There are beers, and then there are legends. Russian River’s Pliny the Elder occupies rare territory — a beer that professionals and homebrewers alike use as a reference point for what a Double IPA can be. Two decades after its creation, it’s still the benchmark.Getting Pliny outside of Northern California used to require a pilgrimage. Distribution has expanded since, but it’s still not everywhere — which means when you find it, you pay attention. Pours bright gold, clear, with a white head. The aroma hits immediately: pine, citrus, light tropical notes, and a resinous quality that feels almost alive.The flavor is a masterclass in balance. At 8% ABV and 100+ IBUs on paper, you’d expect something punishing. Instead, the malt is sturdy enough to support the bitterness — a dry, crackerlike backbone that keeps the hops from running wild. The finish is long, bitter, and clean. No sweetness lingers. No alcohol heat.What Russian River figured out — and what countless DIPAs still get wrong — is that hop intensity and hop harshness aren’t the same thing. Fresh Pliny is one of the most drinkable 8% beers ever made. The freshness window is real: drink it within 60 days. Beyond that, the hop aromatics fade and it tastes like a different beer.🍺 Style: Double IPA📊 ABV: 8.0% · IBU: 100+🏭 Brewery: Russian River Brewing — Santa Rosa, CA★ Rating: 4.7/5If you see it, buy it. Drink it this week. That’s the entire instruction manual.
Leave a Reply