Pliny The Elder - Russian River Brewing Company

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.9/5  rDev +5.4%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Russian River Brewing Company - Pliny The Elder

Thanks to my buddy (da_beers) I was able to sample the best the West has to offer, at least as far as DIPAs go.

Look - Pours like a light beer, as in clear, filtered, and golden like a lager. It proves its worth with an amazing soapy head and incredible lacing all over the glass. We were able to get one that was a little over two weeks old. Carbonation is moderate to heavy.

Smell - Signature west coast hops, similar to Lagunitas Sucks but a little more refined, more subtle and mouth-watering. Some sweet malts are present. Evolves a bit as it warms but don't let it warm too much as it can end up compromising the taste.

Taste - Smooth carbonated hop blend, light citrus (grapefruit and tangerine), some pine and resin here as well, so smooth and tasty.

Mouthfeel - Probably the most drinkable DIPA you can get. The 8% is invisible and it goes down smooth. Amazingly thirst-quenching and it lingers just right on the palette. Gentle and warming yet crisp and refreshing.

Overall - Phenomenal brew, absolutely amazing. So glad we were able to get some of this shipped out to us. Even a non-DIPA/IPA drinker and those who aren't super into hops can enjoy this smooth and unique brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 12:33:16 | More by JMScowcroft

LambicPentameter

Kansas

4.55/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured out of a bottle into a 20 oz snifter. Bottled on 4/13/13, so nice and fresh.

Appearance - An crystal-clear orangeish golden yellow with a frothy white head two fingers thick. After awhile, the head dissipates to just a film and a line of foam around the edge with moderate lacing.

Smell - Pleasantly complex--it changes a bit each time I return for another whiff. Grapefruit, pine resin, even some tannins and maybe a bit of phenolic quality on a foundation of aromatic hoppiness.

Taste - Tangy hops and layers of citrus. More grapefruit with elements of fresh clementine. The hopes are again present, but provide what seems like a bit of earthiness under the citrus canopy.

Mouthfeel - Full-bodied and creamy. Fills your mouth, but doesn't linger with any kind of unsavory aftertaste.

Overall, a fantastic beer. I'm not sure I can say that it's my favorite DIPA ever, but it's quite amazing in the way it has so many things going on. I have a second bottle and will have to see how that influences my perception of this stellar brew.

Serving type: bottle

04-21-2013 06:26:36 | More by LambicPentameter

douginromeo

Michigan

4.83/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Date bottled: 4/10/13 - poured into an Irish imperial pint.

Appearance - beautiful golden color with no haze or floaties. This is an attractive beer.

Smell - this is one that I wish I could smell all night. All you get is hops - no malt, no sweetness: nothing but hops. But the beauty is, it's not a hop bomb that singes your nose hairs either - it has the perfect amount

Taste - perfection in the form of an ipa. I love heady, but I like this one even better. There's such a perfect balance to the beer that it leaves you wanting more. There's absolutely no hint of the alcohol at 8% either. In short, one of the best beers I have ever drank.

Mouthfeel - perfect amount of carbonation and a lovely tongue coating of bitterness that doesn't hang around longer than it should.

Overall - this is in my top 5 ever, maybe top 2. It is amazing and worthy of all hype that it gets.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 18:45:24 | More by douginromeo

Agent1

Alberta (Canada)

4.31/5  rDev -7.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

**HAVING SEARCHED FOR THIS BEER FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW, I FINALLY GOT MY HANDS ON BUT A SINGLE BOTTLE. THIS MAY BE THE HOLY GRAIL OF BEER, ACCORDING TO LEGEND**

That being said, I will remain unbiased and impartial and judge this beer objectively.

**Bottled: 030813**

---

Appearance – In all honesty, for a beer of this color and style, it really does not get much better than this. It looks great. Poured into a pokal-style glass. Bright copper orange. The head reminds me of Duvel Moortgat; bright white with excellent lacing and foamy, active bubbles. A very active beer. You can see the carbonation is mid to high just by watching the bubbles race to the top.

