Pliny The Younger - Russian River Brewing Company

MicahBurke

4.79/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Excellent flavor. On tap at First Street Alehouse in Livermore. One 10oz glass. Reminds of Elder but more citrus (orange vs Elder's grapefruit.) Sweeter than Elder, with more fruit flavor. A very likable brew, the favors are intense. A bit much on the carbonation.

Serving type: on-tap

02-12-2013 01:42:49 | More by MicahBurke

Dave440

4.85/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Very hoppy and bitter brew! My first thoughts were Sierra Nevada Hoptimum meets Pliny the Elder. It's great to do the side by side comparison of the Elder and the Younger if you can.

Waited in line on a weekday and was worth the experience for sure. I would highly recommend this to anyone who has never had it at least once. A true triple for sure....

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 23:56:28 | More by Dave440

RaulMondesi

California

4.6/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Yeah buddy! Raul did it! Out of tha tap straight from mama's tit!

Totally different from the Elder. That pop, that boom boom, that thing that make you wanna scream and say yeah... Not there. Smooth, all kinds of smooth, Raul on prom night smooth... Tasty like a Bar Rafaeli yoga session, but missing that lil crispness at tha end.

Raul like it, but he prefer the Elder. Yep!

Serving type: on-tap

02-11-2013 19:54:06 | More by RaulMondesi

Rinkor16

California

5/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

EDIT 2/10/13: Just as good as before.

Saved my first beer review for Pliny the Younger! I'm actually sitting in the brewery right now.

A: Nice golden yellow. A little bit of orange. Very clear.

S: Citrus, Pine and definitely hops.

T: Extremely drinkable.... Dangerously drinkable. The alcohol is definitely hidden. You can taste the hops and citrus. Definitely hoppy. Did I mention extraordinarily drinkable?

M: Full bodied. Very smooth.

O: Extroardinary! First time having the Younger and I'm impressed.

EDIT: Here's a photo!

http://i.imgur.com/wl94e.jpg

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 23:21:49 | More by Rinkor16

Five-0

4.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pliny the Younger is an incredible beer. I waited in line for 4 hours to taste the Younger. The place was a madhouse.

The Younger was served in 10 oz. glasses so you really could not get the deep smell if it was in a bigger glass. I tasted it and the 4 hours melted away in my memory. After drinking 1/2 the glass I could finally smell the wonderful aromatic smell of the 10.8% brew.

I wanted to put this brew in perspective of my Russian River favorites. So I ordered a taste of Row 2 Hill 56, Blind Pig, and Pliny the Elder. This test gives you a perspective of how great this beer is. The others are still great but the Younger is a notch above.

Serving type: on-tap

02-10-2013 23:12:49 | More by Five-0

PORTerCITY

California

4.85/5  rDev +3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

On tap at Russian River Pliny opening day (5 1/2 hr wait, yes FIVE Hrs and 30 min wait) reviewed from notes on February 1st 2013

A - Pale orange in color with little to no head. The color at the moment looked like gold, It seemed like they served the beers from the suitcase in Pulp Fiction.

S - Pine needles with citrus.

T - Pines and citrus fruit flavors.

M - Piney resin but smooth mouth feel. Too smooth, abv seemed hidden cause after taking three in, head change was evident.

O - I wanted to join beer advocate a while back, but told myself i wouldn't until having the pleasure of drinking Pliny The Younger. One of the best Double Imperial IPAS. By the second drink, I forgot about the wait in line not sure it completely makes up for the 5 hr wait but definitely worth the the time i invested that day. The drive, the wait, the adventure was truly a day i wont forget. Although next year Ill go on day 5 or 6 lol.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 23:22:23 | More by PORTerCITY

AgentMunky

Alabama

4.5/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Served in a 10 ounce glasses at the brewery. From notes. Reviewed 5 February 2013. Released 1 February 2013.

A: Golden and clear, with some effervescence and very little head.

S: Resiny fresh hops (like the Elder) but with a fantastic underscent of tropical fruit (mango! papaya! pineapple! orange!).

T: Mmm. It's good, great even, but I can think of a handful of tastier DIPAs. Pliny the Younger is strong and commanding, filling the mouth. It's bitter and loaded with not only pine but grapefruit peel and orange juice. The malt base is dry and biscuity (again like the Elder). The main drawback of this otherwise delicious beer is the aftertaste -- it's bitter, yes, but with an obnoxious alcoholic tinge (almost like rubbing alcohol) or a tap line that has been poorly cleaned.

