Pliny the Elder

Is a beer. And on my definite wish list too! Often cited as the “best beer in the world”, it’s an imperial IPA from Russian River Brewing in Guerneville, California, US. Well, at least considered the best beer in the US; during the summer of 2015 it was voted “America’s Best Beer” for the seventh year in a row.

But why is it called “Pliny the Elder”?

Pliny, or Gaius Plinius Secundus, was a Roman author, naturalist, and natural philosopher, as well as a naval and army commander of the early Roman Empire. He was born in the town of Como, probably around AD 23 or 24, and died in AD 79. It is said he met death during the eruption of Vesuvius, but this fact is disputed. His most notable work was the encyclopedia named Naturalis Historia. 

Allegedly, Pliny was one of the first to create the botanical name of hops (Lupus Salictarius) and as such he is (falsely) revered as the first to document hops as we know them today. The founders of Russian River, Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, came up with the name as they were invited to create a brew in 2000 for a Double IPA festival, and after some research, naming their beer after the “discoverer of hops” seemed fitting. It has since become one of their flagship brews.

Read more about the origins of “Pliny” the beer here, or view the outstanding reviews over at RateBeer. If you want to know more about Pliny the historian, Wikipedia is a good start.

But what did Pliny really say about hops? And did he say anything about beer? Find out more here.

Sources:

• Wikipedia: Pliny the Elder
• Russina River Brewing: Pliny the Elder, the Beer
• Martyn Cornell’s Zythophile: So what DID Pliny the Elder say about hops?

Suggested read:

• What are hops?