Smell – Super, super strong simcoe hops and fresh floral hops. Almost piercingly chemical or enhanced. I've never smelt anything like this from any Double IPA or IPA. Smells very fresh, like opening a vacuum sealed bag of hops. Pine needles and cleaner (not an offensive smell, necessarily, just extremely, extremely potent). This is a very powerful, bold aroma. Plants, citrus, lemon, orange peel, herbs and very strong, concentrated sugar smells. Not much malt is allowed to come through the hops. Very piny.

Taste – Great, clean taste. Definitely suits the style but does not add anything new or take any risks. Fresh hop taste and plenty of light, subtle toffee/ butterscotch notes. Soapy dry hop flavor (pretty standard -- tastes good). Amarillo is in the mix, but blends in with the others. The Amarillo gives this beer something special. Subtle lemon notes with stronger orange/ orange peel and grapefruit at the center. The alcohol is hidden well. Nice bitterness and use of sugars -- the two go hand in hand. Lots of grapefruit notes. I have drank this cool at around 6c, and warmer at around 12c. I wanted to see it change. Not a huge jump like most Belgian ales, but still a tad more enjoyable to me when warmer. Hints of vanilla and spice.

Mouthfeel – Impressive. This lightly stimulates all areas of the mouth, but mostly the roof. A nice clean finish with a hint of fresh hops on the aftertaste. Taste buds mainly feel this on the front-roof of the mouth. Nice and fizzy. The hops and carbonation work wonderfully together. Crisp and clean, buttery and smooth. A great use of carbonation.

Overall – This beer is definitely overhyped and overrated. It is very well-balanced and holds true to its style. An excellent beer, but not nearly as incredible as I thought it might be. I feel the aroma and look of this beer may be some of its most impressive characteristics. Dry, earthy, tart, yet sugary and delicious, this beer is a great Double India Pale Ale. I think it is fairly obvious that most of the beer nerds out there like to boast of Pliny's rarity and perhaps feel extra privileged to take part in the hype. It is very hard to find and I am fortunate enough to finally get my hands on it after approximately 4 years of searching. Do not get me wrong, this is an exceptional beer in its style, but definitely overhyped due to how hard it is to come by. Also important to note: there are plenty of other amazing IPAs and DIPAs out there that rival this specific beer. Overall, this does not disappoint. Pliny, you are delicious.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2013 03:54:21 | More by Agent1

bkeach

California

4.83/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

No review is really needed for this beer, but I wanted to have this listed under my review list. That said, the beer is a favorite for obvious reasons. Its balance and flavors are so good, and are still considerably unique among so many beers even after all these years. May be my favortite beer during the summer time. Such a fresh, clean flavor profile. Simcoe hops are balanced perfectly. The slight champagney mouthfeel gives you a deliciously refreshing beginning with a semi-dry finish that begs for another gulp. The smell is good, but does not represent the beers taste and overal experience. I did notice the hop smells came through more as it warmed up a bit, but this beer should be served colder them most IPA's. I recently had PTY and although it was a great beer, (basically a bigger version of elder), I think Elder is a better beer as for as craft goes.

Serving type: bottle

04-19-2013 23:31:47 | More by bkeach

seanwilson530

California

5/5  rDev +7.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I'm a hop head and this beer is by far the best IPA I have ever had! Enjoyed this pint while down in Santa Rosa one day on a road trip. An explosion of citrus, floral, earthy and grassy hops. Perfectly balanced malt backbone. It doesn't get any better than this. I usually don't write reviews, but this beer gets one. Way to go Russian River!

Serving type: on-tap

04-18-2013 22:52:22 | More by seanwilson530

stonermouse

Massachusetts

4.85/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Bottle brought back from San Diego by my mom. What a nice mom. Bottled 4/10/13- 7 days young. Poured from the bottle into a goblet.

Pours crystal clear, golden with a slight head. Nice carbonation, moderate lacing.

The aroma with this brew is off the charts for sure. Some pine, tinged with a melon fruitiness. Well-rounded and potent.

The flavor is wonderful- it just envelopes the mouth with a huge variety of flavors. There's a touch of booze that makes everything a bit sharp, but it signifies to me that this beer means business. There is pine again in the flavor, and a big springtime, fresh-cut grass flavor. The finish is a touch of citrus that's kind of like a lemon chaser to the big flavors that preceded it.

