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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I enjoyed this beer very much. The style is, admittedly, not my favorite. Smoother than you’d expect from a DIPA.

If you can find this brew, this is fantastic. I get a glass maybe once a year. The taste is what all other IPAs should be compared to. Aroma, color, appearance is all top notch.

Outstanding depths of piney fruit, pineapple and deep malt base finishes in style leave peach and pepper

Color was a golden light orange. Citrus bouquet. No head at all, but nicely carbonated. Nice mouthfeel. An immediate blast of pine that yields to alternating grapefruit and floral flavors. Finishes with distinct grapefruit. No discernible alcohol warmth despite having an ABV of 10.7%. Great beer, but not my own personal number one--certainly not the best on the planet.

Draft at Monks (now 3 years running, and the line keeps getting longer.) Usually the place is too crowded for the event to even attempt a live rating. So pulling a bit from memory here. I think what makes the Younger extraordinary is that it is both amazingly high hopped and very high in alcohol yet the finished product is so smooth and delicious that it feels impossibly drinkable. Simply like a very exact and refined sweet gentle IPA. Yet wait 10 minutes and the alcohol kicks in. Like a magic trick. On top of that it has a perfect looking gold pour. Clearly a lot of time and work went into making this beer appear effortless.

Wow. So really, where do I begin??? I was in line on February first for about 5 and a half hours. Met some absolutely amazing people in line. First on that list would be Corey Reich and his mom Wendy - Amazing people. Both had the opportunity to skip the (very long) PtY line, and go in the back door. They refused to do so, and hung out with me and my friend Barry for quite some time. Eventually, the hot sun and very, very long line wore on them, and they went in a bit earlier than Barry and I. Fast forward a couple of hours - Barry and I got in - Wendy and Corey got us seated with them - and with Vinnie and Nat. Dear sweet Lord what an amazing day. One of the greatest experiences of my life. The beer was incredible too - If PtE is a bigger version of Blind Pig, then PtY is a bigger version of Happy Hops - and I REALLY love Happy Hops. In Brief: Big Passionfruit, white peach, nectarine, guava, and white tea - no bitterness, limited pine notes. The flavour was more of the same, but with unicorns and rainbows. Not really, but if you read my rating of Happy Hops, you’ll understand. This was delicate, fruity, fascinating, complex, and lovely. For the first time in a long time, a beer actually was worth the hype! Vinnie, Natalie, Corey, and Wendy are among my favorite people on earth! It was an amazing PtY day! and was shared with amazing people. And oh yes, the beer lived up to the hype and then some. Special.

UPDATED: APR 22, 2013 On tap at Capone’s and Blue Dog in southeast PA. Looks like I accidentally overwrote my Younger rating with my Elder. It mostly lives up to the hype, although I wouldn’t consider it the second best beer in the world. Side by side with Heady Topper, it doesn’t even come close.

Aroma is smack full of pine, grapefruit and other citrus. Appearance is amazing for a triple IPA. Crystal clear and golden amber in color Taste. Grapefruit is intense. Pine and resin follow with a slightest hint if malt Palate. It is a palate wrecker, but not as bad as you'd think. Fruit and citrus up front with a dry bitter finish. Overall, damn fine beer. Best in the world? That's subjective. Having tried it I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again. But if it was on tap.... ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone

On tap at Pacific Coast Brewing, Pours clear golden with huge cirtus, pine, resin HOP aroma. Taste is bitter but very smooth, very drinkable for a DIPA.

On tap at Monk’s. Waited 2 hours in line for a 6oz pour and I would do it again. Crystal clear golden with lively carbonation. Smells of grapefruit pine and other tropical fruits. Intense hops up front that remains incredibly smooth and balanced.