Russian River - Pliny The Younger (2014)

I believe this is actually the first time there is a glass limit at the brewpub. In the past I've talked to friends who spent nearly the entire day there during younger release, consuming close to a gallon of PtY all by themselves. Not that I'm condoning that kind of thing, but I could understand the reasoning behind it after spending hours in line to get in.

 

Assuming nothing is different this year, you can go to the back door of the pub if you're just there to pick up bottles or a growler (I'm not positive about growlers, but I think that's right). Otherwise, unfortunately this is not going to be a good time for you to stop by for lunch and a couple glass of PtY while you're in town, no matter what day of the week you stop by the brewpub.

As for your other question, I don't know of any place in Sonoma that gets any (maybe one of the hopmonk locations?), but there are a couple of places in Napa that have gotten it in the past that you might check with. I know Cafe Citti has gotten some in previous years, and I was told by the folks over at Billco's Billiard parlor that they usually get a keg every year. Even if both places (or hopmonk) do get some younger this year, I would be sure to contact them in advance to find out when they're going to tap it, as more than likely it won't last long once it goes on draft there.

Good luck.

 

Short answer... yes they do. Follow posts in the Mid Atlantic forum to find out which places will be doing this (assuming you're interested in coming up for one), as other than Monks and Capones, I'm not sure which places will be getting younger this year (it seems to vary every year).

Just as an "oh by the way," the ticketed events I've attended in the past, my ticket entitled me to ONE glass of younger. I think that's fairly typical, as I've not heard of any ticketed events that allowed unlimited glasses of younger for purchase at the event (the whole idea is to get you in the door, give you your glass of younger, and then have you sit around and buy other stuff).

 

Not that it matters now of course, but published it where? I was there two years ago as well and never saw a sign about any younger restrictions. Not that I don't believe you, but there were folks buying younger 2 and 3 glasses at a time (as waits for a beer could be rather protracted, depending upon where you were sitting), and I ordered 3 glasses myself. Not a big deal of course, but my guess is there would have been a riot if the staff tried to enforce any such restriciton... it was the rare patron who only ordered a glass or two of younger the afternoon I was there.

 

I assumed he was referring to growlers of other RR beers that they normally sell growlers of (Elder, blind pig, etc.), though maybe I misread his post. Yes, I know they no longer sell growlers of younger... thanks.

 

:-) I agree, but I think it depends on your perspective. I get out to Sonoma a couple times a year, and it also so happens that I lived near or in an area where RR stuff is readily available over the past few years. So younger is really the only beer during that two week period that I can't find pretty easily the rest of the year. Granted, RR makes a lot of great stuff, but I always end up convincing myself that I can get that other stuff almost any time I want, and that I therefore need to focus on younger. I suspect that's the case for a lot of folks during the release period (many of whom are from California, and who also can generally find most RR stuff without any problem), which likely explains the folks who spend hours there during the release and drink copious amounts of younger (but not this year it appears).