The mouthfeel is wonderfully dry. The flavors just last and last as you drink this one, too.

This really is a great beer that doesn't disappoint. Although, I wouldn't be doing my job as a new member of the "Have enjoyed fresh Heady and Pliny" club if I didn't opine on my preferred beverage. I prefer Heady, slightly, for a couple of reasons. First, I have history with it. I have had a lot of Heady and associate some great memories with it. I'd be lying if I didn't admit this was a factor. But second, I love Heady's viscosity, its dense, dirty look and feel, and it's substantial sweet backbone that Pliny lacks. I appreciate both, and Pliny is really spectacular, so it comes down to personal preference.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2013 02:33:22 | More by stonermouse

Rinkor16

California

4.61/5  rDev -0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I drink this regularly on tap at the pup. It's probably a little biased.

A: Very clear with a nice copper hue. When I've had it out of a growler or bottle, it always has some nice head that dissipates after a while.

S: Tons of hops, citrus and pine.

T: Upfront hops with lots of citrus and pine in the background. Very clean finish that doesn't leave you with any odd tastes. Follows the nose down to the T.

M: Smooth and medium bodied. Always the right amount of carbonation.

O: This is my go to when I'm looking for a beer on tap. I visit the pub at least once a month. Always go for my 1-2 punch. PtE followed by a Row 2 with a Lola pizza. Always fills the craving.

Serving type: on-tap

04-17-2013 03:59:01 | More by Rinkor16

Bosoxfan20

Oklahoma

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

My turn to take a swing at the much hyped Pliny the Elder. A big thanks to the Apt family for making this happen. I know this bad boy is hard to come by.

Poured from a 500 ml bottle into a Spiegelau IPA glass.

A- Pours a mostly clear copper with a generous 1.5 finger off white head. NIce and fluffy and does a great job of clinging to the glass with solid retention. Intense amount of carbination bubbles shooting from bottom to top.

S- Impressive, big aroma of robust amount of floral, citrus, and pine hops. Fresh hop oils. Resinous. A tropical scented freshener. A nice touch of biscuits gives me indication this isn't going to be a one note song.

T- Oh my. So, so smooth. Perfect job of following the great direction the nose was leading. Layers of complex hops that I smelled. Grapefruit, orange, some pine and floral notes. Then comes a mellow course of bready malts to give it just the right amount of balance for the style. A lingering bitterness comes through on the finish.

M- I am not sure if this quality can get any better. It is so creamy and smooth with little to no trace of alcohol it is scary. The drinkability is nuts. Juicy, yet still has a touch of dryness at the end that leaves you not wanting to put the glass down and continue drinking. Perfect carbonation.

O- I wasn't sure it could live up to the hype, but I think it did. It is about as perfectly crafted a beer as I have had. I'll give it the slight edge over Hopslam as my favorite DIPA. As the label indicates, this is a beer to drink fresh as possible. I would love to try this on tap as i have heard it is even better.

Bottled on 3-12-13
Consumed on 4-14-13

Serving type: bottle

04-16-2013 02:42:02 | More by Bosoxfan20

WalterHeisenberg

New Mexico

4.86/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Bottled on 3/14/13
Consumed on 4/10/13
So fresh I assume
Aggressive pour into pint glass
A: Clear golden yellowish orange medium white head disappears fairly quickly leaving a ring no lacing
no carbonation apparent! Looks very appealing

S: apricot bitter orange lemon citrus bready piney malty no alcohol very nice

T :lemon bitter orange mango apricot hops up front bready grassy down the middle smooth smooth smooth malt on the down side with a tail end of hop bitters yet Very balanced . 8%??? What the bottle says. I did drink it on an empty stomach. So I felt that 8%. Yea! No alcohol taste whatsoever bitter/malt combo after taste just lingers forever
M slightly sticky smooth silky bold not watery in any way nice again
Took me 2 1/2 Years to actually drink one! And it was worth the wait. Yes definitely lives up to ALL the hype I can drink this and only this for the rest of my life.

