Pliny The Younger | Russian River Brewing Company
Brewed by:
Russian River Brewing Company
California, United States | website
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
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 928 | Ratings: 2,969
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had this on tap at APEX pdx. 11% of greatness. I've had tried over 900 beers and this 1 takes the top spot by far. Incredible taste, not as hoppy as i would have guest, but thats what makes this beer unique.
This beer is quite amazing. Worth the wait, will be trying this beer every year/every chance i get...recommend everyone who appeciates beer tries this at one point in your life.
A-
★ 391 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had this on tap at APEX pdx. 11% of greatness. I've had tried over 900 beers and this 1 takes the top spot by far. Incredible taste, not as hoppy as i would have guest, but thats what makes this beer unique.
This beer is quite amazing. Worth the wait, will be trying this beer every year/every chance i get...recommend everyone who appeciates beer tries this at one point in your life.
A-
★ 391 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Finally hit our city of San Diego. Had the pleasure of drinking 3 of these bad boys. Was also comparing it side by side with Pliny the Elder. Pretty amazing how RR can make the Younger taste like Elder and pack in 5% more ABV. Excellent beer!
★ 247 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Finally hit our city of San Diego. Had the pleasure of drinking 3 of these bad boys. Was also comparing it side by side with Pliny the Elder. Pretty amazing how RR can make the Younger taste like Elder and pack in 5% more ABV. Excellent beer!
★ 247 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Many thanks go to RedwoodGeorge for this wonderful fresh 67.6 oz/ 2 liters of pure heaven on earth.
This baby pours a lightly hazy peach color with a nice fluffy white two finger sized head, leaves lots of lace web down my glass. For an 11% brew this nice big head was not expected but is wonderful. The growler itself is great the coolest looking growler I have seen.
Aroma is holy cow wet sticky fresh from the vine hops. Fresh pine tree dripping sticky sap all wraped in grapefruit rinds. Like sticking your head in a barrel of fresh hop. There is some bready malt underneath along with hints of spiciness. If you love hops this is for you, I have never smelled anything this good, strong and fresh before.
Taste is big full huge amounts of hops very nice lots of juicey flavors fruity and piney tingle the taste buds. Man its like chewing on fresh hops how does Vinnie get so much hop flavor in this one? Its like randalized beer without the green stuff in your teeth. OK all these hops and you would think just tounge numbing bitterness but no, it is bitter but more balanced then should be possible.There is a lingering grapefruit bitterness with hints of pine but nice bready malt base does come thru and adds some sweetness also some spice shows up but probably coming from the huge amount of hops. This one truly is a triple IPA unlike the other triple IPA that tastes more like a barley wine, nothing against Devil Dancer but this is the shit here. This is the big IIPA all should be judged by.
Mouthfeel is nice smooth big almost creamy but a little to much carbonation for creamy. The carbonation adds a touch of zest to the hops. You can almost feel the hop oils rolling over your tounge.
Drinkability is beyond great, where the hell is the 11% well after a few pours I know its there and didn't finish my growler in one night so it will kick your ass atleast for a light weight like me but you will not know it until you get up. The only thing hurting drinkability here is having to go to Santa Rosa to get more. Vinnie can you please bottle this and send some to the Vintage Cellar. I have rated one other beer a 5.0 but that was probably a mistake, no mistake here you want the best triple IPA, or double as stylized by BA, then this is the one to rule them all. Again want to thank RedwoodGeorge for this one.
★ 2,341 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Many thanks go to RedwoodGeorge for this wonderful fresh 67.6 oz/ 2 liters of pure heaven on earth.
This baby pours a lightly hazy peach color with a nice fluffy white two finger sized head, leaves lots of lace web down my glass. For an 11% brew this nice big head was not expected but is wonderful. The growler itself is great the coolest looking growler I have seen.
Aroma is holy cow wet sticky fresh from the vine hops. Fresh pine tree dripping sticky sap all wraped in grapefruit rinds. Like sticking your head in a barrel of fresh hop. There is some bready malt underneath along with hints of spiciness. If you love hops this is for you, I have never smelled anything this good, strong and fresh before.
Taste is big full huge amounts of hops very nice lots of juicey flavors fruity and piney tingle the taste buds. Man its like chewing on fresh hops how does Vinnie get so much hop flavor in this one? Its like randalized beer without the green stuff in your teeth. OK all these hops and you would think just tounge numbing bitterness but no, it is bitter but more balanced then should be possible.There is a lingering grapefruit bitterness with hints of pine but nice bready malt base does come thru and adds some sweetness also some spice shows up but probably coming from the huge amount of hops. This one truly is a triple IPA unlike the other triple IPA that tastes more like a barley wine, nothing against Devil Dancer but this is the shit here. This is the big IIPA all should be judged by.
Mouthfeel is nice smooth big almost creamy but a little to much carbonation for creamy. The carbonation adds a touch of zest to the hops. You can almost feel the hop oils rolling over your tounge.
Drinkability is beyond great, where the hell is the 11% well after a few pours I know its there and didn't finish my growler in one night so it will kick your ass atleast for a light weight like me but you will not know it until you get up. The only thing hurting drinkability here is having to go to Santa Rosa to get more. Vinnie can you please bottle this and send some to the Vintage Cellar. I have rated one other beer a 5.0 but that was probably a mistake, no mistake here you want the best triple IPA, or double as stylized by BA, then this is the one to rule them all. Again want to thank RedwoodGeorge for this one.
★ 2,341 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Can I say anything more about this beer than has already been published? Sat next to Vinnie during the day we were there. He mentioned he thought it was the best batch so far. I agree. My fourth year attending and it was definitely the best. A good friend is a photographer for the Santa Rosa Press Democratn who has done dozens of stories about Vinnie and his beer. Even HE said it was the best batch ever.
