Pliny The Younger | Russian River Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Russian River Brewing Company
California, United States
rrbeer.com
Style: American Double / Imperial IPA
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 10.25%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
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.
Added by xlperro on 01-27-2005
HISTOGRAM
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Ratings: 3,186 | Reviews: 966
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was lucky enough to have a friend bring me a growler of this, last month after a trip to Northern California. Immediately after opening the growler the hop punch hit me. A bouquet of hops almost overwhelm me. It poured a golden haze while the aroma continued to permeate my senses. The balanced foam head filled out what looked to be a picturebook painting of what a pint should look like. The scents still swimming around my nose: piney, gorgeous hops with a slight citrus undertone. It was a complex aroma that was truly remarkable.
My first sip completed everything. The aroma perfectedly made its way to the taste: it was a complex delight of many flavors, including a slight sweetness. The mouthfeel was a bit creamy, well carbonated but decidedly easy drinking for its 11% ABV.
This is as closed to a perfect beer as it can come, possibly the best beer Ive ever had.
887 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was lucky enough to have a friend bring me a growler of this, last month after a trip to Northern California. Immediately after opening the growler the hop punch hit me. A bouquet of hops almost overwhelm me. It poured a golden haze while the aroma continued to permeate my senses. The balanced foam head filled out what looked to be a picturebook painting of what a pint should look like. The scents still swimming around my nose: piney, gorgeous hops with a slight citrus undertone. It was a complex aroma that was truly remarkable.
My first sip completed everything. The aroma perfectedly made its way to the taste: it was a complex delight of many flavors, including a slight sweetness. The mouthfeel was a bit creamy, well carbonated but decidedly easy drinking for its 11% ABV.
This is as closed to a perfect beer as it can come, possibly the best beer Ive ever had.
887 characters
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Watch out it'll creep up on you! amazing beer, must try!
56 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Watch out it'll creep up on you! amazing beer, must try!
56 characters
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was one of the first 20 people in the joint SuperBowl Sunday and thought I might as well order a Younger while I'm here. I mean...everyone else was doing it.
I've had this beer now 5 years in a row and it never disappoints. (Note - I did review the 2009 Younger but I was new to BA then and to reviewing beers. That review was all over the place so I'm going to leave it out of this review. If you want to compare it that bad search my profile)
A - Looks very similar to Elder, the pour was to the tip of the 10oz glass so no head to speak of but the lacing stuck all over the glass from top to bottom. Looks, crisp and beautiful for an DIPA this big.
S - Smells similar to PtE but a tiny bit muted in comparison in regards to not as pungently floral. BUT, the Tropical Fruit and hemp and earthiness coming out of this is fantastic. Smells very balanced. Can't wait to dive in.
T - I've heard Younger referred to as Elder on Steroids which I agree with and disagree with. How could it be on steroids if it's a smoother beer? BALANCE...wow. It's everything Elder is but a bit stronger malt profile to balance out the enormous amount of hops. The Tangerine forward Grapefruit that the Elder provides in citrus is replaced by Younger with Tropical Fruits and I want to say strawberries. There is less pine in Younger than Elder but the earthiness is still present. Similar bitter finish in the end but not quite as much as Elder. If I could give a 6 here I would.
M - Similar qualities to Elder but smoother and easier drinking??? This is a 5
D - In my 2009 review I gave this category a 4 but this year is the easiest drinking Younger I can ever remember having. I could session this beer, and pretty much did as I drank my 3 pours and my wife's 3 pours as well. I could have kept going but she was starting to get annoyed with me.
Final Thoughts - If you can improve upon Elder which near impossible to do, it's been done with Younger. Many similarities but this is more complex and masterfully crafted. There were more "stages" to this beer. I kept thinking to myself...when you get this this level of IPA (10% +) it really can't be crafted any better. Truly world class. Never had a better IPA or beer period.
2,219 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I was one of the first 20 people in the joint SuperBowl Sunday and thought I might as well order a Younger while I'm here. I mean...everyone else was doing it.
I've had this beer now 5 years in a row and it never disappoints. (Note - I did review the 2009 Younger but I was new to BA then and to reviewing beers. That review was all over the place so I'm going to leave it out of this review. If you want to compare it that bad search my profile)
A - Looks very similar to Elder, the pour was to the tip of the 10oz glass so no head to speak of but the lacing stuck all over the glass from top to bottom. Looks, crisp and beautiful for an DIPA this big.
S - Smells similar to PtE but a tiny bit muted in comparison in regards to not as pungently floral. BUT, the Tropical Fruit and hemp and earthiness coming out of this is fantastic. Smells very balanced. Can't wait to dive in.
T - I've heard Younger referred to as Elder on Steroids which I agree with and disagree with. How could it be on steroids if it's a smoother beer? BALANCE...wow. It's everything Elder is but a bit stronger malt profile to balance out the enormous amount of hops. The Tangerine forward Grapefruit that the Elder provides in citrus is replaced by Younger with Tropical Fruits and I want to say strawberries. There is less pine in Younger than Elder but the earthiness is still present. Similar bitter finish in the end but not quite as much as Elder. If I could give a 6 here I would.
M - Similar qualities to Elder but smoother and easier drinking??? This is a 5
D - In my 2009 review I gave this category a 4 but this year is the easiest drinking Younger I can ever remember having. I could session this beer, and pretty much did as I drank my 3 pours and my wife's 3 pours as well. I could have kept going but she was starting to get annoyed with me.
Final Thoughts - If you can improve upon Elder which near impossible to do, it's been done with Younger. Many similarities but this is more complex and masterfully crafted. There were more "stages" to this beer. I kept thinking to myself...when you get this this level of IPA (10% +) it really can't be crafted any better. Truly world class. Never had a better IPA or beer period.
2,219 characters
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It's been a long while since I had this beer, but the memory is fond. First and foremost, the release is fun. Russian River does a great job of creating an air of mystery and exclusivity, making this tasting a special experience.
As I recall, the Younger is a strong, hoppy flavor profile, living up to the style. A fantastic beer drinking experience all around!
363 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It's been a long while since I had this beer, but the memory is fond. First and foremost, the release is fun. Russian River does a great job of creating an air of mystery and exclusivity, making this tasting a special experience.
As I recall, the Younger is a strong, hoppy flavor profile, living up to the style. A fantastic beer drinking experience all around!
363 characters
5/5 rDev +6.4%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
this was by far the greatest beer I have ever tasted in my life the smell was of nothing but tropical fruits papaya pineapple passion fruit mangos some grapefruit the flavor was of the same nothing but tropical fruits and so so so smooth what an amazing beer Russian River the wait was worth it
294 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
this was by far the greatest beer I have ever tasted in my life the smell was of nothing but tropical fruits papaya pineapple passion fruit mangos some grapefruit the flavor was of the same nothing but tropical fruits and so so so smooth what an amazing beer Russian River the wait was worth it
294 characters
Pliny The Younger from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating:
4.7 out of
5 with
3,186 ratings
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