Serving type: bottle

04-11-2013 05:39:25 | More by WalterHeisenberg

Sambr0n1

New Hampshire

4.25/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Got this from a buddy that came back from California- thanks Jamie! I was so excited to try this beer, as I have heard all the hype. Had this in my Hill Farmstead tulip glass. Pours a nice looking pale ale with a nice head that with moderate lacing that sticks to the glass, creating nice layers with every sip. The initial aroma is floral and super hoppy, but fades quickly. The light body holds only an initial hop flavor that fades quickly as your pallet declines with the bitter bite of the hops, and the flavor just seems bland after the first 2 sips. No real complaints with this beer, except that it didn't live up to the hype. Definitely a very good beer, but I would not go out of my way to have this. 4.27/5

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2013 18:26:45 | More by Sambr0n1

shand

Florida

4.81/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

Ah, Pliny. It's been three years, but we meet at last. Pliny the Elder pours out an orange-copper color with a head that retains very well. The aroma is that of resiny hops and citrus. Pretty standard, but still well done. The taste puts any fears to rest I had of this not living up to the hype down pretty quickly. It brings in a strong grapefruit flavor at first, with some tropical flavors in the middle leading to a big, resiny, piney finish that lingers for an eternity. The mouthfeel is smooth and medium-bodied, and the drinkability is exceptional. Overall, Pliny the Elder is an excellent double IPA. Highly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 20:19:54 | More by shand

clayrock81

Virginia

4.29/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5

Poured a clearish orange gold body with monster two-finger head that died slow and left lace everywhere the whole beer. Huge hop aroma of sticky, wet, earthy hops with that familiar grapefruit and citric/clovey spice hop zip, along with some sweet or plush tropical fruit smell that is a tad noticeable and there is a touch of some caramel and/or bready malt. Beer is medium-bodied, easy to drink, incredibly smooth for the amout of hops in there and it packs a lot. Almost chewey and a dangerous session ale since you can't even pick up any alcohol, this beer is the exception of most DIPAs in that instead of crushing/drying out your tastebuds it wets them and leaves you wanting more. Not only are there the strong grape/citric hops flavors with spice but there is a sweetness to this beer that gives it nice balance and a strong, bready crackerlike malt backbone that holds everything up and what a delicious finish. For everything I heard about this beer it was definitely worth the wait.

Serving type: on-tap

04-05-2013 16:06:55 | More by clayrock81

drrone

Arizona

4.8/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

Poured a bottle into a Deschutes Teku. Bottled 5/13/13.

A - Poured a beautiful crystal clear golden liquid with 2 finger width white head. The head faded and left a solid crown of lacing. Light carbonation.

S - What a treat to the nose. Very floral and citrus up front with grapefruit, mango, pine and mild hops. I just want to keep smelling it.

T - Ahhh, fresh hops. Interestingly, for me, the hops come bursting through all that citrus/tropical fruit nose, although not overwhelmingly. While the citrus, pine malt come through after. Really quite nice. Slight bitter aftertaste, but pleasant.

M - Crisp is what come to mind immediately. Easy to drink with light carbonation. Resin aftertaste that is very nice.

O - Outstanding beer. I would like to contrast with some fresh HT and see how it comes out. Either way it is a well executed IIPA. I would love to drink this on a regular basis. It is a must try.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 01:21:43 | More by drrone

braugon

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -12.3%
look: 2.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

I had two on tap in Philly. Very excited when the waitress mentioned it, because like many, I thought I might never get to taste it. This beer has a golden-red, rather clear hue. A small white head. An amazing citrus smell that you know is gonna taste good, just from one sniff. Taste is very crisp, refreshing, and citrusy. Grapefruit mostly, with medium body. Could drink a lot of these in a single sitting. I still give an edge to Gandhi Bot as slightly better tasting, because as a local, I have my biases =), but I liked Pliny so much, I thought I would add to the chorus of complimentary reviews. Worth the hype in my opinion, of course I was lucky and didn't have to wait in a line or trade to get a taste, very fortunate on my part. Right bar, right time.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2013 15:25:44 | More by braugon

sbxx

Illinois

4.71/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.75

Bottled 3/8/13
Enjoyed on 3/30/13
Poured into FFF Teku glass

Appearance - Pours a nice, deep golden yellow. Quite bubbly. Almost 3 fingers of thick cream foam. Thick lacing.

