Pliny The Elder by Russian River Brewing Company
Hype. There are lots of things that get so much hype that they rarely live up to it. The 2010 Dallas Cowboys for instance, plenty of hype, much more disappointment. This evenings beer is one of the most hyped up beers I have ever heard of. Most rate this either the greatest DIPA of all time or damn close to it. Will it live up to that hype? Lets pop that cap and find out.
Beer #74 is Pliny The Elder by Russian River Brewing Company. Pliny, brewed in California, is an American Double IPA or an Imperial IPA. With an ABV of 8% and an IBU rating of 100, this should prove to be a hop heads dream. Of note here, Pliny The Elder was a naval and army commander in the early Roman Empire along with an author, naturalist, and philosopher. Gaius Plinius Secundus, Pliny The Elders proper name, lived from 25 AD to 79 AD.
The Elder poured a lovely orange honey color with a very nice fluffy white head enhanced by the tulip glass. There was some very nice lacing going on for the entire serving size of 16.9 oz. The nose was very fragrant, notes of pine and sweet grapefruit dominate the aroma along with some very nice floral aromas. It tasted exactly how I thought it would judging from what I smelled in the nose. The grapefruit was up front in the taste followed by that hoppy bitterness that I absolutely love. That bitterness had a lingering effect long after the sip was swallowed. The Elder had a nice medium body that was surprisingly smooth for a beer with an IBU of 100. I could drink this all night long but with the 8% ABV it is much better to take it slower. To me, slow is the way to enjoy this. Many enjoyable things are best experienced at a slower pace.
My wife summed this up perfectly…delicious! Pliny The Elder, for me at least, met all of my expectations and surpassed them. Without a doubt it is in my top 5 of beers I have ever had. If you get the chance, do yourself a favor and pick this up. I don’t think you will regret it.
Rating: A+
Where did you find this? I’m jealous. This has been on my list for awhile now.
I lucked out…someone was willing to trade it to me. It just doesn’t make it out here to NJ normally although I have heard it may make it to Philadelphia. I’m not sure about that though.
Exceptional DIPA indeed!
Don’t know if you are on ratebeer or beeradvocate, but you can easily trade for a few bottles of PLE. Just offer up something good from your area. Possible trade headline: ISO: Pliny the Elder FT: locals. Someone should bite.
“Thou shalt not envy”
I am struggling with that one right now too. I would love to get my hands on a bottle of this and I am sure I will some day.
Trading is a struggle for me though as it is illegal for anyone to mail it to me in Canada.
I do have a sister in Hailey, ID though who I plan on visiting this year. Going to have to hit up their local liquor shops and see if I can make this happen.
Seriously though – why can’t things just change so all the breweries produce and ship enough of their beers to get to us all!!
Love this beer! Good post and I feel you on my Cowboys this year…