Russian River Brewing Company Pliny the Younger

Pliny the Younger

 

Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, United States 🇺🇸

  IPA - Triple Rotating
Score
8.46
ABV: 10.2% IBU: 90 Ticks: 110
Pliny the Younger, the man, was Pliny the Elder’s nephew and adopted son. They lived nearly 2,000 years ago! Pliny the Elder is our Double IPA, so we felt it was fitting to name our Triple IPA after his son. It is almost a true Triple IPA with triple the amount of hops as a regular I.P.A. That said, it is extremely difficult, time and space consuming, and very expensive to make. And that is why we don’t make it more often! This beer is very full-bodied with tons of hop character in the nose and throughout. It is also deceptively well-balanced and smooth.
 

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9.3
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 10 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Numerous, numerous, numerous samples at the ABF on 6/17/2005. A chill-hazed, unfiltered, sparkling copper-gold, with some bright orange/peach tones, small bubbles rising and a large, persistent, thick-looking white head. Lacing is present. Aroma of tropical fruits to the max, sweet crystally/caramelly malts, though more sugars than toasted notes. Sweet, fresh, juicy oranges, honey dough and a very floral bitterness. Full and lasting is the aroma. Flavor begins with a burst of tropical fruits, juicy, fresh, full of flavor and complexity. Peaches, mangoes, pineapples, blood oranges, kiwis, tangerines and only light pininess. Wow. The beer is flawlessly, IMHO, balanced with malt and hops bitterness. In fact, I’d say there’s much more apparent hops flavor than bitterness. No syrupy, resinous, sharp, acidic bitter notes to make you cringe on the end. The flavors smoothly transition between hops and malt and then back again without you even realizing it. On the finish, I detect more floral notes from the hops, with a mint-like herbal character, subtle earthy green hops notes and just a lip-smacking malt sweetness. Full body, with just a shade of alcohol on the end, giving a touch of belly-warming. Creamy texture, low carbonation; the liquid tickles the tongue and you can almost taste the fuzzy hops which make this beer so delicious. Wow. I don’t care for double IPAs, let alone beers that call themselves a triple IPA, but this is just marvelous. A real dedication to balance, unlike some others I know, *cough* Devil Dancer *cough*. Cheers Vinnie, keep em coming!!!

Tried from Bottle on 27 Oct 2025 at 15:49


8.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Gift bottle. Hazy orange-gold body with only small patches of foam Aroma: a layered bouquet of tropical and citrus fruits – juicy orange, grapefruit, passion fruit, and ripe mandarin – complemented by delicate floral notes, resinous undertones, and a subtle coriander-like spice. Flavor: silky, slightly creamy entry, followed by an intense fruitiness accented by a fresh, well-integrated tartness. Notes of citrus, mandarin, and grapefruit merge with floral and resinous facets. A moderate yet persistent bitterness lingers on the palate, harmonizing with the beer’s complex aromatic profile. Overall: exceptionally balanced and dangerously drinkable for a Triple IPA of this strength.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Aug 2025 at 18:53


8.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 9 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 8 | Overall - 9

Gift bottle. Hazy orange-gold body with only small patches of foam Aroma: a layered bouquet of tropical and citrus fruits – juicy orange, grapefruit, passion fruit, and ripe mandarin – complemented by delicate floral notes, resinous undertones, and a subtle coriander-like spice. Flavor: silky, slightly creamy entry, followed by an intense fruitiness accented by a fresh, well-integrated tartness. Notes of citrus, mandarin, and grapefruit merge with floral and resinous facets. A moderate yet persistent bitterness lingers on the palate, harmonizing with the beer’s complex aromatic profile. Overall: exceptionally balanced and dangerously drinkable for a Triple IPA of this strength.

Tried from Bottle on 10 Aug 2025 at 18:53


8.1
Appearance - 7 | Aroma - 8 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8

Hazy yellow colour and small white head. Crisp grapefruity aroma. Medium-bodied. Fresh grapefruity flavour lingering bitterness, smooth, outstanding drinkability.

Tried from Draft at Ebenezer's Pub on 31 Jul 2025 at 10:36


9

Tried from Bottle on 18 Jul 2025 at 21:48


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8.6
Appearance - 9 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 8.5 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8.5

Bottle at Johnny's, muchos gracias man! A bit hazy golden color with a full sized white head that lasts for quite a while. Aroma is malts, heavy hoppy, hoppy bitter, pine, spruce. Flavor is similar, loads of piney hops and hop bitters with grapefruit coming through firmly. Medium to full body, decent carbonation. Very pleasant.

Tried on 24 Jun 2025 at 19:50


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8.8
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 9

This one has been on the wishlist for a LONG time. Bottle courtesy of a traveling friend. The beer is a clear golden-orange color with a thick frothy off-white head that diminishes gradually to a film. Sticky partial rings of lace. Aroma of piney hops, citrus and malt. Full-bodied with flavors of resiny hops, grapefruit, apricot and roast malt. The finish is moderately bitter with a lingering citrusy and piney hop aftertaste. While difficult to live up to expectations after so long, it's still a damn good beer.

Tried from Bottle on 15 Jun 2025 at 22:24


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9.6
Appearance - 10 | Aroma - 9.5 | Flavor - 9.5 | Texture - 10 | Overall - 9.5

Bottle, by way of a trade. Cheers Max. Mostly clear pale gold. Sticky leggy lasting white head. Easy 5. Nose has fully ripe mango and pineapple flesh. Big piny sappy character. Mouldy satsuma to boot. Nice biscuit malt backdrop. Yeah it’s fruity and dank in spades overall, though. All that and it drinks super easy. Impressively clean and a little dry among the hops and malt. Lingering sappy bitterness to finish. Met expectations.

Tried from Bottle on 05 May 2025 at 18:49


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8.6
Appearance - 8 | Aroma - 8.5 | Flavor - 9 | Texture - 9 | Overall - 8.5

510ml bottle from brewery. Bright, clear golden pour, nice one finger foamy white head fades to a thin skin across the surface. The aroma hit me from across the table, piney, resiny, hoppy. Taste is all about the hops, sharp bitterness with some resinous notes and a touch of dank. Oily feel with a long lingering bitterness. ABV sneaks up on you.

Tried from Bottle at Russian River Brewing on 07 Apr 2025 at 00:26


9

Was in 🇧🇧 when this dropped in my area on draft, so was bummed that I missed out. Then, got a package from the 🐐 Friday at work, a 2025 bottle of Younger. Thank you so much TQ!

The Ghost and I are enjoying it on a nice spring evening outback.

Tried from Bottle on 29 Mar 2025 at 21:53