★ 407 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Can I say anything more about this beer than has already been published? Sat next to Vinnie during the day we were there. He mentioned he thought it was the best batch so far. I agree. My fourth year attending and it was definitely the best. A good friend is a photographer for the Santa Rosa Press Democratn who has done dozens of stories about Vinnie and his beer. Even HE said it was the best batch ever.
★ 407 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the perfect imperial IPA in my opinion. It deserves a 5 for so many reasons. Perfectly balanced, great mouth feel, with that perfect TIPA kick at the end. Hop forward but nice and smooth. Perfect
★ 207 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is the perfect imperial IPA in my opinion. It deserves a 5 for so many reasons. Perfectly balanced, great mouth feel, with that perfect TIPA kick at the end. Hop forward but nice and smooth. Perfect
★ 207 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The things I will do to taste world class beers!!
Made a 11,000 mile or so round trip from London, UK to Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA to be there during 3 of the 14 days of PtY at Russian River. Was in the first throng on Superbowl Day so hello to anybody who also got that little emerald green wristband!! Great organistation here from the Russian River team. Anyway...
No sooner than we were seated (having quickly made friends in the queue) than the magic words "Younger"? were spoken and the beer followed shortly after.
I will have to start backwards and say the thing that astounded me most about this beer was the drinkability.
It is so smooth and creamy and the 10.25% ABV announced on the RR blackboard is just SO well hidden that you really do not realise how strong it is.
Even with my poor sense of smell the floral, fruity, piney scent of PtY blew me away as when I had first tried PtE.
I returned to RR for two more days and on my last visit sampled PtY and PtE alongside eachother as I find this helps me to really spot any differences.
That they are close siblings is no doubt but the thing that stood out for me was that I thought PtE had a much drier finish. The bitterness was certainly there but seemed more discreet in the Younger.
Anyway, mission accomplished, it was nice to meet possibly the most drinkable, the most quaffable beer of all...which it probably shouldn't be? Amazing!!
And my bottles of Supplication and Consecration survived the flight home! Thanks to everybody who made me so welcome in Santa Rosa and RR.
★ 1,555 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The things I will do to taste world class beers!!
Made a 11,000 mile or so round trip from London, UK to Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, CA to be there during 3 of the 14 days of PtY at Russian River. Was in the first throng on Superbowl Day so hello to anybody who also got that little emerald green wristband!! Great organistation here from the Russian River team. Anyway...
No sooner than we were seated (having quickly made friends in the queue) than the magic words "Younger"? were spoken and the beer followed shortly after.
I will have to start backwards and say the thing that astounded me most about this beer was the drinkability.
It is so smooth and creamy and the 10.25% ABV announced on the RR blackboard is just SO well hidden that you really do not realise how strong it is.
Even with my poor sense of smell the floral, fruity, piney scent of PtY blew me away as when I had first tried PtE.
I returned to RR for two more days and on my last visit sampled PtY and PtE alongside eachother as I find this helps me to really spot any differences.
That they are close siblings is no doubt but the thing that stood out for me was that I thought PtE had a much drier finish. The bitterness was certainly there but seemed more discreet in the Younger.
Anyway, mission accomplished, it was nice to meet possibly the most drinkable, the most quaffable beer of all...which it probably shouldn't be? Amazing!!
And my bottles of Supplication and Consecration survived the flight home! Thanks to everybody who made me so welcome in Santa Rosa and RR.
★ 1,555 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A- Light golden color with a minimal white head.
S- Hoppy, nice citrus aroma, and slight pine scent.
T- Piney, very hoppy, and a good amount of bitter flavor.
M- Long finish, slightly drying. Medium-low carbonation, the hop resin leaves a strong but pleasant bitter coat in your mouth that is a complete palette jackhammer
O- This beer was amazing. There is a big difference between this one and Pliney the Elder (since I drank them one after the other). The hops really come trough it. Definitely worth it and highly recommend it.
★ 536 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A- Light golden color with a minimal white head.
S- Hoppy, nice citrus aroma, and slight pine scent.
T- Piney, very hoppy, and a good amount of bitter flavor.
M- Long finish, slightly drying. Medium-low carbonation, the hop resin leaves a strong but pleasant bitter coat in your mouth that is a complete palette jackhammer
O- This beer was amazing. There is a big difference between this one and Pliney the Elder (since I drank them one after the other). The hops really come trough it. Definitely worth it and highly recommend it.
★ 536 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Growler split between a few people. Crystal clear golden orange body with a tall off white foamy head. Sticky and clumpy lacing galore. Huge hoppy as hell aroma that is spectacular. Pine and citric hops just bombard your nose. Some nice floral hops in there as well. Very light sweetness in the nose that seems to be just enough to make it seem balanced even though this is overflowing with hoppy goodness. The flavor is packed full of hop goodness. Very juicy with hops and it has a good amount of the hop sweetness that I taste in 120 minute but without going overboard. Citric, pine and floral earthy flavors are there in abundance. Pretty much hop juice is the way I would describe it. Its fairly bitter but not to the point of being a palette destroyer. Mouthfeel is ridiculously smooth for the strength and the hoppiness. Just the right amount of body to it. No alcohol to be found anywhere. It couldnt be any more drinkable, it almost went down like water. While most of my other favorite double IPAs are the smack you around and rip your tongue out kind this one manages to be a super refined and smooth hop bomb that managed to stay balanced and still hoppy as hell.
