Russian River
Pliny the Elder
The beer that defined the American double IPA: enormously hoppy, startlingly dry and drinkable for its strength.
- Strength
- 8% ABV
- Style
- Double IPA
- Brewery
- Russian River
A double IPA that became the reference for the style — intensely hoppy, very dry, and much lighter in body than 8% would suggest because a large share of its extract is fully fermentable sugar.
It is also the beer that established freshness as a selling point in American brewing: the bottles carry explicit instructions not to age it, which almost no other producer was doing.
What it tastes like
Inherited from Double IPA, because this beer sits within the normal range for it. BeerHQ’s comparative scale, not a measurement.
Why BeerHQ carries this beer
| Reason | Carried for its place in the history of beer |
|---|---|
| Strength | 8% ABV — checked 2026-08-16. Strengths differ by market and change without announcement, so this is dated rather than absolute. |
| Record stability | Stable — this product has changed little and is not expected to. |
BeerHQ records no recipe, hop bill, malt bill, yeast strain, IBU or calorie figure for any commercial beer unless it is sourced. Nothing on this page is inferred from what the beer tastes like.
What is distinctive about it
- The reference double IPA, and the beer that established that a big IPA should be dry rather than sweet
- The brewery publicly urges drinkers not to age it, which is unusual and correct
If you like Pliny the Elder
Worked out from what this beer actually tastes like rather than from what its style typically does. Three kinds of move, because “what should I try next” is three different questions.
Closest to it
Very similar in structure and flavour. Safe ground rather than discovery.
American IPA — try Sierra Nevada Torpedo or BrewDog Punk IPA
A close structural match for Pliny the Elder — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less alcohol warmth (moderate–high → trace–low).
May not suit: Very close to Pliny the Elder; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
West Coast IPA — try Stone IPA
A close structural match for Pliny the Elder — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: slightly less sweetness (low → trace).
May not suit: Very close to Pliny the Elder; if you wanted a change, this is not it.
A close structural match for Pliny the Elder — a likely fit if you want more of the same.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Pliny the Elder.
Similar, but different
Keeps what you probably like about it and changes one or two things. Usually the most useful answer.
Session IPA — try Beavertown Neck Oil or Founders All Day IPA
Keeps most of what Pliny the Elder does and shifts alcohol warmth.
Different: noticeably less alcohol warmth (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less alcohol warmth than Pliny the Elder.
Belgian IPA — try Houblon Chouffe
Keeps most of what Pliny the Elder does and shifts tropical fruit.
Different: noticeably less tropical fruit (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less tropical fruit than Pliny the Elder.
Keeps most of what Pliny the Elder does and shifts dryness.
Different: noticeably less dryness (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less dryness than Pliny the Elder.
A bigger jump
Genuinely different, but connected by something specific — the shared trait is named so you can judge whether the bridge holds.
India pale lager — try Jack’s Abby Hoponius Union
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Pliny the Elder.
Different: noticeably less alcohol warmth (moderate–high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less alcohol warmth than Pliny the Elder.
British golden ale — try Oakham Citra or St Austell Tribute
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Pliny the Elder.
Different: much less resin & pine (high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less resin & pine than Pliny the Elder.
Czech premium pale lager — try Pilsner Urquell or Budweiser Budvar
Both carry real hop aroma, which is the thread to follow if that is what you like about Pliny the Elder.
Different: much less citrus (high → none–trace).
May not suit: Noticeably less citrus than Pliny the Elder.
Likely fits rather than promises. Taste varies, and a recommendation engine that claims certainty is claiming something it cannot know.
What to eat with it
Inherited from Double IPA. BeerHQ does not duplicate pairings onto individual products unless the product genuinely differs from its style.
- Tagine
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Beef stew
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Liver and onions
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
- Paella
Bitterness, carbonation and a dry finish scrub the fat off the palate, so each mouthful of food tastes as good as the first.
Keeping it
Double IPA shows best within 1–3 months of packaging. After that it declines in quality rather than becoming unsafe.
Drink fresh. Buy it as young as you can and drink it soon. What makes this beer worth drinking is the first thing to leave it.
Derived from Double IPA. See storage and freshness for the full model.
BeerHQ carries a small set of reference beers to anchor styles, not a catalogue. There is no rating here and there will not be one. Last reviewed 2026-08-16.