Pliny The Elder
Russian River Brewing Company
- From:
- Russian River Brewing Company
- California, United States
- Style:
- Imperial IPA
Ranked #3 - ABV:
- 8%
- Score:
- 100
Ranked #33 - Avg:
- 4.64 | pDev: 7.76%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 4,014
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Today at 06:23 PM
- Added:
- Aug 24, 2003
- Wants:
- 7,685
- Gots:
- 4,854
SCORE
100
World-Class
100
World-Class
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!
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by BeerPHD:
Rated by BeerPHD from Texas
4.75/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Today at 06:23 PM
4.75/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Today at 06:23 PM
More User Ratings:
Rated by Mark_Griffin from Washington
4.81/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
4.81/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Very good. Bucket list.
Monday at 01:28 AM
Rated by LebaneseLawyer from New York
5/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
5/5 rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Perfection across the board! Pure balance of hops, citrus notes, and resin.
May 28, 2026
Reviewed by LesDewitt4beer from Minnesota
4.56/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
4.56/5 rDev -1.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
510 ml bottle dated 030326 into a nonic pint glass.
L: Pours bright yellow caramel color with some yeast in suspension with a 1/2" domed soft white head that recedes to soft froth, thick half circumference sheeting and lacing.
S: Citrus, grapefruit zest, earthy funk, some caramelization.
T: Lemon, lemon zest, grapefruit zest, pine resin, clean tasting, yeast, distant caramelized malts, very light bread dough, a hint of hard candy sugar, lemon tastes linger.
F: Brisk then soft medium bodied mouthfeel with a long fairly dry finish.
O: Hop forward, balanced tastes otherwise. Lots of lemon zest with a dry finish. It has a lovely fade and finish with lemon lingering on for a long time. Absolutely top shelf beer and is a bullseye in the style. Easy to remember because it is so very good. All together it is world-class.
Apr 19, 2026L: Pours bright yellow caramel color with some yeast in suspension with a 1/2" domed soft white head that recedes to soft froth, thick half circumference sheeting and lacing.
S: Citrus, grapefruit zest, earthy funk, some caramelization.
T: Lemon, lemon zest, grapefruit zest, pine resin, clean tasting, yeast, distant caramelized malts, very light bread dough, a hint of hard candy sugar, lemon tastes linger.
F: Brisk then soft medium bodied mouthfeel with a long fairly dry finish.
O: Hop forward, balanced tastes otherwise. Lots of lemon zest with a dry finish. It has a lovely fade and finish with lemon lingering on for a long time. Absolutely top shelf beer and is a bullseye in the style. Easy to remember because it is so very good. All together it is world-class.
Rated by RocketshIPA from California
4.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
4.5/5 rDev -3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Top 5 West Coast IPA forsure
Apr 12, 2026Reviewed by Masa7235250 from Sweden
4.75/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
4.75/5 rDev +2.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Resiny pine, grapefruit, biscuity malt, floral, lemon, and dank notes. Very resiny taste and aroma.
Medium (and smooth) bitterness, low dankness, and so delicious and refreshing! Extremely well-balanced. Somewhat clear, and golden colour. 3,5 month old.
Apr 01, 2026Medium (and smooth) bitterness, low dankness, and so delicious and refreshing! Extremely well-balanced. Somewhat clear, and golden colour. 3,5 month old.
Reviewed by TheBigBoy from Pennsylvania
3.29/5 rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
3.29/5 rDev -29.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.25
Have been waiting for years to stumble upon this one. finally caught this on tap. It’s sophisticated and well done but I would have ranked this west coast ipa much higher in pre-hazy days. Sadly my tastebuds have moved on and while enjoyable, a west coast can only thrill me to a point. Glad I finally got a taste of this original legend.
Mar 13, 2026
Reviewed by Bierman9 from New Hampshire
4.25/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
4.25/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Swung over to neighboring Maine yesterday and had a couple of pours of this.... $10.00 for 10oz at When Pigs Fly and $10.00 for 12oz at York River Landing....
Poured a clear, medium golden. Had steady carbo within rising topside, plus a creamy, lasting white head on top. Lacing on the glass was quite nice. Aroma was dank and citrussy, with tangerine and apricot present. Body was medium-plus and it was fairly smooth, with just some light prickle.
Flavor had some lightly toasty malt action at the outset. It was followed by lightly sweet hoppiness, with more apricot and tangerine, plus piney, resiny notes. A solid, tasty brew.... Prost!!
4.25/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2522
Feb 25, 2026Poured a clear, medium golden. Had steady carbo within rising topside, plus a creamy, lasting white head on top. Lacing on the glass was quite nice. Aroma was dank and citrussy, with tangerine and apricot present. Body was medium-plus and it was fairly smooth, with just some light prickle.
Flavor had some lightly toasty malt action at the outset. It was followed by lightly sweet hoppiness, with more apricot and tangerine, plus piney, resiny notes. A solid, tasty brew.... Prost!!
4.25/5 rDev -8.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
2522
Reviewed by thebeers from Pennsylvania
4.22/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.22/5 rDev -9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Clear pale gold with a thick creamy white head. Great thick lacing. Citrus and pine aroma. Similar taste with a nice honey graham flavor added. Nice moderate bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with strong, soft carbonation. Lovely.
Feb 21, 2026
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