★ 1,179 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Growler split between a few people. Crystal clear golden orange body with a tall off white foamy head. Sticky and clumpy lacing galore. Huge hoppy as hell aroma that is spectacular. Pine and citric hops just bombard your nose. Some nice floral hops in there as well. Very light sweetness in the nose that seems to be just enough to make it seem balanced even though this is overflowing with hoppy goodness. The flavor is packed full of hop goodness. Very juicy with hops and it has a good amount of the hop sweetness that I taste in 120 minute but without going overboard. Citric, pine and floral earthy flavors are there in abundance. Pretty much hop juice is the way I would describe it. Its fairly bitter but not to the point of being a palette destroyer. Mouthfeel is ridiculously smooth for the strength and the hoppiness. Just the right amount of body to it. No alcohol to be found anywhere. It couldnt be any more drinkable, it almost went down like water. While most of my other favorite double IPAs are the smack you around and rip your tongue out kind this one manages to be a super refined and smooth hop bomb that managed to stay balanced and still hoppy as hell.
★ 1,179 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The benchmark of all beers as far as I'm concerned.
The beer has a light golden color with citrus and floral aromas. This sour beer has a strong grapefruit taste but the bitterness does not linger long.
This beer is almost impossible to find unless you live near Santa Rosa. I accidentally had my first taste on a wine trip to the area, having enough of the grape juice I asked around for a great beer spot and was unanimously pointed to the Brew Pub on 4th. My beer life has never been the same.
Cheers for this beer and a second cheers for it's limited production.
★ 571 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
The benchmark of all beers as far as I'm concerned.
The beer has a light golden color with citrus and floral aromas. This sour beer has a strong grapefruit taste but the bitterness does not linger long.
This beer is almost impossible to find unless you live near Santa Rosa. I accidentally had my first taste on a wine trip to the area, having enough of the grape juice I asked around for a great beer spot and was unanimously pointed to the Brew Pub on 4th. My beer life has never been the same.
Cheers for this beer and a second cheers for it's limited production.
★ 571 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Has it really been a year since I sipped this delicious nectar? Yes. Yes it has.
Far too long.
A season has come and gone. Winter has given way to summer, and again submitted to the chilling winds of the North.
This beer is beautiful. Crisp and golden, with a head that should not be possible for a 11% ABV beer. To gaze at this beer, is to look at beer porn
Smell is very citric, a contrast to the more pine-like Elder.
Taste is OSUHJFOHHJKKkkk. Impossible to put into words -- Heavenly. Strong citrus hops with a malt backbone that is certainly pronounced, but not overwhelming.
Mouthfeel -- Again, this beer defies its ABV with a crisp mouthfeel that is light on the tongue. Doesn't finish quite as dry as Elder
Drinkability - Finished two imperial pints, and would have had more if there weren't health/safety issues to consider.
★ 842 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Has it really been a year since I sipped this delicious nectar? Yes. Yes it has.
Far too long.
A season has come and gone. Winter has given way to summer, and again submitted to the chilling winds of the North.
This beer is beautiful. Crisp and golden, with a head that should not be possible for a 11% ABV beer. To gaze at this beer, is to look at beer porn
Smell is very citric, a contrast to the more pine-like Elder.
Taste is OSUHJFOHHJKKkkk. Impossible to put into words -- Heavenly. Strong citrus hops with a malt backbone that is certainly pronounced, but not overwhelming.
Mouthfeel -- Again, this beer defies its ABV with a crisp mouthfeel that is light on the tongue. Doesn't finish quite as dry as Elder
Drinkability - Finished two imperial pints, and would have had more if there weren't health/safety issues to consider.
★ 842 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
First brew rated, figured it should be 'the One'.
All I can type is 'incredible' and 'epiphany'. It was when I drank Adam from HotD for the first time. Wow!
It ranks as one of the best beers ever sampled. Drank 3 between sour sample.
Beer Nirvana! I can hear Angels!
★ 269 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
First brew rated, figured it should be 'the One'.
All I can type is 'incredible' and 'epiphany'. It was when I drank Adam from HotD for the first time. Wow!
It ranks as one of the best beers ever sampled. Drank 3 between sour sample.
Beer Nirvana! I can hear Angels!
★ 269 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
For my first BA review, I humble myself in the presence of PtY. I realize giving a perfect score is a dangerous move, but it truly represents my experience and what the beer deserves as an example of the style.
PtE was largely my entrance to craft beer, and after trying many more fine brews and gallivanting around BA I knew that PtY was a must-have.
I tried it on-tap at the RR brewpub in Santa Rosa (mid-february), Ben and Nick's Bar in Oakland (early march), and the Trappist bar in Oakland (late march).
Servings: at the brewpub, a 10 oz pour into a nonic pint. Ben and Nicks served a 10 oz in a stemmed tulip, and the Trappist poured 8 oz into a RR tulip.
Appearance: it glows. It was darker each time I tried it, but overall a deep golden orange.
Aroma: incredibly potent. Wonderful tropical bouquet cut with that familiar pine. Compared to PtY? More sweet and fruity than dank/musty/bitter. Fresher.
Taste: I'm very hop-tolerant, and this is clearly a celebration of a carefully constructed hop profile, but it isn't trying to prove anything. It's been said before, but the real triumph of this beer is the balance. You can taste hops inside and out, you can feel the buds prickling in your throat, but JUST enough malt presence carries you through to a graceful, ever so slightly dry finish. It's a big beer, but there is nothing cloying about it.
Mouthfeel: Just a bit heavier than the uncle, but clean and smooth still. The Trappist uses 30% NO in their taps, which imo countered the dryness a bit and left a more lingering mouthfeel. Carb is right on.
