Russian River Brewing Company- Pliny The Elder: Respect Your Elders? Nope, Praise Them!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at 6:34PM | by Jason 
I must say that again I have another gift beer from my Craft Beer hero Dale over at Finnegan’s. To be honest, I imagine when I get to heaven that it will be just like Finnegan’s. This is a beer, that over the years, I have heard a ton about but have never been able to find one. Luckily for me, Dale was kind enough to share one with me and I have the opportunity to savor and write about this brew. Russian River Brewing Company’s Pliney The Elder is ready.
Russian River Brewing Company classifies this brew as a Double IPA and their website describes Pliny The Elder as, “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.” Pliney The Elder is not only a World Beer Cup Gold Medal winner for Double IPAs but also a two time Great American Beer Festival winner.
Pliny The Elder pours a slightly hazy golden color with straw colored edges & a 1” off white head and overflows with an abundance of beautiful floral hop & citrus aromas. Pliny is 8.0% ABV.
I am in love. Pliny The Elder is nothing short of brilliant. This Craft Beer is even better than the hype that preceded it. There are such a wide variety of Imperial/Double IPAs out there and they seem to either lean towards being super malty, balanced or super hoppy and everywhere in between. Pliny The Elder is right in that perfect sweet spot where it is hoppy & citrusy with a complimentary malt sweetness that enhances the overall flavor. There are faint fruit notes of grapefruit, orange and lemon and an ever so present caramel sweetness all while being super smooth. Pliny The Elder is way more than I could have ever expected. As my parents used to tell me, “Respect your Elders,” well this Elder has more than earned my respect, it has earned my praise. There is an old Roman Proverb, “In wine there is truth” if I may rephrase this, it would be, “In Craft Beer there is truth.” Truth is…Pliny The Elder is phenomenal.
ABV: 8.0%
Consumed: New Belgium Globe Glass
Verdict: Buy A Case
