Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

IPA4LIFE

United Kingdom (England)

4.96/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Bottled on 27 December 2012, tasted/reviewed on 12 January 2013. Bottle poured into a tulip glass.

A- Crystal-clear honey golden color. Fluffy white head that drops pretty quickly, leaving a nice trail of clingy lacing sticking to the side of the glass.

S- OH. MY. GOD. This smells pretty much like burying your face in a bag full of hops. Sharp citrus zest, big and bold. Also lots of pine. The hops are really strong in this beer (I guess that kinda goes without saying, but it needs to be said). Overall, big grapefruit zest, a little mango, and some strong pine.

T- Surprisingly balanced. There is an initial malty sweetness that meets up with some wonderful fruity hop notes to make a flavor resonate of fresh buttered biscuits with orange marmalade. At the back of the palate there sits a solid bitterness that transitions from the orange marmalade notes to flavors of bitting into a fresh grapefruit. The lingering bitterness is complimented by a slight warming hint of booze, leaving the flavors to linger on the drinkers tongue for a long, long time.

M- Carbonation is great. Nice smooth mouthfeel. The body is thin enough to not distract, but thin enough to let the flavors come through.

O- Probably the perfect IPA. This beer is everything an IPA should be. Super hoppy, but clearly not made without regard for the malt characteristics of the beer. The malt bill is made to support the hops fully, and the balance is perfect. If I had to have one more beer before I died, fresh Pliny the Elder would be my choice without doubt. Best beer I have ever had.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2013 19:08:15 | More by IPA4LIFE

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4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

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4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

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Massachusetts

4.16/5  rDev -10.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.25

Finally got two bottles in mail bottled on 5/9/13 and consumed 5/16/13. Delicious and quintessential, but no way is it even close to Heady Topper, its East coast rival. I have no idea how anyone who has consumed Heady fresh can possibly prefer Pliny. It's essentially a DIPA for non- hopheads who can't handle real hop bombs. Great beer, but not worth the hype and effort to get your hands on it.

Serving type: bottle

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