Photo: Russian River Brewing Co.
Beer aficionados the world over await this time of year anticipating the release of one of the rarest – and lauded – beers available. But, if they want to get their hands on it they will have to travel to Santa Rosa, Ca. That is where the Russian River Brew Pub is located and where Pliney the Younger will be released on February 6, 2015.
Called a “tripleIPA” by the brewery, Pliney the Younger is named for the nephew and adopted son of Pliney the Elder a botanist that lived over 2,000 years ago in the Roman Empire. Pliney is often credited with the discovery of the hop plant and thus is somewhat of a hero to beer lovers everywhere.
Because the beer is so expensive to make – it requires more than three times the hops of a regular IPA – the brewery limits the amount of Pliney the Younger it produces and makes it available for only two weeks beginning the first Friday of February each year. Never packaged in cans, bottles or growlers, the beer is only available at a few select accounts and the brewery’s brew pub.
According the Russian River website and blog, the 2014 release saw more than 15,000 guests stream through the doors of the brew pub. The adoring masses showed up even though Northern California was gripped by storms the first weekend of the release that dumped more than eight inches of rain.
“We needed the rain so bad,” said co-owner and president Natalie Cilurzo in the brewery’s blog. “That we did not hear one person complain, not even after waiting up to 12 hours in line!”
For those planning on making the pilgrimage to Santa Rosa for the release, the brewery has arranged a special Russian River Brewing rate at The Flamingo Hotel. Call 800-848-8300, 707-545-8530 or contact by email at: [email protected].