Smell - Dank citrus hops. A little bit tropical. A little bit grassy.

Taste - Massive! Bitter up front but not over the top. Quickly transitions into crisp smooth citrus with some earthy grass notes and bold pine. Alcohol? What alcohol? This is a top notch blend. So nice to taste an IIPA that has bold flavor yet at the same time is super smooth and a pleasure to drink.

Mouthfeel - Medium body, light/med carbonation, Super clean finish. Awesome.

Overall - Lives up to the hype. Excellent quality, smooth drinker. Can't wait to get more of this.

Serving type: bottle

04-01-2013 07:22:06 | More by sbxx

chrisgalvin

California

4.75/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I live a block from a bar that has this on tap and I have it at least once a week. Hands down, a fantastic beer. Just a lighter version of the Younger and less malt. Great balance of malt character and fresh hops. I'm really luck to live a block from the fountain of PtE.

Serving type: on-tap

04-01-2013 04:14:36 | More by chrisgalvin

JohnnyMc

Ohio

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

Will this live up to the massive hype?!

This pours out a perfectly clear golden/orange with about 1 finger of white head.

The aroma has citrus notes, piney and slightly grassy hop aromas along with some subtle tropical fruit aroma.

The taste is hop forward with a nice amount of orange peel, grapefruit, pine, pineapple and mango. There is some bready malt that balances out the hop flavors and brings an overall balance.

The body is light and mouthfeel is slightly creamy. There isn't much bitterness, but finishes very clean and smooth. The 8% is nowhere in this beer; not in the taste or smell or as it goes down.

This is a very solid and extremely tasty Imperial IPA, but the best in the world? Nope. I really, really enjoyed this one, but would have preferred more bitterness and a more aggressive hop profile. That being said, a great beer and worth trying, but it's nowhere near where the hype places it. Of course, all palates are different.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 19:39:49 | More by JohnnyMc

Doc_Hops

Pennsylvania

4.78/5  rDev +2.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A HUGE thank you goes out to my friends at Pinnochio's for hooking me up with this mini growler. I swear this place just keeps getting better and better.

A- Pliny the Elder pours a crystal clear light orange. Right away you can tell it is a west coast IPA. It's clean looking, no haze whatsoever, with a nice eggshell white head.

S- Grapefruit citrus is the predominate smell going on here. I get a lot of hop-citrus bursts and very litter malt to speak of.

T- B-E-A-U_tiful! Lemony/ grapefruit citrus hits you right away. There's quite a bit of tart involved which makes the beer extremely lip-smacking. A little bit of pine resonates on the palate but then quickly leaves. The finish is lingering with wonderful hop bitterness.

M- This beer is so bitter but still very smooth, which is quite interesting given the lighter malts involved. Medium bodied through and through. There is some nice bubbly carbonation as well.

O- Overall this beer has lived up to the hype for me. It isn't my favorite west coast IPA but it is definitely up there. It is juicy and delicious. It is a must try for any hops lover.

Serving Type- Growler poured into an IPA glass. Thanks for reading.

Serving type: growler

03-30-2013 01:53:41 | More by Doc_Hops

Belgianbeerbunny

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev -5.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Summary - After waiting 45 minutes at the Russian River Brew Pub in Santa Rosa for a table and a beer, I started with the flagship brew. I am not an IPA fan, but found this one so well-balanced, that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

A - No head to speak of. Golden amber hue.

S - Piney and hoppy.

T - Bitter in the front, but smooth in the back. Doesn't taste as piney as it smells.

M - Smooth and very drinkable, despite its status as a Double IPA.

O - Subtle for an IPA. I would wait another 45 minutes to drink one, but not 4 hours for a Pliny the Younger!

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 23:57:45 | More by Belgianbeerbunny

Abstractattack

Pennsylvania

3.99/5  rDev -14.2%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.25

A: hazy golden, with mild lacing and very thin head.

