I had not prepared myself for my most recent mind-bottling beer experience, but I had a last minute opportunity to share a growler of Russian River’s Pliny the Younger with a few beer geeks (I’ll call them my new BFFs). When I got the call, I knew immediately there was no way in hell I’d pass up this moment. There were four of us who worked our way through its insane amount of hops and beautiful mouthfeel. I was amazed by every sip and it was everything I had hoped it would be. So I’m sure the first question is: What does it taste like, Mark?!?! Well, it’s actually a very easy question to answer: it literally tastes like Pliny the Elder on steroids. It might even be safe to assume that the hops to malt ratio is very close (if not exactly the same) as the Elder, but beefed up to make a bigger version. While Pliny the Elder is only a modest 8% ABV, the Pliny the Younger boasts a monstrous 11% ABV. And because I know this was just recently let loose to the public, it was also much fresher than any bottle of Pliny the Elder I’ve ever had. So an insanely fresh giant version of Pliny the Elder that was crazy fresh pretty much sums it up. In other words, it was pure heaven!
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This beer can be found in these states.
On the iPod: Gentleman Jesse and His Men
Brewery: Russian River
Beer: Pliny the Younger
Style: Triple IPA
Location: Santa Rosa, California
ABV: 11%
Rating: 100/100
Posted by Bobby Digital on February 13, 2010 at 2:30 AM
Glad you enjoyed it, Mark. Now we just have to figure out how we can get another one next year. Such a great beer.
Posted by thehopry on February 16, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Yeah, that’d be great to do it all over again. And I’ll bring the growler back soon, too. It just wanted to make a couple appearances in future episodes in the background…lol. I couldn’t tell it no.
Posted by Big Mike on February 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM
You lucky bastard!
Posted by thehopry on February 16, 2010 at 11:45 AM
I believe you meant lucksack…
Posted by Aaron Mielke on February 14, 2010 at 2:50 PM
mark, mark, mark…oh how I envy thee.
my favorite part of your review: when you take the first sip, obviously you are in beer heaven, and after you finish with that first drink you placed your hand gently on the empty growler (5:20) as if to say “I love you. You are wonderful. If you were a woman, I would make sweet passionate love to you right now on this table.” Classic moment!
Pliny the Younger and Hopslam are #1 & #2 on my Most Wanted list. Now, what does a guy have to do to get his hands on these wonderful beers?!!?
Posted by thehopry on February 16, 2010 at 11:43 AM
Please don’t make passionate love to me on my table. LOL.
Posted by theReaper16 on February 14, 2010 at 8:41 PM
This comment is where jealousy meets enmity.
Also, that growler is hella-cool looking. You lucksack.
Posted by thehopry on February 14, 2010 at 9:31 PM
LMAO! I actually think lucksack might actually be the best word ever uttered on The Hopry. Don’t be surprised to actually see it pop up on a future session. And by the way, those actuallys are just for you. Now I’m self-conscious. That may actually be a tough one to break. But love the feedback my man…
Posted by Tom Cahill on February 15, 2010 at 9:51 PM
My favorite review by you. Hilarious! I love the passion! You got to brew your own IPA and and name it HopPassion.
Posted by Jon Rogers on February 17, 2010 at 10:26 PM
Was fortunate enough tonight to need a bottle of beer for a fondue on Friday so ventured in to the Port bottle shop in Carlsbad and found out they had just tapped a keg of Pliny the Younger next door. A truly delicious beer and a great example of what an IPA should be.
It will not show up on the Pizza Port beer menu, but for anyone in Carlsbad you just need to know to ask for it. I give it tonight and if you are lucky, tomorrow before it is gone. The fact that you need to know to ask may give you a bit more time.