Pliny the Younger 2026

Few beers in the world command the reverence, anticipation, and devoted following of Pliny the Younger. Released just once a year by Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, this legendary Triple India Pale Ale represents the absolute pinnacle of American craft brewing — a beer so sought-after that enthusiasts travel hundreds of miles and queue for hours simply for the chance to taste it. The 2026 vintage carries on that extraordinary legacy, delivering an experience that transcends the ordinary and enters the realm of the truly exceptional.

A Masterpiece of Craft and Rarity

Brewed with an extraordinary abundance of hops — both in dry-hopping and during the kettle process — Pliny the Younger pushes the boundaries of what a Triple IPA can achieve. Russian River’s founders Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo have refined this recipe over two decades, applying meticulous technique and uncompromising standards to every batch. The result is a beer of remarkable complexity and balance, defying the expectations one might have of a brew reaching beyond 10% ABV.

Tasting Notes and Sensory Profile

Pliny the Younger pours a luminous golden amber with a lush, inviting head. On the nose, expect an intoxicating bouquet of:

• Fresh tropical fruits — ripe mango, passion fruit, and juicy pineapple
• Resinous pine and dank, herbaceous hop character
• Delicate floral and citrus zest undertones

On the palate, the beer delivers waves of hop intensity beautifully tempered by a full, biscuity malt backbone. The finish is long, warming, and surprisingly refined — an almost paradoxical elegance for something so boldly hopped.

Collector’s Notes

Given its annual limited production and near-mythical status among IPA connoisseurs worldwide, securing a bottle of the 2026 release is itself a feat. Pliny the Younger is best enjoyed fresh, as its vibrant hop aromatics are at their most vivid shortly after release.

Wines & Spirits SA Switzerland is proud to offer this extraordinarily rare release to Swiss collectors and craft beer enthusiasts. Stock is strictly limited, and we encourage you to act swiftly. Then bottles of this calibre do not linger on shelves for long.