Russian River Brewing Co.’s Pliny the Elder clone

(5 gallons/19 L, all-grain)
OG = 1.074 FG = 1.014
IBU = 100+ SRM = 6 ABV = 8.3%

Originally brewed to be part of a first-ever “Double IPA festival” back in 2000, Pliny has become the standard by which many modern double IPAs are measured. As with any hop-heavy beer, Pliny is best enjoyed fresh, while the massive hop aroma is at its peak.

Ingredients

12.8 lb. (5.8 kg) 2-row pale malt
0.28 lb. (0.13 kg) crystal malt (45°L)
0.86 lb. (0.39 kg) Carapils® malt
1 lb. (0.45 kg) dextrose
42.9 AAU Warrior® hops (90 mins.) (2.75 oz./78 g at 15.6% alpha acids)
6.1 AAU Chinook hops (90 mins.) (0.5 oz./14 g at 12.2% alpha acids)
14.3 AAU Columbus hops (45 mins.) (1 oz./28 g at 14.3% alpha acids)
12 AAU Simcoe® hops (30 mins.) (1 oz./28 g at 12% alpha acids)
20.5 AAU Centennial hops (0 mins.) (2.25 oz./64 g at 9.1% alpha acids)
12 AAU Simcoe® hops (0 mins.) (1 oz./28 g at 12% alpha acids)
3.25 oz. (92 g) Columbus hops (dry hop)
1.75 oz. (50 g) Centennial hops (dry hop)
1.75 oz. (50 g) Simcoe® hops (dry hop)
1 tsp. Irish moss (15 mins.)
White Labs WLP001 (California Ale), Wyeast 1056 (American Ale), or Fermentis Safale US-05 yeast
3/4 cup (150 g) dextrose (if priming)

Step by step

Mash the grains at 150–152°F (66–67°C). Hold this temperature for 60 minutes. Mash out, vourlaf, and sparge. Boil the wort for 90 minutes, adding hops at the time indicated in the ingredients list. Chill the wort and pitch the yeast. Ferment at 68°F (20°C). Dry hop 2 weeks after primary fermentation slows for 5 days. Bottle or keg as usual.

EXTRACT WITH GRAINS OPTION: Replace the 12.8 pounds (5.8 kg) 2-row pale malt with 6.7 pounds (3 kg) extra light dried malt extract. Steep the crushed grains in 1 gallon (3.8 L) of water at 151°F (66°C) for 20 minutes. Rinse the grains with 2 quarts (2 L) of 170°F (77°C) water. Top up the kettle to 5.5 gallons and stir in the dried malt extract. Follow the remaining portion of the all-grain recipe.