Pliny the Elder
Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, United States 🇺🇸
IPA - Imperial / Double Regular|
Score
8.35
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Pliny the Elder is brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, and Simcoe hops. It is well-balanced with malt, hops, and alcohol, slightly bitter with a fresh hop aroma of floral, citrus, and pine. Best enjoyed FRESH! That is why we make it in such limited supply. Actual bottling date is printed on each bottle!
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!
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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10/10
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Appearance 10
Aroma 10
Flavor 10
Texture 10
Overall 10
Bottle (of course). Bottling date 02/29/2024. I can find no fault with this beer. I loved it in every way. As I see it, it is the reference standard by which all other DIPA's are judged, or should be judged by. There are certain beers that are the best basis for comparison--SNPA for Pale Ales, Dupont for the saisons, Speedway for coffee stout, Schlenkerla for rauchbier and Pliny for DIPA. Go ahead, argue with me.
Tried
from Bottle
on 20 Apr 2024
at 17:03
8.1/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 6
Overall 8.5
29/1/2024. Bottle shared by danlo, cheers Ed! USA rating #900. Pours clear golden orange with a frothy white head. Aroma is hoppy, piney, orange, citrus, grapefruit, tropical fruits, hints of caramel, honey and rubber. Moderate sweetness, medium plus bitterness. Medium body, average carbonation. Super lasting bitterness. Very nice.
Tried
from Bottle
on 29 Jan 2024
at 18:30
8.6/10
—
Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 8.5
510ml bottle from Bill's Liquor Market, Los Angeles. Golden colour, white foam head and aroma of tropical fruits, mango, citrus hops. Taste is malt, caramel, juicy fruits, mango, orange citrus, and resiny hop bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, dry resiny bitter finish. Well balanced, very drinkable
Tried
from Bottle
on 06 Jan 2024
at 20:49
8.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 9
Flavor 9
Texture 8
Overall 9
9 November 2022. Bottle from San Diego Wine Co. Bottled: 28/09/2022. Rating 5,000.
Clear golden, small, foamy, white head. Aroma of unripe apple, grapefruit peel, mandarin, cheese, pine resin, forest leaves, green olive, flower blossom, biscuit, tea. Taste has sweetish apple, melon & mango; all in all restrained and making way for a bitter core of pine, citrus peel & herbs kept together by a dry-biscuity malt body, with a faint hint of sourish citrus. Bitter, dry, resinous & slightly peppery hoppy finish that is quite dank & cheesy, but also herbal and grapefruity. Faint hint of warming gin-like alcohol in the very end. Full body, oily texture, average carbonation. Evidently the expectations are enormous for a beer of this renown, and they've been well met. An overwhelming sensation, though, is held back by its almost 'disciplined' structure.
Clear golden, small, foamy, white head. Aroma of unripe apple, grapefruit peel, mandarin, cheese, pine resin, forest leaves, green olive, flower blossom, biscuit, tea. Taste has sweetish apple, melon & mango; all in all restrained and making way for a bitter core of pine, citrus peel & herbs kept together by a dry-biscuity malt body, with a faint hint of sourish citrus. Bitter, dry, resinous & slightly peppery hoppy finish that is quite dank & cheesy, but also herbal and grapefruity. Faint hint of warming gin-like alcohol in the very end. Full body, oily texture, average carbonation. Evidently the expectations are enormous for a beer of this renown, and they've been well met. An overwhelming sensation, though, is held back by its almost 'disciplined' structure.
Tried
on 23 Dec 2022
at 11:41
7.5/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 8
Texture 10
Overall 7
14oz pour @ISO Beers, San Jose. Usually a bottle of this in my hotel if I'm holed up in CA, but haven't cared much lately. Rate it already dumbass. Clear, medium gold, melted eggshell head. Sticky even lace. Lightly dank, with a blend of pine, floral & citrus pith on the nose. Not a fan of the dank & don't remember that note either. Taste is bittersweet pine & orange pith. It is quite dry. Cracker & more pith as it falls away. Lingering menthol. Frothy, pretty dry, big & arid. Always solid, but I'm not a groupie.
Tried
from Bottle
on 22 Sep 2022
at 01:21