M: Full and delicious. No complaints here.

O: I really enjoyed this beer, but it is almost certainly overrated. That said, it grows on me, and after three or four glasses I feel like I *get* it. It's a perfected Pliny the Elder -- the same dry malt base, same pineyness, but wayyy more fruit (yay) and more alcohol (meh). It pairs wonderfully with pizza and spicy food, and, if you can ignore the dubious aftertaste, it's VERY good. Recommended.

Serving type: on-tap

02-09-2013 20:08:32 | More by AgentMunky

KennyPowers

5/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Went to Russian River Brewery yesterday to get me some Younger. We parked out back and didn't see much of a line. After walking up to the bouncer, I found out the back door entrance is for folks purchasing growlers only, who could come in and get anything they want to go, for the exception of a pour of Younger. Once we walked around the front, we saw the liny for the pliny which took us 3 hours to get through. As we waited, we decided we've came too far to turn back now, but this will be a one-time thing waiting in line this long for some beer. Once we got in though, holy smokes. Pliny the Younger did NOT disappoint. Less hoppy and much smoother than Elder, it was absolutely the best 10% beer I've ever tasted. Like everyone said, lots of grapefruit...simply amazing.

Serving type: on-tap

02-08-2013 17:18:17 | More by KennyPowers

magictacosinus

California

4.83/5  rDev +2.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Waited in line a little over an hour at the brewery to enter the all-you-can-drink Pliny the Younger outing today! Hell yeah! Poured into a 10oz pint glass on tap. Served with delicious pizza made by the fellows at Russian River, who use their own beer batter for the dough. Does Pliny the Younger hold up? Oh, yes. Yes it does.

Pours a golden, copper-tinged amber orangish color with a slight amount of head. Glasses were arbitrary all around in terms of good head retention, and it seemed as such depending on the pour. I would have really preferred to see this in a snifter, but with the massive amount of people drinking this beer PER MINUTE, I doubt that would be the most feasible option. Nevertheless, the color is extraordinary. It's similar to PtE, except it looks far darker and intense in appearance, as if it spent time soaked in oak. There are bubbles that glide to the top of the glass in a graceful, near poetic manner. No alcohol legs on the glass, which is nothing but extraordinary. Has a syrupy, thickened look resemblant of wine. This is art, first and foremost.

Aroma is a little difficult to capture in a glass this small, or while it is too cold, but when it finally reveals itself, it's incredible. The triple hop markup from the original PtE recipe is evident, yet not as explosive as you'd think. There are tons of tropical notes here. This continues later in the flavor, which I will vividly explain. Mango, papaya, and pineapple soaked with pine needles, huge citrus lime flavors, and awash with alcohol sweetness and malt hearty goodness often resembling light toffee.

As for the flavor... My God, the flavor. I can't describe how amazing this is here. While the aroma was a little bit more subtle in showcasing the aspects of this recipe, the flavor is outstanding in every respect. The juicy mango notes continue, as well as other tropical varieties, and yet a huge backdrop resembling tangerines appears after every sip. There are playfully tinged pine/citrus flavors at the tip of the tongue with every sip, but they soon are replaced by the tropical flavors and bready, crisp finish aided by the malts. The more this warmed up, the more the flavor resembled taking a spoonful of fresh grapefruit right on the palate. For a beer this crazy, this is so easy to drink that by my second I was passively taking huge gulps while chatting about (contrary to the first glass, where it was respectfully sipped). The aftertaste goes on forever. Other than being easier to drink than water, the texture and body is out of this world. After each sip, the mouth slightly salivates, floral notes numb the cheeks, and the tongue is coated with a mango-hemp buttery texture. It creates a chemical reaction that makes you smack and lick the walls of your mouth and teeth, and then immediately takes you to straight to Beer Heaven.

This is utter bliss. I've had plenty of beers that far more exaggerated that this in flavor, and yet, this wins in being so ridiculously EASY to consume, especially considering the amount of flavors and complexity that goes with this. I'll be looking forward to driving up to Russian River every year when this comes out as my personal Mecca in beer enthusiasm. It's because of beers like this that I eventually took up homebrewing. Don't miss out any chance to have this if you can. It's worth every penny spent.

