It’s March 1st – which marks the beginning of the end one of the most magical times of year for the craft beer enthusiast: Pliny the Younger season.

For the past 12 years, loyal fans and beer-geek bucket-listers have eagerly anticipated the annual, limited release of the Triple IPA “Pliny the Younger” from Russian River Brewery.

Released once a year towards the beginning of February, the world – renowned brew unfailingly entices throngs of people to wait for hours in line, hoping to get a taste of this illustrious blend.

With such a huge hype over the stuff you might be wondering why people want this beer so bad?

“It’s as attractive — all shimmering gold and topped with just a wisp of white foam — as it is delicious. Layers of hop aroma and flavor unfold on the palate, but with a curiously sprightly body. There’s a firm bitterness, but it isn’t the overwhelming punch that the pungent aroma might suggest, and there’s a subtle sweetness that lingers on the tongue just until the warmth of the brew’s 10% alcohol content overtakes it,” said John Verive of the LA Times.

Reviews of this nature are more common than not. Countless blogs, articles, and reviews praise this sought after brew as one of the most enjoyable beers in the world.

Not only that, but it is often credited as the world’s first Triple IPA, which means it is brewed with three times the hops of a standard IPA.  Making the brew incredibly difficult and expensive to produce, and therefore available in very limited quantities.

The promise of an incredible sensory experience, paired with the lure of an extremely limited, almost mythical celebrity of the beer, has created a cult-like following for the brand.

The Younger is annually released at the Russian River Brewery in Santa Rosa CA, just in time for San Francisco Beer Week.

It is distributed to a number of locations in California, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, aside from the Russian River Co. These locations are undisclosed before the release however, adding to the mystery and anticipation of the whole affair.

Pliny the younger season has unfortunately, kicked the proverbial keg for 2017.

Good news though is that you can bet it’ll be back next year, and it’s never too soon to start planning!

Below, we’ve included a list of places gathered by the an LA Times article where Pliny was available in 2017, which may be a good indicator of where to find it in 2018.

 

Feb. 3–16: Russian River Brewing (Santa Rosa, CA)

Feb. 10: San Francisco Beer Week Opening Gala (Pier 48, San Francisco, CA)

Feb. 11: 17th Annual Double IPA Festival at the Bistro (Hayward, CA)

Feb. 18: Celebrator’s 29th Anniversary Party at Trumer Brauerei, (Berkeley, CA)

Bars definitely tapping Pliny the Younger:

  • City Beer Store (San Francisco)
  • Toronado (San Francisco)
  • Pete’s Brass Rail and Car Wash (Danville, CA)
  • Ben & Nick’s (Oakland)

“Popular Locations” for Pliny the Younger 2016, via Untappd:

  • Russian River Brewing Company (Santa Rosa)
  • The Bistro (Hayward, CA)
  • The Trappist (Oakland)
  • Caps & Taps (Dublin, CA)
  • Mcgee’s Bar (Alameda, CA)
  • Almanac Tap Room (San Francisco)
  • World of Beer (Denver)

More Locations With Many PtY 2016 Check-ins:

California

SD Tap Room (San Diego)

The Bottle Room (Whittier)

The Rose & Crown Pub (Palo Alto)

Churchill’s Pub & Grille (San Marcos)

Haven Gastropub (Orange)

The Hopyard Alehouse & Grill (Pleasanton)

Beachwood BBQ & Brewing Long Beach)

Beachwood BBQ (Seal Beach)

Smoke Eaters (Santa Clara)

Barbara’s at the Brewery (Los Angeles)

Anthill Pub & Grille (Irvine)

Encinitas Ale House (Encinitas)

Hamilton’s Tavern (San Diego)

Hop Grenade Taproom & Bottleshop (Concord)

Burgers and Brew (Sacramento)

Father’s Office (Santa Monica)

Fibbar MaGees (Sunnyvale)

Ladyface Alehouse & Brasserie (Agoura Hills)

The Library Alehouse (Santa Monica)

Lucky Baldwins Delirium Pub Cafe (Sierra Madre)

Mediterraneo (Hermosa Beach)

Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria (Santa Margarita)

Fathom Bistro, Bait & Tackle (San Diego)

Samuel Horne’s Tavern (Folsom)

Eureka! Claremont (Claremont)

The Daily Pint (Santa Monica)

Naja’s Place (Redondo Beach)

Colorado

Euclid Halll Bar & Kitchen (Denver)

Falling Rock Tap House (Denver)

Oskar Blues Home Made Liquids & Solids (Longmond)

Cheeky Monk Belgian Beer Cafe (Denver)

Backcountry Pizza & Tap House (Boulder)

Parry’s Pizzeria & Bar (Highlands Ranch)

Freshcraft (Denver)

Michigan

Ashley’s (Ann Arbor)

Oregon

Suds & Suds (Corvallis)

Apex (Portland)

Twist Wine Company (Pacific City)

The Bier Stein (Eugene)

Pennsylvania

Barcode (Philadelphia)

Bistro on Bridge (Phoenixville)

Blue Dog Family Tavern (Chalfont)

Bru Craft & Wurst (Philadelphia)

City Tap House (Philadelphia)

Heritage (Philadelphia)

The Mayor (Old Town)

McMenamin’s (Philadelphia)

The Pour House (North Wales)

Iron Abbey (Horsham)

Monk’s Cafe (Philadelphia)

The Pub on Passyunk East (Philadelphia)

Side Bar & Restaurant (West Chester)

Via Marconi Pizza Pub (Hatfield)

Teresa’s Next Door (Wayne)

 

 

 

 

Sources:

Verive, J. (2015, February 3). Is the infamous beer Pliny the Younger worth the long lines? Retrieved March 01, 2017, from http://www.latimes.com/food/dailydish/la-dd-is-the-infamous-beer-pliny-the-younger-worth-the-lines-20150223-story.html