Entry 87: Russian River Pliny the Elder

Russian River Brewing Co.

Santa Rosa, California


Pliny the Elder


Style: Double/Imperial India Pale Ale
Availability: Year Round
Format: 500ml
ABV: 8.0%
IBUs: 100
bottled: 03.04.10


Bottle text & Info:
"Pliny the Elder was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Although not considered his most important work, Pliny and his contemporaries created the botanical name for hops, "Lupus salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs." Hops at that time grew wild among willows, much like a wolf in the forest. Later the current botanical name, Humulus lupulus, was adopted. Pliny died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle's legacy by documenting much of what he observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius."


Tasting Notes:
Currently ranked #6 in BeerAdvocates best beers in the world.
Acquired via trade with Kevin (NewGeneric), New Orleans, LA.
Only the second time I've had the pleasure of trying this. The first time was @ Toronado in San Francisco about a year ago. Pours a hazy vivid golden color with a three quarter inch head that slowly recedes and clings to the glass. Smells like hop nirvana. Like a cross between Bell's hopslam and Green Flash West Coast IPA. Heaps of citrus with some sweet hints of grass and grains. Light to medium mouthfeel explodes forward with heavy grapefruit acidity powering through, finishing with touches of pineapple and honeydew. A top notch DIPA, this guy has the near impossible task of living up to such incredible hype. Definitely amongst the best, it doesn't disappoint. A supreme treat for us East Coaster/Midwesterners who won't see Russian River Brewing outside of collaborations and trades.