Russian River Brewing Pliny the Elder 2020
What the brewers say
"Grapefruit, pine, lychee, mild dank quality."
What our panel thought
"Bright golden, with tall, stable, bright white froth. Strong pine and citrus aroma—bright orange, orange blossom—fascinating floral notes mingling with the sweet citrus and low, sweet malt. Enticing. Quite juicy in flavor—candied fruit, jungle juice, Fruit Loops—with medium bitterness and a straightforward, balancing, honey-like floral sweetness that accentuates the fruit. Ends in an easy snap of bitterness, finishing clean, though some of that bitterness lingers and builds. Don’t know the strength, but I can sense the danger. Easy to drink."
What our editors thought
"Light tropical fruit, subtle floral, and hay bales on the nose—fruity but toasty and dry. On the sip, very light—no caramel, but a balanced and gentle bitterness with pronounced smoothness. The drinkability is off the charts—for a double IPA, incredibly light and easy to drink, unparalleled in its effortlessness."
