Russian River Pliny the Elder IPA

  Too Much of a Good Thing -- Still a Good Thing

"You're spoiled."

That's what my friend told me when I passed by a bottle of Pliny the Elder at a bottle shop recently.

It's not that I don't love Pliny the Elder...

...but my favorite local pub has it on tap almost as a rule. For about $4 a pint.

Yeah, it is quite a deal. And one of many reasons why it's my favorite local pub.

This double IPA can be kind of hard to find outside of the Russian River Valley area where it is brewed. A piney, grapefruity nose, a little sweet on your tongue on the first sip, then as the beer moves back you get a nice hoppy finish that's somehow reminiscent of that piney, fruit nose and leaves you wanting more. Fortunately, they started bottling it just last year, so you can take some home. But it's still rather hard to find outside of West Coast bars and restaurants.

I pick up a bottle at the shop and head to the register.

"For you." I tell my friend. "On me."

I may be spoiled, but I'm still a good friend. 

The Beer Details Brewer: Russian River Brewing (Santa Rosa, California) Style: Imperial/Double IPA ABV: 8% Price: Varies. My 500 mL bottle cost about $5.

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Want this beer? It’s only available in about 6 states right now, most of them on the West Coast. Check out the brewer's beer distributor list.

Erin Malone is a Thursday Happy Hour contributing editor, providing the what's-up of beer all over on Fridays. Got a top-notch local beer that makes you feel spoiled? Let me know in the comments below. Or chat with me on Facebook.