Russian River's Pliny the Elder IPA

Let's begin with the concise history lesson provided by this bottle of Russian River's delectable double IPA, Pliny the Elder. "Pliny the Elder, born in 23 A.D., was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Pliny, and his contemporaries, created the original botanical name for hops, 'Lupus Salictarius,' meaning 'wolf among scrubs.' Hop vines, at that time, grew wild among willows, likened to wolves roaming wild in the forest. Pliny the Elder died in 79 A.D. while saving people during 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 his uncle experienced during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. This beer is an homage to the man who discovered hops and perished while being a humanitarian."

Russian River has crafted an immaculate homage to the man who brought hops into the realm of botanical significance. The 8% ABV double IPA is all about hops. Unlike other super-hopped IPAs that drown the brew in a sea of indistinguishable bitterness, Pliny is incredibly well balanced and allows the subtle flavors and aromas of the various hop varieties used to shine through. There are pine notes and citrus undercurrents that arrive on the palate simultaneously with the big hop explosion. A slightly sweet background eases onto the scene as a lingering aftertaste. Without a doubt, Pliny the Elder is the IPA by which all other IPAs are judged.

There will be many things that I miss about the west coast when I inevitably make my way back to the northeast: the beautiful coast line, the availability of buche tacos, the year round agricultural production. But Pliny the Elder may top my list of things I long for when that day comes. For now, I'll keep gladly dishing out the $4.99 it costs to enjoy a 16.9 ounce bottle.