Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

phattysbox

New York

4.88/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Got from a trade with beerbeagle...

Poured into DFH snifter. Nice off white and fine head that retreats to thin lace. Some nice webbing. Awesome orange amber hues with near perfect clarity. A very nice looking brew.

Smell: WOW! Citrus, grapfruit, and lemon abound in the nose and linger for a long time. There's a really nice sweetness to the nose (from the malts) that melds perfectly with the hop profile. Earthy and grassy notes also pull through in the nose.

Taste: More WOW! Initial bittering hops hits the palate - earthy, resiny and very oily. If hops could have a thick profile - this would be it. The hops linger, but do not destroy the palate (which is very hard to get a big hop profile and not wipe out taste buds). The hops that do hit fast slide to back really quick to let in sweet malts. Notes of buttery toffee and sweet candy come to mind to balance out this perfect DIPA.

Mouthfeel was extremely smooth for the strong hop presence. Alcohol was not evident and this brew went down very quick to my amazement! I have one more bottle I'm dying to open, I'm going to have to trade for more.

The pentultimate DIPA IMHO. Perfectly balanced between hops and malts. Better than DFH90...

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2008 22:11:24 | More by phattysbox

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

jloomis

Florida

4.5/5  rDev -3.2%

05-20-2013 00:22:35 | More by jloomis

IPAFan521

Illinois

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%

05-19-2013 23:33:00 | More by IPAFan521

taveerin

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-19-2013 23:25:49 | More by taveerin