Drinkability: the beer is highly enjoyable; it's only extreme in its freshness and balance--it goes down like mother's milk. However, I felt the effects after each glass, humbled like Icarus.
Russian River is a truly great brewery. PtY does not compete by being heavy-handed, so I regret the constant need to compare it to other hoppy beers. There is no need for skepticism; it is a masterpiece. Like Mark Starr said, when you get to this level, it's just a matter of preference. If you're looking for the most extreme hop experience, your search doesn't end with PtY. Most likely it will simply take a detour into the rest of what RR has to offer.
★ 2,224 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
For my first BA review, I humble myself in the presence of PtY. I realize giving a perfect score is a dangerous move, but it truly represents my experience and what the beer deserves as an example of the style.
PtE was largely my entrance to craft beer, and after trying many more fine brews and gallivanting around BA I knew that PtY was a must-have.
I tried it on-tap at the RR brewpub in Santa Rosa (mid-february), Ben and Nick's Bar in Oakland (early march), and the Trappist bar in Oakland (late march).
Servings: at the brewpub, a 10 oz pour into a nonic pint. Ben and Nicks served a 10 oz in a stemmed tulip, and the Trappist poured 8 oz into a RR tulip.
Appearance: it glows. It was darker each time I tried it, but overall a deep golden orange.
Aroma: incredibly potent. Wonderful tropical bouquet cut with that familiar pine. Compared to PtY? More sweet and fruity than dank/musty/bitter. Fresher.
Taste: I'm very hop-tolerant, and this is clearly a celebration of a carefully constructed hop profile, but it isn't trying to prove anything. It's been said before, but the real triumph of this beer is the balance. You can taste hops inside and out, you can feel the buds prickling in your throat, but JUST enough malt presence carries you through to a graceful, ever so slightly dry finish. It's a big beer, but there is nothing cloying about it.
Mouthfeel: Just a bit heavier than the uncle, but clean and smooth still. The Trappist uses 30% NO in their taps, which imo countered the dryness a bit and left a more lingering mouthfeel. Carb is right on.
Drinkability: the beer is highly enjoyable; it's only extreme in its freshness and balance--it goes down like mother's milk. However, I felt the effects after each glass, humbled like Icarus.
Russian River is a truly great brewery. PtY does not compete by being heavy-handed, so I regret the constant need to compare it to other hoppy beers. There is no need for skepticism; it is a masterpiece. Like Mark Starr said, when you get to this level, it's just a matter of preference. If you're looking for the most extreme hop experience, your search doesn't end with PtY. Most likely it will simply take a detour into the rest of what RR has to offer.
★ 2,224 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
TaNgerine hued copper, slight haze--yeast or dry hopping?
Slight offwhite head. Struggling carbonation. Gorgeous
from the looks this is a substancial beverage...it sits in a Belgian tulip glass ready to pounce like a massive orange tiger.
Get anywhere within a few feet of this beverage and you'll be treated to a blast of dank citrusy floral spicy deliciousness.
Pure hop oils pulsating, filling the air and your nostrils in a way that no other dipa can do. Put your nose to the glass and it smells like opening vacuum sealed packets of all the finest
american hop varieties put together in a symphony of perfection.
Such amazing hop design going on here.
Drinking it unloads this symphony of aroma into your mouth. Take a sip and you'll quickly want a gulp--this is 11% abv but somehow it drinks like a session beer. Flavor is rich sticky resiny hops balanced with tropical fruit citrus pine dank garlic
spicy herbal. The resins just coat your mouth and suck you in
how does a beer this big with so much ibu and dry hopping finish so dry? I can't figure it out. Insanely good and my favorite double ipa of all time. Year after year Russian river kicks total ass with this one
★ 1,184 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
TaNgerine hued copper, slight haze--yeast or dry hopping?
Slight offwhite head. Struggling carbonation. Gorgeous
from the looks this is a substancial beverage...it sits in a Belgian tulip glass ready to pounce like a massive orange tiger.
Get anywhere within a few feet of this beverage and you'll be treated to a blast of dank citrusy floral spicy deliciousness.
Pure hop oils pulsating, filling the air and your nostrils in a way that no other dipa can do. Put your nose to the glass and it smells like opening vacuum sealed packets of all the finest
american hop varieties put together in a symphony of perfection.
Such amazing hop design going on here.
Drinking it unloads this symphony of aroma into your mouth. Take a sip and you'll quickly want a gulp--this is 11% abv but somehow it drinks like a session beer. Flavor is rich sticky resiny hops balanced with tropical fruit citrus pine dank garlic
spicy herbal. The resins just coat your mouth and suck you in
how does a beer this big with so much ibu and dry hopping finish so dry? I can't figure it out. Insanely good and my favorite double ipa of all time. Year after year Russian river kicks total ass with this one
★ 1,184 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Believe the hype... that's all that really needs to be said about this beer. perfection.
pours a deep golden almost amber color that is truly something special to behold. a small off white head rests atop the body of liquid awesomeness, lacing the glass minimally, and leaving only the slightest trace of itself. The smell is super piny, citrusy, hops all over, with a hint of cannibus. the quintessential aroma for an ipa.
The flavor is so overwhelmingly amazing it's hard to put words to. citrusy and piney, tons of hops. earthy and bitter as all hell. a little honey flavor. bitter grapefruit and alcohol in the finish. amazing. a palate destroyer for sure.
The mouthfeel is oily with hop resin and nice and thick on the palate. wonderfully, perfectly carbonated. The drinkability for an 11% beer is equal to the most drinkable single ipa available. incredible.
