For each group of beer lovers there is a holy grail, an ultimate, the best of the best. For Belgian fans its Westy 12, for stout fans it is Dark Lord (or Sexual Chocolate, damn you Hillbilly!) for wild ales it Supplication, and for Hop Heads.. My friends, my compadres, my distinguished CP brethren, the one, the only - Pliny The Younger. This beer is not only ridiculously good, but it is damn near impossible to find. If you were to compare it to the cigar world, this is like smoking an early 80's Davidoff, but thanks to a brother here (NorCalCigarLover - sorry David, I know you would want to remain anonymous but I have to thank you) I was able to enjoy it this past weekend. Here are my thoughts:
Beer: Pliny The Younger
Type: Imperial/Triple IPA
Origin: Russian River Brewery - Santa Rosa, CA
ABV: 11%
Price: $34/Growler
Rarity: 8/10 – Only available one week of the year on tap at the brewery.
3/1/08: What a day here in Denver. We spent our time outside enjoying the 74 degree winter heat, had some friends over for a barbecue, threw some darts, drank beer, played basketball with the kids, could it get any better? Yes, yes it can. The mailman delivered a package, not just any package, this was beer mail. Ladies and gentlemen, Pliny the Younger is in the building!
Appearance: Poured a beautifully clear and brilliant light honey orange. A frothy thick 2 finger head adorns itself at the top, and looks amazingly rich and creamy. It slowly dissipates leaving a sticky web of lacing around the glass.
Nose: After letting the head settle I give a little swirl and bury my nose deep in the glass. I am greeted with big grassy hops, almost the same as when you were a kid and you would chew on a piece of grass while playing in the yard. Sweet crystal sugars, fruit - tangerine, and a slightly bready malt buried in the background. The alcohol is noticeable for a quick moment but then gone, hidden by this enormous and deep nose.
Taste: Seriously, how? The first thing that comes to mind is how balanced and drinkable it is, almost like it has been slightly aged. Intense fruity hops, bold in nature but not overwhelming or one sided, followed by sweet hard candy sugars, doughy malt backbone, but the hops win out with a long bittering finish.
Mouthfeel: Full, initially sticky and sweet quickly followed by warming alcohol. Only light carbonation, overall a surprisingly thick and coating mouth, especially for this style.
Drinkability: You would drink this until you passed out or you ran out.
Overall: Last May I had a beertopia experience when I received a growler of the Elder in a trade. It was by far the best beer I had had until now, and while I can't say that the Younger is leaps and bounds beyond that of its uncle, the incredible complexities and balance give it the nod. Honestly, I would take either over any other beer on the planet, any day of the week. You drink this and you feel like you are experiencing a work of art. You understand that a true craftsman created this masterpiece, revealing it slowly one sip at a time. I am simply in awe, thank you Russian River.
Beer: Pliny The Younger
Type: Imperial/Triple IPA
Origin: Russian River Brewery - Santa Rosa, CA
ABV: 11%
Price: $34/Growler
Rarity: 8/10 – Only available one week of the year on tap at the brewery.
3/1/08: What a day here in Denver. We spent our time outside enjoying the 74 degree winter heat, had some friends over for a barbecue, threw some darts, drank beer, played basketball with the kids, could it get any better? Yes, yes it can. The mailman delivered a package, not just any package, this was beer mail. Ladies and gentlemen, Pliny the Younger is in the building!
Appearance: Poured a beautifully clear and brilliant light honey orange. A frothy thick 2 finger head adorns itself at the top, and looks amazingly rich and creamy. It slowly dissipates leaving a sticky web of lacing around the glass.
Nose: After letting the head settle I give a little swirl and bury my nose deep in the glass. I am greeted with big grassy hops, almost the same as when you were a kid and you would chew on a piece of grass while playing in the yard. Sweet crystal sugars, fruit - tangerine, and a slightly bready malt buried in the background. The alcohol is noticeable for a quick moment but then gone, hidden by this enormous and deep nose.
Taste: Seriously, how? The first thing that comes to mind is how balanced and drinkable it is, almost like it has been slightly aged. Intense fruity hops, bold in nature but not overwhelming or one sided, followed by sweet hard candy sugars, doughy malt backbone, but the hops win out with a long bittering finish.
Mouthfeel: Full, initially sticky and sweet quickly followed by warming alcohol. Only light carbonation, overall a surprisingly thick and coating mouth, especially for this style.
Drinkability: You would drink this until you passed out or you ran out.
Overall: Last May I had a beertopia experience when I received a growler of the Elder in a trade. It was by far the best beer I had had until now, and while I can't say that the Younger is leaps and bounds beyond that of its uncle, the incredible complexities and balance give it the nod. Honestly, I would take either over any other beer on the planet, any day of the week. You drink this and you feel like you are experiencing a work of art. You understand that a true craftsman created this masterpiece, revealing it slowly one sip at a time. I am simply in awe, thank you Russian River.