Serving type: on-tap

02-07-2013 08:32:23 | More by magictacosinus

plauer4

California

4.94/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

No beer is perfect...except perhaps this one. I sat down to my first glass yesterday at the brewery in Santa Rosa and was prepared to be underwhelmed. I mean the hype alone, it just couldn’t be that good. Well, it’s that good. I am a sour/wild ale kinda guy but the grace and structure of this highly crafted brew seduced me to the hop side. After the first glass and a slice of pizza I was really enjoying life...I mean at a whopping 10% ABV, whoa! 2 glass limit for me. Is it my new favorite? No. But I will never forget it and will make it a point to stand in line again next year to get a couple glasses of perfection in a glass.

Serving type: on-tap

02-06-2013 06:08:50 | More by plauer4

Rau71

California

4.96/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Had on tap at Russian River.

This beer pours a golden color.

The smell is piney and citrus to the max.

The taste follows the nose. It is surprisingly smooth and very drinkable. I see the reason behind the hype, but this isn't the best DIPA in the world but it belongs in the conversation. Very impressed.

Serving type: on-tap

02-05-2013 04:31:58 | More by Rau71

wesclaypool

California

4.95/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After missing my chance at this brew last year and the year before, I finally committed to making a trip to the source. I waited in line exactly seven hours to get in.

A - A golden, yellow color that looks exactly how a great IPA should.

S - Not quite as aromatic or strong as I imagined it would be, considering how Pliny the Elder really has a powerful aroma. Still, you get a strong sense of piney hops and citrus.

T - I don't think a beer this strong could taste any better or go down any smoother. No surprise that this brew is an absolute hop bomb, so if that's not your thing, I wouldn't....well no, even if you don't like hoppy brews, you should still try this one. By the time I got to my third glass, however, the taste of the alcohol began to get stronger and a bit overpowering, so take your time and enjoy the first few you have.

M - Not so thick that you can't drink them quickly, but not so thin that you can pound them down without savoring them.

As I was drinking, I began to wonder if I could be even critical of any beer that I waited in line seven hours for, as it might be too depressing. But no, this beer is deserving of the hype. If you have a day to kill, get there early and bring a book, you don't want to go your whole life without trying this beer.

Serving type: on-tap

02-04-2013 06:16:52 | More by wesclaypool

lordofstarside

Nevada

4.93/5  rDev +4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

First day on tap. Got in line at 8.30 and finally got in a little before noon. The place was absolutely mobbed with people so these notes from my phone are a bit squabbled. Needless to say, expectations are through the roof

Pours a deep dark gold with a half finger of foam. Mild carbonation, low retention, nice sticky lacing. Would have liked to had the foam stick around a bit longer, but given the abv whatevs. The smell was dominated by strong grapefruit and other citrus and floral tones, strong over powering hops, and a mild sweet caramel malt. Taste follows the nose perfectly here, with a big citrus and hop flavor with a good sweet malty finish. Alcohol is completely masked, everything balances quite well. Feel is dry and sticky, not as bitter as I anticipated but went down incredibly easy.

Overall this beer is one of the best I've had. It packs one of the hardest punches an ipa can throw and should have notoriety among triple ipas. That said, it was more or less an amped up version of Pliny the Elder, and hyped up a little higher than it should be. I might check it out again sometime in the next couple years, but not wait ~4 hours for again

Serving type: on-tap

02-02-2013 03:42:15 | More by lordofstarside

VelvetExtract

Massachusetts

4.99/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

After 3000 miles traveled. After 4 hours waiting in line. I finally try The Younger.

A-Pours vibrant and rather clear. Thin, creamy head leaves wavy stains of lacing. I detect the lightest essence of haze in the body. Its color is a divinely illuminated shade of sunset orange. I am shocked by its clarity.

S-The wettest, ripest, juiciest and most concentrated display of hops I have ever experienced. Pine and a fist-full of grass ripped from the lawn. Then there is a cornucopia of topical fruit. Hop perfume, hop nectar, hop extract. I can smell it from a foot away.

T-The intensity and complexity of the flavors is like nothing I have ever experienced. It got better and better as it warmed. At its perfect temperature, the flavors I experienced were stunning. Peach, mango, cantaloupe, tangerine, nectarine, guava and pineapple. A liquefied sweet-dough malt embraces the hops but is absolutely overpowered. The flavors couldn't have been richer.

