Finally, a splash of Pliny (the Elder)

I owe a beer debt to my friend Jessica. She had a party where she planned to open a Pliny the Elder, Russian River Brewing Company's venerated double IPA. Generally considered the first double IPA, the beer has quite the cult and can be incredibly difficult to locate even in RR's core markets.

Meant to be imbibed fresh -- hops start to lose their flavor as beer ages and Pliny the Elder has to stay refrigerated.

The simplicity of the label struck me. For as flashy a style as American IPA has become, Pliny the Elder's logo is devoid of pretension (Don't believe me? Check here).

The beer tastes as one would expect for the pinnacle of this style. Cloudy and rusty orange, Pliny the Elder did nothing to diminish its great reputation. Clocking in at 8 percent ABV, quite a bit lighter than many double IPAs run, RR never sacrifices drinkability. The nose and body are rich in pine resin, blood orange, and bright pine needle notes. Rich but balanced, bitter yet fruit, Pliny the Elder scores again and again.

I have tasted many double IPAs reminiscent of Pliny and some might have been outright clones in flashier packaging. If there is a beer bucket list, I'm glad to have this one scratched off. Now I'll have to plan a Santa Rosa vacation geared around Russian River's annual release of Pliny the Younger, their similarly lauded triple IPA.