★ 869 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Believe the hype... that's all that really needs to be said about this beer. perfection.
pours a deep golden almost amber color that is truly something special to behold. a small off white head rests atop the body of liquid awesomeness, lacing the glass minimally, and leaving only the slightest trace of itself. The smell is super piny, citrusy, hops all over, with a hint of cannibus. the quintessential aroma for an ipa.
The flavor is so overwhelmingly amazing it's hard to put words to. citrusy and piney, tons of hops. earthy and bitter as all hell. a little honey flavor. bitter grapefruit and alcohol in the finish. amazing. a palate destroyer for sure.
The mouthfeel is oily with hop resin and nice and thick on the palate. wonderfully, perfectly carbonated. The drinkability for an 11% beer is equal to the most drinkable single ipa available. incredible.
★ 869 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Half pint at Russian River on 02.06.09. Board behind bar listed PiY as 10.5% with GOBS under the I.B.U. One of the most unique colors of beer I have ever seen. No head in sight and the glass was glowing orange. All I could do was stare for a few minutes. While doing this, I could smell Younger from a foot away. Crazy giant boozy grapefruit whiffs. Really. Chewy as hell. Grapefruit taffy. Cascade spearmint jolly rancher. Enormous whopper of a DIPA. Exceptionally drinkable for the size. Had a tulip of Younger Sunday night @ Toronado and could have had 6 more. But what's the point? This beer is the shit.
★ 608 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Half pint at Russian River on 02.06.09. Board behind bar listed PiY as 10.5% with GOBS under the I.B.U. One of the most unique colors of beer I have ever seen. No head in sight and the glass was glowing orange. All I could do was stare for a few minutes. While doing this, I could smell Younger from a foot away. Crazy giant boozy grapefruit whiffs. Really. Chewy as hell. Grapefruit taffy. Cascade spearmint jolly rancher. Enormous whopper of a DIPA. Exceptionally drinkable for the size. Had a tulip of Younger Sunday night @ Toronado and could have had 6 more. But what's the point? This beer is the shit.
★ 608 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Better than Pliny the Elder, but very hard to get.
This brewery makes the best beer that I have tasted - hands down. The bar is full, day and night. It is so crowded, that it ALMOST takes away from the beer. I have never walked away without a smile on my face.
★ 262 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Better than Pliny the Elder, but very hard to get.
This brewery makes the best beer that I have tasted - hands down. The bar is full, day and night. It is so crowded, that it ALMOST takes away from the beer. I have never walked away without a smile on my face.
★ 262 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tasted the beer at the bar. I had to wait in line for about one hour and a half. I then just proceeded to drink two 10 oz younger glasses in almost no time at all. It is really exceptional how easy drinking the beer is for its size.
I later ordered an Elder and a Younger to compare then side by side.
Appearance is fantastic. A hazy orangey color, just a tad more copper than the characteristic yellow of pliny the elder. Under some lights they seemed almost the same color, but when held up, you can clearly see that Younger is a bit more orange. Very nice. It is a little hazy, but I guess it goes with the style and the amount of hops. Not a very large head but it really doesn't matter, the beer was very nicely carbonated.
Smell is wonderful. Piney, citrus hops. I swear this has got to be the best smelling beer ever. Perhaps I like the smell of the Elder just a tad better, just because it is a bit dryer. Nonetheless a LOT of hops and a delicious smell.
Taste is just fantastic. It is impressive how the Younger can make the Elder seem not as good. It really has a nicer, maybe a little more balanced taste. Not as dry, and just as much hop flavor.
Everything was amazing about the beer. The only bad thing is they only make it once a year and I had to travel FAR to get it.
Drinkability is excellent. I would have had more, but did not want to get home without a brain.
The best beer I've had hands down. Really hard to express how this one makes the Elder seem like a normal beer. Although we all know the Elder is also great. I hate to give out a perfect score, but this one just plain deserves it.
★ 1,616 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Tasted the beer at the bar. I had to wait in line for about one hour and a half. I then just proceeded to drink two 10 oz younger glasses in almost no time at all. It is really exceptional how easy drinking the beer is for its size.
I later ordered an Elder and a Younger to compare then side by side.
Appearance is fantastic. A hazy orangey color, just a tad more copper than the characteristic yellow of pliny the elder. Under some lights they seemed almost the same color, but when held up, you can clearly see that Younger is a bit more orange. Very nice. It is a little hazy, but I guess it goes with the style and the amount of hops. Not a very large head but it really doesn't matter, the beer was very nicely carbonated.
Smell is wonderful. Piney, citrus hops. I swear this has got to be the best smelling beer ever. Perhaps I like the smell of the Elder just a tad better, just because it is a bit dryer. Nonetheless a LOT of hops and a delicious smell.
Taste is just fantastic. It is impressive how the Younger can make the Elder seem not as good. It really has a nicer, maybe a little more balanced taste. Not as dry, and just as much hop flavor.
Everything was amazing about the beer. The only bad thing is they only make it once a year and I had to travel FAR to get it.
Drinkability is excellent. I would have had more, but did not want to get home without a brain.
The best beer I've had hands down. Really hard to express how this one makes the Elder seem like a normal beer. Although we all know the Elder is also great. I hate to give out a perfect score, but this one just plain deserves it.
★ 1,616 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I want to do a standard review, but this deserves so much more. I'll start with appearance. This beer poured a burnt orange color that was lightly effervescent, but had great lacing and head retention. Smell was slightly piney, but more florally and citrusy. This is bitter. And not a harsh and spicey bitter, but a citrusy and floraly bitter. The younger gives it smell every cent it's worth. Hints of diacetyl on the malt. This is very well balanced. More on the hoppy side, but the malt gives the perfect smootheness to it that makes it so drinkable. Hops sit on the palate and fills the nose with that perfumy floral hops. I had a 17 oz pour and I've become a philosopher. Amazing beer. Never had better.
