Tonight’s featured beer is Russian River Brewing Company Pliny the Elder. Pliny the Elder is one of the most perfect beers ever brewed (this – in my opinion). It isn’t always easy to find, but always worth seeking out. It is always my goal to have at least one or two of ‘em in my beer fridge at all times. It is like having a safety net – ensuring that at any given time beer perfection can be found close by.
From the Russian River Brewing Company website: “Pliny the Elder was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Although not considered his most important work, Pliny and his contemporaries created the botanical name for hops, "Lupus salictarius", meaning wolf among scrubs." Hops at that time grew wild among willows, much like a wolf in the forest. Later the current botanical name, Humulus lupulus, was adopted. Pliny died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle's legacy by documenting much of what he observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.”
Let’s get started!
Appearance: Pours a deep golden orange with a creamy, fluffy head.
Aroma: This beer smells amazing. Citrus, pine and floral hops dominate with an exceptional malt backbone. This beer has a huge scent that fills a room.
Taste: Much like the aroma, big hops with a fantastic malt backbone. Grapefruit, tangerine, lemon and apricot. Pine resin and perhaps fresh tobacco. Always a treat.
Overall: Always impressive. This double IPA never disappoints. This is the standard that all double IPAs are compared. The NCBB “Lights Out Double IPA” was an attempted Pliny clone. Often imitated, never duplicated.
At 8.0% ABV Russian River Brewing Company Pliny the Elder is incredibly drinkable, but really, this beer is to be respected AND enjoyed!
Cheers!
Mark Harvey
Cheers!
Mark Harvey
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