Pliny The Elder
Russian River Brewing Company

Look - clear and gold in color, aggresive pour with a soapy white head, lacing is scattered
Smell - floral, tropical, grapefruit
Taste - grapefruit, piney, fruity, sweet malt
Feel - medium body, moderate carbonation, lingering fruity and piney bitter finish
Overall - Has a bitter finish that's subdued by a candied fruit flavor that lingers. It settles in so nicely and it makes you want to take another sip. You have to restrain yourself. Incredible tasty brew that goes down way too easy. This whale has been on my list for years and it did not disappoint. I envy all the BA's that are able to get this on a regular basis. I paired Pliny the Elder with I Need You Tonight by ZZ Top. You should too. Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

It's truly excellent and because of demand is a reliably fresh beer. Beautiful clarity, great hop flavor and clean finish. A+ beer.

 

 

 

 

Bitter with a forward grapefruit flavor.

Pours clear, golden and beautiful, short head, small bubble lacing. Smell is floral and pine, flavor is bright and adds deeper notes of earth and limestone, a hint of grapefruit, and a close with pith. Very well dialed in, the result is powerful without punishing. Superb.

Quite possibly the perfect beer. Sampled six weeks past the bottling date. Poured from 0.5-liter bottle into a thick-stemmed crystal goblet. Golden colored body, with a thick white long-lasting head that left lots of pretty lacing as it settled. Perfectly balanced, with just enough caramelly malt sweetness to provide structure while allowing the hoppy goodness to shine through. Big flavors of pine, orange, and grapefruit, with a floral note and lots of resiny bitterness. Each sip makes you want another, and it's so drinkable that you might forget that this a relatively big beer. The finish is crisp, with notes of orange zest lingering on the palate. What more could you want?

 

 

Poured from the bottle into a Nonic pint.

A: crystal clear light gold color with a nice 2mm head. Head dissipates to a 1mm full disk and very nice lacing grabs the glass with tenacity.

S: lemony fresh and aggressive west coast profile hop with a hint of light malt hiding at the edges. Yeast is inoffensive and minimal.

T: very good west coast hop profile with a solid grapefruit bitterness but not so aggressive that it becomes fatigued. Malt is light and appropriate.

M: body is medium light with a slight dryness and no cloying sweetness. Very nice finish with a hint of ultimate slickness that just works.

O: you should try it for a classic west coast vibe that just hits on all cylinders. Excellent.

 

 

 

 

To me this beer is perfection. The key to success here is the undeniable malty foundation. With such a sturdy base the high floral and bittering notes of the hops really stand out as contrast and the entire sip becomes a journey. Hops for hops' sake is fine in the right vehicle, but this one is about balance. From first sip to last I dare anyone to find a better beer ounce for ounce.

 

 

Look: Bright yellow. Beer hall looking beer
Smell: piney hoppy
Taste:Bright. slightly Bitter, grpaefruit
'Feel: Carbonated nicely not heavy

Not sure if it's a 100 in my book, but it's a pretty good smooth west coast IPA

 

 

Finally got to try this beer. Slightly concerned the high IBU would be a bit too bitter for me. I read they have many hop editions throughout the boil. The taste really reflected this technique. A very balanced taste of grapefruit with a slight bitterness throughout the mouth feel. It was served on draft with a slight white head that dissipated fairly quickly. It had a clear golden appearance. I enjoyed this beer.

 

Best bottled beer I've ever tasted!

 

 

 

 

 

510ml bottle. Label is stamped with the bottling date of '111822'. Purchased at the taproom store.
Nearly clear, light pale gold colored body. Two fingers of puffy white head. Leaves some scattered webs of lacing.
Aroma, as described, is intense with pine, citrus (more orange and tangerine than grapefruit), and floral (aromatic).
Taste is initially sweet with citrus (again orange and tangerine), then comes the bitterness of the pine. Also has a floral expression. Very full of flavors. Aftertaste is more of an afterglow of the original flavors, with some vegetal hops lingering as long as one may want to wait before taking another sip.
Fuller mouth feel. Has a soft texture. Very good carbonation.
Very well balanced with the malts and hops. Such a good mix of nose and flavors among the citrus, pine, and floral components. Definitely is a Goldilocks beer, and one that I would prefer more than most NEIPAs. This is because there is more bitterness here, which balances so well with the sweet and floral notes. Also the Santa Rosa taproom is so mellow and energetic at the same time, with that certain Sonoma vibe.