★ 708 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I want to do a standard review, but this deserves so much more. I'll start with appearance. This beer poured a burnt orange color that was lightly effervescent, but had great lacing and head retention. Smell was slightly piney, but more florally and citrusy. This is bitter. And not a harsh and spicey bitter, but a citrusy and floraly bitter. The younger gives it smell every cent it's worth. Hints of diacetyl on the malt. This is very well balanced. More on the hoppy side, but the malt gives the perfect smootheness to it that makes it so drinkable. Hops sit on the palate and fills the nose with that perfumy floral hops. I had a 17 oz pour and I've become a philosopher. Amazing beer. Never had better.
★ 708 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is as good as it gets! A very balanced triple IPA that is very very smooth. This is the most drinkable and delicious TIPA there is for sure. I have gone up to Russian River the past two years to get this and will continue to do so!
★ 236 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
This is as good as it gets! A very balanced triple IPA that is very very smooth. This is the most drinkable and delicious TIPA there is for sure. I have gone up to Russian River the past two years to get this and will continue to do so!
★ 236 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I acquired a growler of the infamous Younger from vacax (thanks mate)! Served it in a Bruery tulip glass. I poured 3 glasses of RR brews and compared them. Blind Pig, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger.
A - A beautiful orange/copper tone with minimal head but amazing lacing that lasted the whole glass. A darker orange color than that of it's uncle.
S - Chocked full of piney aroma! Compared with the Elder it was far more hop aroma, grapefruit, citrus and pine just fills your nose! Absolutely beautiful smell!
T - Grapefruit, pine and citrus; just as the scent would allude to! Bitter! But, not over the top (believe it or not). It was a well balanced bitterness, no funny facial expressions after taking a sip of this beer. Insanely flavorful and potent! Some beers you'll need a few sips to get the flavor, this one is not that! If you're offered a sip of the Younger, take it and you'll know how it tastes! No new flavors come through near the end!
M - Medium bodied, nice carbonation that creates a little dance party on your tongue. The finish sticks around too, which I really enjoy in good beers. It's a shame when they go away quickly, the Younger does not do this!
D - 2 friends came over and we had the growler gone in less than an hour! 11% so be careful! This is no harder to drink than Blind Pig or Pliny the Elder! Amazing for such a big beer!
I would say I was blessed to have been able to finally get this beer. I would love to get some every year! For anybody that's wondering if they should try to pile into a small bar to try get this on tap, I would say DO IT!
★ 1,592 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I acquired a growler of the infamous Younger from vacax (thanks mate)! Served it in a Bruery tulip glass. I poured 3 glasses of RR brews and compared them. Blind Pig, Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger.
A - A beautiful orange/copper tone with minimal head but amazing lacing that lasted the whole glass. A darker orange color than that of it's uncle.
S - Chocked full of piney aroma! Compared with the Elder it was far more hop aroma, grapefruit, citrus and pine just fills your nose! Absolutely beautiful smell!
T - Grapefruit, pine and citrus; just as the scent would allude to! Bitter! But, not over the top (believe it or not). It was a well balanced bitterness, no funny facial expressions after taking a sip of this beer. Insanely flavorful and potent! Some beers you'll need a few sips to get the flavor, this one is not that! If you're offered a sip of the Younger, take it and you'll know how it tastes! No new flavors come through near the end!
M - Medium bodied, nice carbonation that creates a little dance party on your tongue. The finish sticks around too, which I really enjoy in good beers. It's a shame when they go away quickly, the Younger does not do this!
D - 2 friends came over and we had the growler gone in less than an hour! 11% so be careful! This is no harder to drink than Blind Pig or Pliny the Elder! Amazing for such a big beer!
I would say I was blessed to have been able to finally get this beer. I would love to get some every year! For anybody that's wondering if they should try to pile into a small bar to try get this on tap, I would say DO IT!
★ 1,592 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I have to say I was very skeptical about this one. I've been to the RRBC several times, and overall arn't a big fan of too many of their beers, including the elder (OK, imo). Maybe it was the waiting in line on a warm california day that makes you appreciated a cold beer more, but I have to say that for the most part the hype is true. I agree with the prev reviewer, it's 11%, and you can't taste the alcohol AT ALL. This a truely DANGEROUS BEER. The best description that I could come up with at the time was that you take the Elder and add the subtle, yet complex taste of a Belgian and this is what you get. I'm not a big IPA fan, but this one is definitely the exception (and I've tried a lot of IPA's looking for one I like, but so far this one is IT).
★ 759 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I have to say I was very skeptical about this one. I've been to the RRBC several times, and overall arn't a big fan of too many of their beers, including the elder (OK, imo). Maybe it was the waiting in line on a warm california day that makes you appreciated a cold beer more, but I have to say that for the most part the hype is true. I agree with the prev reviewer, it's 11%, and you can't taste the alcohol AT ALL. This a truely DANGEROUS BEER. The best description that I could come up with at the time was that you take the Elder and add the subtle, yet complex taste of a Belgian and this is what you get. I'm not a big IPA fan, but this one is definitely the exception (and I've tried a lot of IPA's looking for one I like, but so far this one is IT).
★ 759 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect 5 you say?! Well, I'll let you guys in on a little secret. I cheated a little bit, filling out these scores. Don't tell anybody, though... the truth is, I may have had beers that looked better than Pliny the Younger. (/sarcasm)
Whew.
