Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

BDLbrewster

Minnesota

4.95/5  rDev +6.5%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Thanks a Fuk-ton to my Cali connect for this gem!! Bryanbrick, you sir are my hero.

Pours a wonderful hazy pumpkin hued pale yellow color. Small frothy head that dissipates very quickly leaving gobs of sticky lacing all around my glass. Lots of tiny bubbles rise gracefully to the surface.

Ahhh... The nose is super ripe with massive amounts of citric grapefruit goodness. Smells like pure pink grapefruit juice on crack, passionfruit also comes to mind after numerous whiffs. Some subtle pine and very little else. Any hint of malt that might be there is buried under miles of fruity goodness.

Simply amazing. A quick burst of sweet, very lightly caramelized malt on the very front of the tongue. Next in line is an unprovoked tongue fuck of sweetened grapefruit juice saturated with tiny nibs of pine needle. Not the type of pine that make you think pinesol, but the kind that makes you think over-ripe mango. For how unnoticed the malt goes in this brew, it really does a spectacular job of supporting the crazy amount of citrus this brew carries. Surprisingly the finish carries very little residual bitterness for a big DIPA. Once again I am just amazed.

I rarely say this, but the mouthfeel is something out of a flippin fairy tale. Not syrupy in the least and luxurious, yeah, I said it. Luxurious. This brew is sooo light in my mouth, I feel like I am drinking a mich ultra (this is the only time I will ever say that in a good context.)

Overall, wow. 8%? Really... I mean really??? 8, I mean come the fuck on. Balanced is not always a good word when it comes to DIPA's. Pliny is balanced, but in an extremely good way. I wish I could put how I feel about this beer into words. But I can't, I can only think of one word to explain my relationship with Pliny. Wow.

Serving type: growler

10-31-2009 00:03:05 | More by BDLbrewster

Spaz7

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 19:43:04 | More by Spaz7

Dirksen

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 18:13:05 | More by Dirksen

pisano

Massachusetts

4/5  rDev -14%

05-24-2013 15:32:08 | More by pisano

twbeecher

Wisconsin

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 11:11:23 | More by twbeecher

Grant35

California

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-24-2013 08:18:54 | More by Grant35

SwG237

New York

4.25/5  rDev -8.6%

05-24-2013 03:49:35 | More by SwG237

AdamP

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-24-2013 02:10:47 | More by AdamP

Jeremy_H

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-24-2013 01:48:49 | More by Jeremy_H

Michael_20P

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 23:05:31 | More by Michael_20P

not_rare_enough

Texas

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 20:31:47 | More by not_rare_enough

ChrisMetcalfe

South Carolina

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 18:44:39 | More by ChrisMetcalfe

calvinkirk23

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 18:27:29 | More by calvinkirk23

visionaries

California

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-23-2013 17:46:11 | More by visionaries

stanowsf

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-23-2013 17:45:31 | More by stanowsf

pk18

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-23-2013 17:38:32 | More by pk18

Myst

District of Columbia

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-23-2013 05:02:32 | More by Myst

Benish

Wisconsin

4.99/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Man this is good! Just opened my first bottle and it's pretty fresh; bottled 5/09/13.I don't know if this is a good analogy but opening the bottle is like letting the Genie out the lamp. It's insanely floral and sweet just smelling from the tip of bottle. Kind of like opening a BRAND NEW canister of Folgers ground coffee in the morning.

In a glass, the beer presented a very light amber color. Very clear and transparent. Honestly, I am paying less attention to appearance and more attention to smell and flavor.

I taste a lot of floral notes, some kiwi, citrus, and pine. It's is amped up in flavor. It almost makes your tongue tingle! I have not tried that many Double IPA's but if there is one DIPA it compares to, it's Sosus from Toppling Goliath. I think both are equally good. But because Sosus is extremely limited (might have been made only once), I'm more than glad that Pliny is available!

The flavor is very balanced. It's both bitter and sweet. Neither side is overpowering. The beer is extremely drinkable. I'm savoring it but I can see why someone would say it doesn't take long to finish a pint. I'm very happy to be getting some more next month!

Serving type: bottle

05-23-2013 02:54:54 | More by Benish

alysmith4

District of Columbia

4/5  rDev -14%

05-22-2013 23:05:56 | More by alysmith4

KANE3

California

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 21:24:13 | More by KANE3

wogreen

Arkansas

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-22-2013 18:10:05 | More by wogreen

melleblond

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-22-2013 17:17:30 | More by melleblond

Justinsosmart

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-21-2013 22:09:32 | More by Justinsosmart

DanH83

New York

4.3/5  rDev -7.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Well, thanks to a fantastic Cali BA, I've just had my first Pliny. Poured into a tulip, tall head, lingers a bit. It's hoppy and smooth. Very balanced and drinkable, doesn't overwhelm the palate. It's not the hop bomb I was expecting, for better or worse. Not the best or hoppy-est, but better than any other IIPA...except one...

Pliny is fantastic! However, it is no Heady Topper.

Serving type: bottle

05-21-2013 22:00:29 | More by DanH83

aleman39

California

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-21-2013 21:16:26 | More by aleman39