M-I have never had a beer with such a long aftertaste. I could literally taste it several minutes after a sip. I could taste it an hour after my final sip as well. Incredibly juicy and resinous. Like chewing on a hop. Drinks with far too much ease.

O/D-Worth the countrywide trip. Never have I experienced a beer with such a combination of power and finesse. The Jim Brown of beer. I am quite sure no beer can ever surpass this. Every beer I try after this can only hope to find a place on the same tier as Pliny The Younger...Oh, except for Heady Topper!

Serving type: on-tap

02-01-2013 23:08:04 | More by VelvetExtract

grrrah

California

4.98/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

On tap at brewery, February 2012

A: Clear golden. Not much head as the pour was pretty much to top of glass.
S: Lots of tropical fruits and pines
T: Perfect, big hops, fruity, and perfect balance. Does not taste like a triple IPA
M: almost perfect. A little resiny in the mouth, but not nearly as much as one would expect from a 10+% IPA.
O: Still the best IPA I have ever had.

Serving type: on-tap

01-28-2013 04:31:06 | More by grrrah

vitALEity

California

5/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

A - liquid gold
S - like being in the Sierras and the Tropics at the same time
T - see above
M - sliky smooth
O - best beer on tap Ive ever had

Serving type: on-tap

01-09-2013 01:40:41 | More by vitALEity

BeerMeFitz

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev -5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I had it on tap in Huntington Beach area (Green bay packer bar)P
Poured into a pint glass

Digging the clarity and lacing.

Aromas are all citrus with mango and a hint of pineapple .

Flavors are very sharp. All are here again grapefruit, mango, pineapple,

Mouthfeel is a little dry and it's thin

I was finally able to rty this on tap !

Serving type: on-tap

Serving type: on-tap

12-09-2012 00:32:50 | More by BeerMeFitz

LaChupacabra

California

4.53/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Really late on posting this. Notes are from February. Had it on tap at Surly Goat, Father's Office, Tony's Darts and Churchill's Pub within a few weeks of each other.

A: Pours a very clear golden-orange. One finger of medium-white head. Head dissipated very quickly, leaving nice lacing behind.

S: Lots of grapefruit and orange. Behind that there is tropical fruit, floral scents and pine. Smells very sweet.

T: The alcohol on this one is hidden really well. Has a well balanced citrus and tropical fruit sweetness with a malty backbone. Very crisp and drinkable. Less hop bitterness than the Elder on this one.

M: Medium-light body with medium carbonation. Has a great stickiness to it, which is probably my favorite part of this beer.

O: This is a very well balanced, refreshing and drinkable beer, especially considering that it comes in at 11%. With that said, I prefer many other DIPAs (yes, I know this is a triple) to this and I don't think it's worth going nuts over.

Serving type: on-tap

11-09-2012 20:00:42 | More by LaChupacabra

Salena

4.18/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

One of my bf's favorites, i heard so much about this beer and heard also that it was not sold much and that it would not be in stock much longer, so of course i had to have some. I'm not usually into this heavy of a beer, but boy was i shocked to taste it and want more. Yummm! Boys sure do have a set of extra taste buds just for beer! I'm glad my bf is such an advocate otherwise i'd be missing out on a lot!

Serving type: bottle

10-25-2012 16:10:13 | More by Salena

Samichlaus82

3.8/5  rDev -19.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance is clear, light amber in color, with a thin white head that leaves minimal lacing around the glass. Aroma is bursting with grapefruit and hops, with notes of sweet honey, caramel & fruit. Taste is sweet caramel malt upfront, mildly piney in the mid-palate, with a slightly bitter hop finish. Not too hoppy though. Very rich & well balanced. Mouthfeel is light in body, smooth, & again slightly bitter in the finish. Overall, is it the best Imperial IPA in the world? That’s subjective; I see how people could think so. I think it’s pretty damn good, but I tried it in a blind tasting among other DIPA’s, and it certainly wasn’t my favorite. The hype plays a lot into this. Still, extremely glad I got to try this!

Serving type: on-tap

10-24-2012 09:27:13 | More by Samichlaus82

JimsArcade

Pennsylvania

4.75/5  rDev +0.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

(Notes from a March, 2012 sampling)

Pours a translucent dark, almost ruby amber with little head. The aroma screams of citrus and alcohol. The taste is nothing short of fantastic: a moderate sweetness from the malt backbone helps sustain the rigorous amount of hops and booze. I'd say PtY is easy to drink one after the other if not for it being a logistical impossibility.

