100 IBUs
Aroma: Loads of grapefruit and lemon, some grassiness and pine.
Appearance: Pours golden with slight copper highlights. Ample white head that settles into a nice cap that persists; lacing very prominent and leaves striations in the glass as a reminder of sips long since gone.
Flavor: As expected, very hop forward with all the grapefruity, citrusy, resiny aroma notes present on the palate as well. Huge hop presence up front, followed by caramel malt sweetness in the midpalate, finishing with a firm bitterness without being extreme.
Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied and quite drinkable. I often find Double IPAs cloyingly sweet and overbearing; this beer is wonderfully balanced and quite smooth. Very pleasant.
General Impression: Pliny the Elder is the first Russian River offering that I have sampled, and it certainly won't be the last! This is what Imperial/Double IPAs should be, in my not-so-humble opinion. Despite the advertised 100 IBUs, the bitterness is a complimentary note to the wonderful hop flavor and aroma rather than being distracting.
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