Pliny The Elder
Russian River Brewing Company

Pliny The ElderPliny The Elder
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From:
Russian River Brewing Company
 
California, United States
Style:
Imperial IPA
Ranked #3
ABV:
8%
Score:
100
Ranked #34
Avg:
4.64 | pDev: 7.76%
Reviews:
3,963
Ratings:
15,638
Status:
Active
Rated:
Saturday at 10:58 PM
Added:
Aug 24, 2003
Wants:
  7,642
Gots:
  4,829
SCORE
100
World-Class
Pliny The ElderPliny The Elder
Notes: 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 bros:

  None found.

Photo of whitro17
Reviewed by whitro17 from Florida

4.67/5  rDev +0.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
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!
Saturday at 10:58 PM
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.25 by mmilyko from Nevada

May 25, 2023
 
Rated: 4.7 by loco4toto

May 20, 2023
 
Rated: 4.71 by evergreen_machine from Washington

May 13, 2023
 
Rated: 4.33 by Dcwbba from Pennsylvania

Apr 26, 2023
 
Rated: 4.9 by Tom_Hartlett from California

Apr 22, 2023
Photo of JoeMcCraw
Rated by JoeMcCraw from California

4.84/5  rDev +4.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
It's truly excellent and because of demand is a reliably fresh beer. Beautiful clarity, great hop flavor and clean finish. A+ beer.
Apr 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.6 by howardnss from Pennsylvania

Apr 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.59 by dofo777 from Maryland

Apr 08, 2023
 
Rated: 4.18 by Wagglerock from Washington

Apr 04, 2023
 
Rated: 4.63 by NRMeadmore from Connecticut

Apr 01, 2023
Photo of Sandis
Rated by Sandis from Minnesota

4/5  rDev -13.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Bitter with a forward grapefruit flavor.
Mar 24, 2023
Photo of Tsar_Riga
Reviewed by Tsar_Riga from Indiana

4.68/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
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.
Mar 22, 2023
Photo of dcotom
Reviewed by dcotom from Iowa

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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?
Mar 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.88 by rpmello81 from California

Mar 18, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by BeerDreadz from Florida

Mar 12, 2023
Photo of Scrapss
Reviewed by Scrapss from Pennsylvania

4.24/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
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.
Mar 11, 2023
 
Rated: 4.5 by stmoorea from Illinois

Mar 08, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by ZenBeer from Michigan

Mar 07, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.65 by LA2ED7

Feb 28, 2023
Photo of selimoidar
Reviewed by selimoidar from District of Columbia

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
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.
Feb 21, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by time_2golf from California

Feb 21, 2023
 
Rated: 4.2 by Iron_x_man from Colorado

Feb 21, 2023
Photo of WayneManor
Rated by WayneManor from Washington

4.68/5  rDev +0.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Look: Bright yellow. Beer hall looking beer
Smell: piney hoppy
Taste:Bright. slightly Bitter, grpaefruit
'Feel: Carbonated nicely not heavy
Feb 19, 2023
Photo of Dakin
Rated by Dakin from Utah

4.63/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Not sure if it's a 100 in my book, but it's a pretty good smooth west coast IPA
Feb 19, 2023
 
Rated: 4.42 by HarlotBronte from District of Columbia

Feb 17, 2023
 
Rated: 4.99 by Timmmmaaayyy from Pennsylvania

Feb 16, 2023
Photo of JBWHOME
Reviewed by JBWHOME from Washington

4.58/5  rDev -1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
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.
Feb 11, 2023
 
Rated: 5 by oldbassman from Florida

Feb 09, 2023
Photo of michaelwmarr
Rated by michaelwmarr from California

5/5  rDev +7.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
Best bottled beer I've ever tasted!
Jan 31, 2023
 
 
Rated: 4.45 by Franchise from Oregon

Jan 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.34 by TinFang from California

Jan 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4 by RamonaBeer from California

Jan 03, 2023
Photo of MonDak_Joe1953
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota

4.76/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
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.
Dec 23, 2022
 
Rated: 4.15 by Zoman

Dec 22, 2022
 
Rated: 5 by Drkstr24 from Maine

Dec 18, 2022
Pliny The Elder from Russian River Brewing Company
Beer rating: 100 out of 100 with 15638 ratings