with hinted citrus notes. Beautiful, solid gold appearance with a large, two-finger foam head. Flavor is unbelievably flawless, bringing a perfect balance of strong hoppy/piney bitterness and a solid caramel/biscuit malt body. Pleasant undertones of citrus, grapefruit, brown sugar and creamy molasses hit the palate as well. Overall, Pliny the Younger is literally the perfect beer. Russian River nailed it. This is the best beer I have ever had in my life.

Smells just like the Elder, lots of citrus n’ pine, apricots and pineapple. Sweet yet with perfect drinkability, very elegant. I expected it to be a lot hoppier but none the less a work of art.

Aroma is hoppy with citrus and pine notes. Pours amber with some head. Taste is slightly hoppy, but with citrus and pines notes and a smooth finish. Very, very good ipa. ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

On tap at the Cheeky Monk. Pouring with massive head that quickly dissipates to almost zero. Piney and citrus notes in the aroma. Tr body is incredibly well balanced between the pine and citrus. Very drinkable, doesn't live up to the hype for me. I'll seek out Hill Farmstead, heady topper or Lawson's Double Sunshine.

On tap at Capone’s. clear golden with thin white head. Aroma is citrus, floral and pine galore. Flavor is the same with a long finish. Worthy of the hype? Probably not, but clearly a world class DIPA.