Pliny the Elder
Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, United States 🇺🇸
IPA - Imperial / Double Regular|
Score
8.33
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Where did we come up with this name? Back in the year 2000, our friend, Vic Kralj, who owns the Bistro in Hayward, California, decided to have his first ever Double IPA festival. Vic invited 10 breweries, 6 of whom (including us) had to brew something special for him since we had nothing that would fall under this style category. Vinnie had made a Double IPA at Blind Pig Brewing Co. in 1994, but was not brewing one at Russian River Brewing Co. at the time. He had an idea for the recipe, but not a name. After much research in beer books, brainstorming, and deliberation, we came up with “Pliny the Elder”. Pliny, the man, lived in the first century- 23 to 79 A.D. According to our brewing references, he and his contemporaries either created the botanical name or at least wrote about Lupus Salictarius, or hops, currently known as Humulus Lupulus. That was a very early reference to an important part of any Double IPA! Pliny, the beer has now become one of our flagship brews!
Pliny the Elder was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who wrote about his uncle succumbing to ash and smoke during the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D. while rescuing people. Cheers to the scholar, historian, officer, writer, and Roman Naturalist- Pliny the Elder!
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Appearance - 4 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 4 | Overall - 17
A classic but subtle DIPA. Fresh and zesty grapefruit and orange hops blended perfectly with soft, sweet malt. Extremely clean and refreshing finish.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 10
105105 20
Clear, Pale Yellow Gold Color, Huge Thick Dense White Foam, Creamy Top, Good Retention, Thick Creamy Rings Of Lacing. Lemongrass, Floral, Dirty Dank Hemp Weed Aroma. Juicy, Wet, Lemongrass, Floral, Dirty Dank Hemp Weed, Slight Resin, Moderate Hop Bitter. Same in Aftertaste: Juicy, Wet, Lemongrass, Floral, Dirty Dank Weed, Moderate Hop Bitter. Light Warming Sensation Afterwards. No Sign of ABV. Easy Going. Nice. Timeless Classic That Is Amazing 20 years Later. Finally got a Chance to Try It. Enjoyed It. Recommended...
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8
Draught from russian river. Shiny amber pour. Nice hops aroma. Earthy fruity complexity - a lovely beer.
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 8.5
Aroma is catty, piney, crackery, pineapple, orange. Taste has a high pithy bitterness with piney, citrusy, tropical hop flavors. Perfectly carbonated creamy mouthfeel. A classic for a reason that still holds up.
Appearance - 6 | Aroma - 10 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 6 | Overall - 10
Tap at SFO uncork'd, clear golden beer, small to medium head. Aroma is hops, citrus, malt, resinous pine, tropical fruit, mango, tangerine, pineapple. Taste is the same, bitter, resinous pine, hops, malt, tropical fruit, very very good
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7 | Flavor - 8 | Texture - 7 | Overall - 7.5
Foamy white head on clear golden coloured body.
Pine & malt aroma.
Medium bodied, foamy dry & clean.
Malt, pine, floral & malt tastes with a bitter finish.
Tasty enough but well overrated.
gave a cheers!
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9
Review based on the BJCP2021 guidelines (style 22A). Bottle 51 cl - Batch undeclared (BB undeclared - Bottled on 03.07.25). AROMA: medium-high to high hop aroma with citrus notes (lime, slight grapefruit), slight mint. medium-low neutral and soft malt background. APPEARANCE: yellow color and cristal clear. medium white head, creamy, with good retention. lace formation. TASTE: similar to the aroma with medium-high hop flavor (lime, grapefruit, mint, pine). medium-low neutral and slightly sweet malt background. medium-high to high bitterness with an almost dry and bitter finish that persists but isn't harsh. MOUTHFEEL: medium body with medium carbonation. no hop derived astringency. OVERALL: the reason this beer is on the BJCP commercial examples.
4.26
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5
My first pliny!
Unbelievable aroma of juicy citrus, grapefruit mostly. Some floral honey notes, and a touch of sweetness from the malts. The flavor is one hell of a hop kick! The finish is quite resinous and loaded with pine, and a touch of soapy spruce. The finish is intensely bitter, and ends with and incredible citrus taste. Long live pliny!!
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 7.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 8.5
Patience can be a virtue. Sometimes. I have waited a long time for the opportunity to sample Pliny the Elder. Last week I thought I would get the chance to try three variations of the brew at Aces and Ales in Las Vegas by information out of their website. I arrived there and found two of the kegs had been depleted. And so, it happens. The pour of Pliny came to the table yellow-gold in color with a surprisingly slender skim of solidly white foam. I could smell grapefruit, hops and grain. The taste was grapefruit again, lemons, grass, a small sweetness and a touch of dankness. It was a fine beer but I expected something big. A cutting edge beer in the day I'm sure, not so much in this tasting. Glad to get the opportunity, in any case, to get a taste.