Pliny The Elder
Russian River Brewing Company

Updated review, 12/23 on 12 day old bottle:
Looks are still sexy, but the nose is a little better. It’s not jumping out of the bottle like the better dry hopped beers of today, and it might wane - so 4.25-4.5 is probably right, I’ll leave it at 4.25 for now.

There’s still something that keeps me from giving it a 5 in taste - it might be palate fatigue causes the finish to level out from its trend towards the top score. Overall, though, I’m going up a notch after this latest tasting (and an unreviewed experience this past year).

Bottle dated 2/13 (one month old):
(Revisit 4/4 bottle dated 3/21)
Beer pours gold - like a perfect hue of golden - and very clear. The head buildup is significant on a medium pour, with a combination of soapy and frothy head adorning the clear body. Lacing is quite heavy.

Nose is of floral hops to me. There's a little honey-like sweetness with a bit of spice. I get a little evergreen note with some warmth and effort, not as obvious as others have noted. With this I also get just a slightest note of onion/garlic that some doubles give off.
Revisit: Little more citrus orange rind and light sweet grapefruit pith, and a little more power overall, up a notch

The taste is a little more evident, especially in the pine notes. The beer opens as the nose indicated with a nice honey cracker malty opening. The pine is light on a colder brew, but blooms nicely as the beer warms. A light tickling of the carbonation leads to some anticipation before dissolving into the pine notes. These start more woody, but slowly move up the tree from trunk to green branch to pine needles. Further warmth allows me to note a light tangerine citrus rind note right after the carbonation fades. The malt opening comes out the other side as the bitter flavors fade, though the lingering taste is a woody pine bitterness.
Revisit: maybe I took so long to analyze the first time, I'm thinking the same here, just a little easier to detect.

I honestly expected more from the nose, and my initial sips had me wondering about the hype. But as it hit a more proper temperature, there were some lovely nuances I started to notice. The interplay of malt and bitterness in the middle is fun. I also expected it to be more bitter overall, but I liked the malt component of this beer.

 

 

Very good. Bucket list.

Perfection across the board! Pure balance of hops, citrus notes, and resin.

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Top 5 West Coast IPA forsure

 

 

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.

 

 

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.

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

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