Even though it's the only place PtY is available on the East coast, it's still nearly impossible to obtain in Philly... unless you're willing to jump through hoops or pay through the nose for it. As amazing as PtY is, no beer is worthy of its level of hype. If you can get it for a reasonable price, though, I highly recommend it.

Serving type: on-tap

09-24-2012 20:08:43 | More by JimsArcade

johnnnniee

New Hampshire

4.2/5  rDev -10.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

From notes: Sampled at EBF 2010. Pours a murky pale golden color with a stingy off white head that dissipates quickly. Wonderfully complex hop aroma, lots of citrus grapefruit and orange being in the forefront. The flavor is big with lots of caramel offset with plenty of hop flavor mostly of the peach/grapefruit/orange vein. Medium body with a light level of carbonation and a sweet resinous mouthfeel. Very nice big IPA that I waited much to long in line to taste. I’m glad I got to try this its a great beer, but I think I prefer the elder.

Serving type: on-tap

08-17-2012 01:16:54 | More by johnnnniee

JustinMatthew

Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev -4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Notes from 3/5/12 at Monk's Cafe, Phiadelphia.

I'm just going to start by saying $15 for a "Half Pour" that only turned out to be about 4oz is complete bullshit. I live close by, ive been there a few times and i always leave annoyed with that place, most overrated bar in my opinion.

Luckily the wait wasn't to bad (about 30 mins) from there you walk in, hand them your money, and collect your long stemmed half pour. Crystal clear Golden orange color was very nice.. Head had faded by the time we collected ours. Aroma was very sweet, piney, and full of juicy citrus. Taste is amazingly balanced.. citrus, pine, slightly bready, sweet, and smooth. Really great IPA but i wouldn't say its the best i've had by any means. With the price gouging on this beer you wont catch me standing in line for this one next year.

Serving type: on-tap

08-08-2012 21:18:55 | More by JustinMatthew

chrisrose30

California

5/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I waited four hours in a line outside Russian River Brewery to get in to taste this beer, and I have to say, it really is that good.

This beer was served in a 10 oz. glass. It is a dark orange with a thin white head, and it smells of sweet cherries, cantaloupe, zinfandel, hops. Upon drinking this beer, I was hit with an intense sweetness, but the hoppiness of the beer smoothed this out, and there was a really good balance. This is a very complex beer that should be sipped - three and I was feeling more than fine.

Serving type: on-tap

07-31-2012 18:26:02 | More by chrisrose30

siege06nd

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev -5.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed at Capone's with IrishColonial on March 3rd. Reviewed from notes.

A. Pours a light golden orange color with some subtle hazing. Quarter finger of crisp white head with some excellent lacing. The most striking thing about Younger is its color: it practically glows in my glass. Beauty fermented.

S. Just a metric crap-ton of tropical fruit flavors, including pineapple, mango, and tangerine. Good dose of pine resin and grassy notes. Orange zest and honey provide a wonderful smoothness to the entire affair. A smooth, sweet, light bouquet. Loads of honey and tropical scents. Top notch.

T. Lots of floral, citrusy, and grassy hops. The initial flavor is sweetness, but not sticky-like. This beer slowly grows and warms to you, with the citrus and floral notes yielding to some bitter and earthy grassy/piney flavors providing a bitter finish. Touch of alcohol on the back-end. The most striking facet of the beer is how smooth yet hoppy it is. The strong caramel malt really balances out the bitterness. Malt, pine resin, and minerality combine with sweet honey and floral presence to create a flavor profile that is quite pleasing.

M. Drinks a little too smooth and light for a Triple IPA. Not a hop-ocalpyse by any means as the bitterness is mellowed near perfectly by the malt.

O. Shockingly smooth for all the hop flavor packed into this. A very well-crafted beer. ABV of 11.0%? Could have fooled me with how smooth this is. It's not the be all end all that the hype-storm would lead you to believe. Would I drive to Philly again to try it? Probably not. But if you haven't had this, will you be disappointed investing a lot of time and/or money into getting a taste? I don't think so. It's a delicious beer and worthy of mention as a top notch IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

07-15-2012 19:33:59 | More by siege06nd