S: Earthy with a bit of citrus hop, mild to low malt

T: I am reviewing 2 days after I consumed Elder. I do not remember the taste profile

M: Almost creamy. The beer comes on mild and flavors sits wonderfully on the pallet and gradually fades.

O: I feel the strongest part of this beer is its mouth feel. Elder is very well crafted. You cannot argue Russian River really put effort into designing and balancing Elder. There was nothing that really stood out and I was not overly impressed with the flavor which is why I forgot it so fast. There are other Doubles/imperials that are on the market that are READILY AVAILABLE that I would rather consume. I was not a fan of having to go out of my way to find and try the beer after 3 years searching. Find it (good luck) and try it. But I would not go out of the way to drink again.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 17:43:32 | More by Abstractattack

BrantleyJ

California

4.71/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

One of the finest beers put out by Russian River. Had it on tap at the brewery. Very hoppy aroma hits you first, drinks incredibly smooth for such a big beer. It is hard to find but well worth the hunt. If you happen to locate a bottle, or better yet find it on tap, do not pass up the opportunity to try it.

Serving type: on-tap

03-26-2013 01:34:18 | More by BrantleyJ

Treyliff

West Virginia

4.73/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Review #300
Served in a tulip glass

A- pours a bubbly crystal clear bright golden color with a creamy two-finger head that seems to retain permanently, patches of lace stick as the head dissapates.

S- the first thing I notice are the freshness of the hops coming from the aroma, notes of fresh cut grass, orange zest, a bit of pine and some tropical fruit. Just a trace of alcohol and sweet malt.

T- the complexity of flavors are so impressive. It starts with citrus and pine hops with some fresh grassy notes. Mid palate provides sweet tropical fruits of pineapple and guava, the finish is dry and extremely clean with fresh mint sprig and light clean alcohol with a citrusy linger

M- medium body with a spritzy-yet-creamy mouthfeel, moderate carbonation and a velvety finish

O- the flavors of this beer lived up to the hype for me. This is the cleanest and freshest hop profile that I've experienced from a beer. The flavors are so profound yet brilliantly balanced, it drinks as easy as a standard IPA. Glad to finally have a chance to try this legend.

Serving type: bottle

03-26-2013 00:59:22 | More by Treyliff

Hendry

Vermont

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

The East Coast hop junkies, particularly those of us in Vermont, have been spoiled to Heady Topper,Lawson's Double Sunshine (among other splendid DIPAs),and Hill Farmstead varieties. The legend of Pliny The Elder was one that intrigued me, and thanks to my buddy & hop mentor, I was lucky enough to sample this nectar.

The pour and appearance are pretty standard, but there is a discord between the appearance and aroma: how could this clear as a bell DIPA have such an inviting nose? The aroma made my mouth water with a truly subtle bouquet of the sweetest tropical fruits you can think of.

The mouthfeel is light to medium, carbonation perfect, and the aftertaste is marvelously fruity (apricot,peach,pineapple,not your standard grapefruit blast). The drinkability of this beer is off the charts, particularly for a DIPA.

Pliny The Elder is completely worthy of the legendary status it receives, and has a drinkability factor that surpasses the mighty Heady Topper for my tastes. This DIPA is a masterpiece, one that has only been matched thus far by Lawson's Double Sunshine. Excellent work by Russian River Brewing.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 20:33:42 | More by Hendry

Samuel906

California

4.98/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Before I had a chance to have this for the first time, I was worried that it was going to be over hyped; I thought my expectations were going to be too high, and I was going to be disappointed. Nothing could be further from the truth. This beer is simply fantastic. It puts all of my other favorite DIPAs to shame. It pours a rich golden amber that is perfectly transparent, with some bubbles effervescing. It has a nice thick dense, white head with great retention and lacing. The smell is amazing: fresh pineapple, mango, hops and grapefruit. The definition of fresh. The taste follows suit: sour citrus up front, some sweet caramel and mango in the middle with some herbal hints, and resiny hops to finish it off. Absolutely no booze. Silky smooth, crisp and refreshing. This beer is simply fantastic, and considering its price point, and availability (check local listings), I would go on a limb to say it is probably the best beer overall on the planet right now.

Serving type: bottle

03-23-2013 00:51:32 | More by Samuel906