Now that's over with, let me start the worshipping of this beer. This beer is easily in my top 3 beers I've ever had. I've had great, huge, stinging barley wines laced with wood and whiskey, but no beer comes close to Younger in terms of a big, balanced, delicious beer. This beer may be the best-looking, most easily-drinkable beer above 6% I've ever had. Couple that with a great taste, well, 5.
I've had this on tap at Hollingshead about a half dozen times over the past few months, and it really is a finicky beer. Some kegs Kenny taps seem a bit more stale than others. The pint I had today, though, was godly.
For all the gushing that the Pliny the Elder receives, Younger should get a waterfall. It actually has a pretty different mouth profile than the Elder, but a similar hop bouquet and complexity. For those of you who haven't tried Elder, Younger, or Blind Pig, and love IPA's, try to get your hands on these. The only experience I can compare tasting these beers with was me trying and enjoying my first glass of IPA at the Stone Brewery -- that one Ruination that made me fall in love with the IPA style. Bitterness to hide the alcohol, best served cool (not warm) to enjoy on a hot day, with fruits and malts to balance it all out. I've since moved on from Ruination, but I get to have that falling-in-love experience every time I try one of these great Russian River IPAs.
To start, Younger is a truly different IPA. Most IPA's pour somewhat clear -- Younger is very opaque and almost looks like a Hef or Belgian ale. The head is creamy, but settles down fast.
Smell might not be as complex as Elder, but it has a very different, less pine-y, and more citrus-y and sweeter nose to it. A sign of things to come.
As you take your first sip of Younger, it becomes clearly evident that this is not Elder (which, to me, is the premier DIPA). No, this is something different. To a hophead, it's very creamy, sweet, and yet still bitter and hoppy. To a casual drinker, this beer probably is supremely hopped but bearably so, with a deep taste and great feel. The complexity of the hops underlies the sweet nectary feel around your mouth. It's a pretty strong beer, but it seems Vinnie almost used a hidden alcohol hotness to blend a further dimension into the hops and malts. And that creamy feel just adds even more depth. Mmm.
Next sip -- wow! This is almost the pinnacle of mouthfeel. A taste so delicious you could swish it around your mouth until it gets warm, or you could gulp down its cool soft feel.
So you take another gulp, and another, and then you go on BA because you aren't really sure why you're feeling buzzed off of 6oz. of a tasty medium-bodied beer. Oh, that's why, it's 11%.
To the negative reviews of Younger here -- I can only assume the keg was stored differently or was from another batch. I had thought Younger didn't age that well kegged, but trying it today on tap, at least 4 months after its February '08 release, changed my mind. This keg tastes as good as the first one I had, and much better than the couple I've had in between. If you like Elder, you'll love Younger. If you're a hophead, you'll love Younger. If you love beer, well, you'll probably love Younger.
Undoubtedly, the beer that everybody will compare this one to is Pliny the Elder. Younger sacrifices some pine, grapefruit, and bitterness, and replaces it with a milky, creamy, sweeter taste and feel. Highly desirable, in my opinion.
I thought IPA's couldn't get any better than Elder, but after trying both Elder and Younger, Younger wins by a mile. When I talk about loving a Triple IPA, most people look at me and make a bitter face. Younger is not overly bitter, regardless of its IBU. Pliny the Younger sits at the summit of IPA and determines what else is worthy of being its kin.
Now I've fallen into the trap of believing a beer was great just because of its ranking (coughAbysscough), but Younger completed my search for a perfect 10 (or 5) IPA. I've read reviews that praise a certain beer, lifting it above its style, and tried them, thinking, "well, this it a great stout, but i was expecting cotton candy." But for all the hype this beer gets, I think it deserves its ranking. I haven't tried the current #1-3 beers above the #4 Younger, so I can't argue Younger's place, but to see it stand out up there, away from the Belgian ales, Stouts, and Barley Wines, means something to me.
You might not like it, but I know I do. It's the only beer I've tried that doesn't taste like it holds even half the abv it really has.
IPAs I've had: Lost Abbey 2nd Ann, Stone 10th/11th/Ruination/IPA simcoe hopped, Avery Maharaja, Alesmith, DFH 60/90, Racer 5/X, among many, many more.
★ 4,951 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfect 5 you say?! Well, I'll let you guys in on a little secret. I cheated a little bit, filling out these scores. Don't tell anybody, though... the truth is, I may have had beers that looked better than Pliny the Younger. (/sarcasm)
Whew.
Now that's over with, let me start the worshipping of this beer. This beer is easily in my top 3 beers I've ever had. I've had great, huge, stinging barley wines laced with wood and whiskey, but no beer comes close to Younger in terms of a big, balanced, delicious beer. This beer may be the best-looking, most easily-drinkable beer above 6% I've ever had. Couple that with a great taste, well, 5.
I've had this on tap at Hollingshead about a half dozen times over the past few months, and it really is a finicky beer. Some kegs Kenny taps seem a bit more stale than others. The pint I had today, though, was godly.
For all the gushing that the Pliny the Elder receives, Younger should get a waterfall. It actually has a pretty different mouth profile than the Elder, but a similar hop bouquet and complexity. For those of you who haven't tried Elder, Younger, or Blind Pig, and love IPA's, try to get your hands on these. The only experience I can compare tasting these beers with was me trying and enjoying my first glass of IPA at the Stone Brewery -- that one Ruination that made me fall in love with the IPA style. Bitterness to hide the alcohol, best served cool (not warm) to enjoy on a hot day, with fruits and malts to balance it all out. I've since moved on from Ruination, but I get to have that falling-in-love experience every time I try one of these great Russian River IPAs.
