Pliny the Elder brewed by Russian River Brewing Company - Santa Rosa, CA  

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. 8.0%ABV, 1.071 O.G
  

    
Review from Beer Advocate(For more reviews of this beer: Click Here)
One of the best labels in the world and a great wake-up call for overzealous über beer geeks who feel the need to age any and all beers. "Drink fresh, do not age! Pliny the Elder is a historical figure, don't make the beer inside this bottle one ... Age your cheese, not your Pliny ... Pliny is for savoring, not for saving!" Love it. "Respect hops, consume fresh!"

Light honey amber in color, topped with a big, fluffy, creamy white head with a ton of glass stickage. Massive ripe pineapple aroma in the nose, with pine, mint, sappy resins, powdery pale malts and a hint of alcohol. Silky smooth, medium bodied, with a very firm consistency and slightly chewy back. Hop presence is artfully chaotic. Nice prickly stab on the palate up front, semisharp bitterness, grassy, zesty grapefruit, deep smacking of ripe pineapple and pine. Juicy fruitiness, notes of apple and pear too. Dry middle with suggestions of chalky aspirin. Bready malts, soft and sweet, provide a nice backboard for the hops. Oily and ashy hop resins stick to the palate and follow through into a dry, bitter linger. Alcohol becomes sentient as the beer warms, speaking to us in tongues. And despite this, remains insanely drinkable. One of the best DIPAs on planet Earth, ever.
  
 
 
Russian River Brewing Company
In 1997, Russian River Brewing Company (RRBC) was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California. Vinnie Cilurzo was hired as the Brewmaster. At the Great American Beer Festival in 1999, RRBC and Vinnie were awarded "Small Brewing Company of the Year" and "Small Brewing Company Brewmaster of the Year." In 2002, Korbel decided to leave the beer business and sold the brewery to Vinnie and his wife, Natalie. The brewery is now located in Santa Rosa, California.

At Russian River Brewing Company we focus on traditional aggressively hopped California style ales, Belgian style ales, and barrel aged beers. We brew a full line up of ales and lagers for our pub and for limited distribution. Please browse the categories below to see our full lineup of beers, or select one of our year round beers to the left.