Pliny the Elder is a Double IPA brewed by Russian River Brewing Company. It’s well known for being one of the best IPAs ever made.
Even the more casual beer nerds know what Pliny is, and we’re all lucky enough to have it distributed beyond Russian River and California. Those of us who are extra lucky get to drink Pliny the Younger, which is a similar yet completely different beer.
The reason Pliny the Elder is so popular is a combination of its history and its hype. And both are perfectly good reasons for its popularity, in my humble amateur opinion.
What Is Pliny the Elder?
Pliny is a DIPA that’s 8% ABV, making it a bit stronger than what most people drink at a brewery. The cool part about Pliny the Elder is that it’s incredibly well-balanced, and you would hardly notice the high ABV if I didn’t point it out or you didn’t check the bottle. It’s also considered to be one of the first DIPAs to hit production.
The history behind the beer is what makes it most interesting; basically, Russian River brewers needed to brew a beer for a DIPA festival. And that’s it! They were asked to paint a portrait and created the Mona Lisa.
Why Is it Named Pliny the Elder?
I love history, so I couldn’t cover this beer without talking about the historical figure Pliny the Elder. Pliny the Elder, as with most people who lived in the first century AD, did pretty much everything from writing to naturalism to commanding a navy.
While I’m not an avid reader of primary course Latin texts from 2000 years ago, Pliny apparently mentioned hops (or something similar to hops) in his work Naturalis Historia. Specifically, he mentioned lupus salictarius, or “wolf of the willows,” which could very well be today’s Humulus lupulus, or hops.
Pliny the Elder died during the Mount Vesuvius eruption. No beer facts there, just sort of interesting.
Is Pliny the Elder Good?
Yes, Pliny the Elder is exceptionally good. It’s widely considered to be one of the best beers produced in the United States, with most competition coming from special releases. For reference, Pliny the Elder is available all year.
What makes Pliny the Elder so special is that it’s incredibly balanced for a DIPA. In terms of nose and taste, the brew uses Amarillo, Centennial, Simcoe, and CTZ hops, so it’s bursting with hop flavor without leaning too bitter or too juicy. Pliny the Elder balances these hop flavors with the malt super well, making it one of the best examples of a West Coast IPA done well.
If you have never had Pliny the Elder and find bottles (or better yet, on tap), definitely give it a try.
Where Can You Find Pliny the Elder?
Pliny the Elder is distributed across California and into other states. You’re most likely to find bottles of Pliny in bottle shops, though some bars serve it on tap. While it’s not necessarily easy to find, it is brewed year-round, making it more likely to come across than other beers of its caliber.
If you’re dying to find Pliny the Elder, you can always visit one of Russian River’s taprooms in Santa Rosa or Windsor.
Pliny the Elder vs Pliny the Younger
Pliny the Younger was Pliny the Elder’s nephew and, eventually, adopted son. The younger Pliny was the heir to the elder Pliny’s rank and place, himself becoming an important member of the Roman elite and a member of Emperor Trajan’s council.
Oh, you mean the Pliny the Younger beer.
Pliny the Younger is a TIPA (triple IPA), which you would think the “Elder” beer would be stronger, seeing as alcohol tends to get stronger the longer it ferments. This TIPA is over 10% ABV and…well, it tastes strong but is still much better than pretty much any other TIPA out there.
What makes Pliny the Younger so popular is its exclusivity. You can only find this beer at Russian River tap rooms during the specific release window. Guests get a wristband and can only order 3 10-oz pours of Pliny the Younger. They’re also allowed to purchase 2 510ml bottles. Lastly, you can only hang out for 2.5 hours before your group has to go to make room for more beer nerds like me.
Speaking of which, if you do happen to have a bottle of Pliny the Younger sitting around and you don’t really know what to do with it, let me know. I can help.
- Best Beers for Golf, Ranked for 2026 - May 7, 2026
- Beer in Japan: What to Drink In Tokyo, Osaka, and Beyond - May 6, 2026
- What Is a Rice Lager? - May 5, 2026
