Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

ucis

Minnesota

5/5  rDev +7.5%

11-29-2011 18:16:20 | More by ucis

mdmurray

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-25-2013 04:53:02 | More by mdmurray

rringler

California

4.81/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Oh Pliny. We've enjoyed each other for a while now; time to give you the full review.

A: Very clear, dark straw color. Pours with about a finger of white medium size head. While the head does dissipate into a nice bubble film rather quickly, it leaves behind a very nice, sticky lacing of micro bubbles.

S: A very balanced impression of grape fruit zest/sweetness, malty breads, and bitter hops. The beauty here is in how well balanced everything is.

T: Similar to the smell, the taste's strength is in its balance. It start with grapefruit sour/citrus, before moving on to moderate bready malts, but finishes with moderate+ bitter/piney hops. Very enjoyable, with no hint of alcohol at 8% abv. This is not news to anyone, but this brew defines the textbook IPA.

M: Medium- body, and a little quicker and less sticky than some IPAs. Mouthfeel usually determines how many brews I can enjoy in a session, and this brew gives me the option to enjoy a second (or third) if I care to. Carbonation is great.

O: This beer gets very high reviews for very good reasons. Lots of brews focus on single areas, but this one excels in all areas of the taste (the initial sweetness, the bready mid-tastes, and the hop finish.) It does all this without tasting boozy and the smell accurately represents the taste. All of this is accomplished with a mouthfeel that doesn't fatigue the drinker. In my book, this is a win; I enjoy drinking Pliny, and I'll always enjoy another.

Serving type: bottle

05-25-2013 03:11:22 | More by rringler

indybearsfan

Indiana

5/5  rDev +7.5%

05-25-2013 00:29:22 | More by indybearsfan

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