Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

SkeeterBoganski

Colorado

4.45/5  rDev -4.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottled on 8/14/12...YES, I realize this probably should have been enjoyed sooner; "hoppy beers are not meant to be aged", yadda x3; I hadn't encountered a Pliny until some time in August having kept my eyes open (albeit somewhat passively) for a couple of years, and then I encountered and bought 3 within a 5 week period; I was trying to save this last one as long as I felt I should, and realized it's now 2.5 months from the bottled date.

Pliny has a reputation that precedes itself, ranked regularly as one of the finest doubles; appearance is deep golden; there are some serious bubbles cranking in this, looking very effervescent; the head is massive and frothy; the lacing is sticky and staunch...after a sip the glass is barely visible from the other side.

The aromas make your mouth water; bitter citrus and grapefruit; heavy on the dank pine smell too.

The beer tastes like you think an IPA should: aggressively hop forward, slightly bitter but not overwhelmingly so; the hoppy flavors are not try, yet the beer keeps you grasping for more; there's a sweet-soapy taste on the backend and I fear it has something to do with me saving it, but feel I can remember this flavor from previous encounters; there is a tantalizing bread feel here too.

It's a smooth mouthfeel, a little cloying and just the right amount of carbonation; it goes down really smooth but leaves some sticky froth in the throat.

Obviously this is a top shelf beer and worth getting your hands on anytime...it's (usually) cheap too...only $6 for a 510ml. Russian River does a really good job with supply in that the manage to keep the demand heavy, maybe unnecessarily so but I don't work RR QC. That said, I've had better/comparable DIPAs that didn't evade me for years. If they made just a bit more of this and retained the quality, it just might be the best beer around for the money. As it stands, it compares well with DFH90, Firestone Walker Double Jack, and ODells Myrcenary.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2012 15:01:08 | More by SkeeterBoganski

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

Beerandboards

New Mexico

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 19:01:37 | More by Beerandboards

pauldevay

Texas

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 18:32:40 | More by pauldevay

Busker

Connecticut

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-21-2013 17:55:13 | More by Busker

jakecattleco

California

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-21-2013 17:53:51 | More by jakecattleco

CosmoHopHead

Kansas

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-21-2013 03:59:13 | More by CosmoHopHead

ackeeper

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev -8.6%

05-21-2013 01:43:02 | More by ackeeper

deniserat

California

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-20-2013 22:27:30 | More by deniserat

zonker17

Illinois

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 21:52:11 | More by zonker17

aakerman

New York

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-20-2013 17:35:36 | More by aakerman

cnbrown313

Illinois

4/5  rDev -14%

05-20-2013 16:09:52 | More by cnbrown313

Daniellobo

District of Columbia

4.25/5  rDev -8.6%

05-20-2013 15:23:30 | More by Daniellobo

AL89BR

New Jersey

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 14:51:17 | More by AL89BR

duobob

Illinois

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-20-2013 05:09:08 | More by duobob

JReites

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-20-2013 03:34:14 | More by JReites

UHCougar12

Texas

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-20-2013 02:58:16 | More by UHCougar12

BtownIrish20

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-20-2013 02:18:53 | More by BtownIrish20

Ctrauty

Minnesota

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-20-2013 01:25:31 | More by Ctrauty