I have wanted to try Pliny the Elder (8% ABV and HIGH IBU)
for sometime now because Pliny is regarded as the best Double IPA produced today. When I saw a bottle of Pliny at the local
store, I immediately grabbed a bottle.
I had only seen it once before and regretted not purchasing a bottle
then. Vinnie Cilurzro and his wife
Natalie bought the NorCal brewery when Korbel offered to sell it to them. Vinnie Cilurzo is considered one of the best
brewers in the country and there is limited distribution of Russian River to
the West Coast, Colorado and Philadelphia. Pliny the Elder is distributed in 500
ml bottles. Note - this beer and this style is not to be stored / aged. It should be consumed soon after bottling the bottle I purchased had a bottled on date of 31 May.
Appearance – A straw / copper color that is clear
with a fluffy two – three finger head poured into a New Belgium globe glass.
Aroma – This is a very aromatic beer with floral,
citrus, and perhaps a hint of pine.
Taste – Wow – I was expecting a hop bomb, but this is
not the case. The hops are present, but
the beer is very nicely balanced and this is one smooth beer for the amount of
hops and the ABV.
Overall – A+ - Pliny the Elder is a really
great Double IPA. I can understand why
it is touted as being the best of style.
It is the highest rated Double IPA on the Beer Advocate site. I paid $5.49 for the 500 ml bottle and it is
worth every penny. I will purchase it
again, the next time I see it. Try it,
if you get the opportunity. Try other Russian River beers too - I will.
Website description – “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 in 1994, but was not brewing one at Russian River Brewing 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!”