To start, Younger is a truly different IPA. Most IPA's pour somewhat clear -- Younger is very opaque and almost looks like a Hef or Belgian ale. The head is creamy, but settles down fast.
Smell might not be as complex as Elder, but it has a very different, less pine-y, and more citrus-y and sweeter nose to it. A sign of things to come.
As you take your first sip of Younger, it becomes clearly evident that this is not Elder (which, to me, is the premier DIPA). No, this is something different. To a hophead, it's very creamy, sweet, and yet still bitter and hoppy. To a casual drinker, this beer probably is supremely hopped but bearably so, with a deep taste and great feel. The complexity of the hops underlies the sweet nectary feel around your mouth. It's a pretty strong beer, but it seems Vinnie almost used a hidden alcohol hotness to blend a further dimension into the hops and malts. And that creamy feel just adds even more depth. Mmm.
Next sip -- wow! This is almost the pinnacle of mouthfeel. A taste so delicious you could swish it around your mouth until it gets warm, or you could gulp down its cool soft feel.
So you take another gulp, and another, and then you go on BA because you aren't really sure why you're feeling buzzed off of 6oz. of a tasty medium-bodied beer. Oh, that's why, it's 11%.
To the negative reviews of Younger here -- I can only assume the keg was stored differently or was from another batch. I had thought Younger didn't age that well kegged, but trying it today on tap, at least 4 months after its February '08 release, changed my mind. This keg tastes as good as the first one I had, and much better than the couple I've had in between. If you like Elder, you'll love Younger. If you're a hophead, you'll love Younger. If you love beer, well, you'll probably love Younger.
Undoubtedly, the beer that everybody will compare this one to is Pliny the Elder. Younger sacrifices some pine, grapefruit, and bitterness, and replaces it with a milky, creamy, sweeter taste and feel. Highly desirable, in my opinion.
I thought IPA's couldn't get any better than Elder, but after trying both Elder and Younger, Younger wins by a mile. When I talk about loving a Triple IPA, most people look at me and make a bitter face. Younger is not overly bitter, regardless of its IBU. Pliny the Younger sits at the summit of IPA and determines what else is worthy of being its kin.
Now I've fallen into the trap of believing a beer was great just because of its ranking (coughAbysscough), but Younger completed my search for a perfect 10 (or 5) IPA. I've read reviews that praise a certain beer, lifting it above its style, and tried them, thinking, "well, this it a great stout, but i was expecting cotton candy." But for all the hype this beer gets, I think it deserves its ranking. I haven't tried the current #1-3 beers above the #4 Younger, so I can't argue Younger's place, but to see it stand out up there, away from the Belgian ales, Stouts, and Barley Wines, means something to me.
You might not like it, but I know I do. It's the only beer I've tried that doesn't taste like it holds even half the abv it really has.
IPAs I've had: Lost Abbey 2nd Ann, Stone 10th/11th/Ruination/IPA simcoe hopped, Avery Maharaja, Alesmith, DFH 60/90, Racer 5/X, among many, many more.
★ 4,951 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I've saved my first review to review the younger. I was there on feb 4 2011 waited five hours and will say well worth the wait!!!
Im going to just say apperance smell taste was all 5s
my overall of the younger is that its the best beer ever point blank!
★ 255 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
I've saved my first review to review the younger. I was there on feb 4 2011 waited five hours and will say well worth the wait!!!
Im going to just say apperance smell taste was all 5s
my overall of the younger is that its the best beer ever point blank!
★ 255 characters
5/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Amazing.
Tasted again for the 10th time during the last release. I loved every bit of it. Wish there was more to go around.
The hugeness of the aroma and flavor is such a blast to the senses. I loved it.
Way to go Russian River, Please make more next year.
★ 259 characters
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Amazing.
Tasted again for the 10th time during the last release. I loved every bit of it. Wish there was more to go around.
The hugeness of the aroma and flavor is such a blast to the senses. I loved it.
Way to go Russian River, Please make more next year.
★ 259 characters
Pliny The Younger from Russian River Brewing Company
4.67
out of 5
based on 2,969 ratings.
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Had this on-tap yesterday and am having it from a growler now. If this beer were available year-round, I'd drink nothing but.
a: This beer pours a slightly hazy somewhat dark gold. In an effort to get glasses out faster, Natalie Cilurzo was filling pitchers with younger and pouring glasses out of that. The head size tended to vary depending on how quickly she was going. At home, pouring slowly, this develops a one-finger head that dissipates before too long, but still leaves a nice lacing.
s: Hops. Hops. More hops. I'm also doing a side-by-side comparison of this and Elder. For all that they have similar piney-grapefruity hop profiles, the difference in intensity is staggering.
t: I'm almost at a loss for words. On the one hand this is every bit as intensely bitter and hoppy as its older cousin. On the other hand, there's this sweetness as well. It doesn't taste malty, though. It's almost like the sweetness is a facet of the heavy citrusy oomph. And despite being 10.75% ABV according to the RR chalkboard, there's not a hint of alcohol that can be tasted.
m: At the pub, it poured out of the tap so slow it looked like maple syrup. I was almost expecting something very heavy, but what I got was a medium-bodied sipper with just the right amount of carbonation.
d: More. More. More. The insidiousness of PtY is not that it's a great beer. The insidiousness is that it is so bloody drinkable that every empty glass is a major disappointment. An empty growler is cause for tears. When you start drinking this beer, you don't ever want to stop.
I have one growler left. On the one hand I'm having to fight off the temptation to open it now, because once I do, that's all I'll have left for an entire year. On the other hand...so good...
★ 1,755 characters