The History of Russian River and Its Double IPA Pliny the Elder

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Russian River Brewing Company was founded in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California.

It was in 1997, once the company decided to venture into brewing, that they hired Vinnie Cilurzo as brewmaster, and just a few years later, in 2002, they sold him the brewery and the name.

Vinnie and his wife Natalie later reopened Russian River in 2004 as a brewpub in downtown Santa Rosa, California, where it remains today.

The History of Pliny the Elder

The beer Pliny the Elder (Gaius Plinius Secundus) takes its name in honor of the Roman traveler, naturalist, historian, writer, and commander Gaius Minor Plinius Caecilius Secundus, who is credited with having given the first botanical name for hops: “Salictarius Lupus,” meaning “wolf among the brambles,” a very fitting name for the wild growth that hops developed among willows.

Later, in the Middle Ages, the current botanical name “Humulus lupulus” (wolf of the forest) was adopted and began to be widely used.

Pliny the Elder died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, and his name was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle’s legacy by documenting much of his final observations.

The Origins of the Double IPA Pliny the Elder

Vinnie Cilurzo was born into a family dedicated to wine. His father owned a vineyard in Temecula, California.

At the age of 18, he began getting involved in homebrewing in the basement of his house and eventually, in 1994, opened his own brewery, which he named Blind Pig Brewing Co., after purchasing equipment from the Electric Dave brewery in Arizona.

In his own words, the acquired equipment consisted of 7 barrels and a few plastic fermenters, although this did not worry Vinnie too much, as he had already been a homebrewer, where fermenting in plastic is quite common.

What did make him nervous was the fact that he had never brewed a batch of beer commercially; more importantly, he had never brewed such a large batch.

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With all this in mind, Vinnie took the recipe of what would later become his flagship beer, Blind Pig IPA, doubling the hops (literally) and increasing the malt by roughly 30 percent.

This drastic decision was based on the fact that, if there were any unwanted flavors in the “Inaugural Ale,” his first beer, at least there would be enough hops to help mask them.

Fortunately, the Inaugural Ale turned out to be fantastic and became a tradition: each anniversary, they would brew a Double IPA.

Homebrewing Recipe for Pliny the Elder

Vinnie Cilurzo currently has the honor of being considered the inventor of the Double IPA style, and his beer Pliny the Elder continues to be regarded by many as the best in the world. It is no surprise, then, that it is also one of the most “cloned” beers by homebrewers.

Below we share the recipe that Russian River itself sends via email when requested — a recipe adapted for home equipment and processes to yield 19 liters after fermentation, starting with 30 liters before the boil.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Who originally founded Russian River Brewing Company and in what year?

Russian River Brewing Company was founded in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, California.

2. How did the brewery pass into the hands of Vinnie Cilurzo?

Vinnie Cilurzo was hired as brewmaster in 1997. A few years later, in 2002, Korbel Champagne Cellars sold the brewery and the name to him and his wife Natalie, who reopened it as a brewpub in Santa Rosa in 2004.

3. Where does the name of the beer Pliny the Elder come from?

It takes its name in honor of the Roman traveler, naturalist, and historian Gaius Minor Plinius Caecilius Secundus (Pliny the Elder), who is credited with having given the first botanical name for hops: “Salictarius Lupus.”

4. How was the first Double IPA created by Vinnie Cilurzo born?

It came from Vinnie’s nervousness about brewing his first commercial batch at Blind Pig Brewing Co. To mask any potential unwanted flavors, he literally doubled the hops in his base recipe and increased the malt by about 30%, creating the “Inaugural Ale.”

5. What is the final volume obtained with the official homebrewing recipe for Pliny the Elder?

The official recipe adapted for home processes shared by Russian River is designed to yield 19 liters of beer after fermentation, starting with 30 liters before the boil.