Russian River Brewing Company Introduces Pliny The Elder

In 1999, Russian River Brewing Company first brewed Pliny the Elder at its original Korbel Winery location in Guerneville, California. The beer was created by Vinnie Cilurzo while Russian River was still owned by Korbel, and it became one of America's first commercially brewed Double or Imperial IPAs. Pliny the Elder went on to become one of the most influential hop-forward beers in American craft brewing. Built around intense hop character and freshness, it helped define expectations for modern Double IPA and became closely associated with Russian River's reputation for highly regarded hoppy beers. The beer's importance also connects back to Cilurzo's earlier role in the development of Double IPA. Before brewing Pliny the Elder at Russian River, Cilurzo had already helped pioneer the style at Blind Pig Brewing Company. Pliny the Elder expanded that legacy and became a benchmark example for the Double IPA style.