Pliny the Younger/Toronado

Would like to know also as I will be in SD Feb 15-22. Could be perfect timing...

 

They usually receive it early in the week (Tuesday, I want to say?) and damn near put it on immediately. They'll do that multiple times throughout the next week or two, randomly putting it on right at noon on a weekday, unannounced. It's a great way to do it.

 

Several places in SD put it on in that time and they generally stagger it among different days.

Keep your ear to the ground.

 

All I will say is social media is your friend during the days of PtY.

 

That's from last year, but I'm not expecting this year to be different. For the past (at least) 3 years they've opened early to put it on immediately after it got off the truck. Last year was the first time with an actual line to get in, unfortunately, so I'm expecting it to be the same next release.

 

That message is from last year. They don't update their web site very often.

 

Tons of bars get it. Some make a shitshow out of it, others its very quiet.

If you have a job you're generally screwed.

 

RR should do multiple releases of younger.

 

As others have mentioned, that Toronado post is super old. They will put it on at around 10AM and it will usually last a day or so. I would follow them on Twitter around the release, as they usually post when they will have it.

Hamilton's (my favorite beer bar in SD), also gets it from time to time, though it's not really broadcast at all. The only time I've had it, I walked in there on a random Tuesday and it was on tap. I think my wife was more excited than I was that day.

 

In past years I've had it at Stone, O'Brien's, Hamilton's. All without fanfare.

 

Toronado will likely tap their first keg the day they get (today/tomorrow?) and the second on Saturday or Sunday when they open. Keep an eye on their twitter feed for the best info.

Plenty of other AWESOME IPA's on around town. Roustabout, especially.

 

Toronado's first keg, and likely second keg will not last anywhere near a day.

Last year's tweet:
feb14th, 2013 - toronadosd Younger is done...kicked in 50 min

Next keg went on the following day:
feb15th, 2013 - toronadosd Younger Keg part II...1130AM TODAY

Granted, Toronado has always saved 1 or 2 kegs to throw on without letting anyone know, I happened to be in there on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning a few years ago, a couple days after it had released, and the bartender told us Younger is on. For the next 2 hours there were only 3 people in the bar total. I've seen them do it each year, so I would guess they'll do it again, but you have to be off work and know when it happens. Like you said about Hamilton's, they too, as well as a few other places, play that game too (which I think is cool).

I would bet that not one place anywhere will have 1 keg of Younger last more than a few hours (and most places will EASILY kick within an hour). Did you see the line at RR Brewpub friday? It was a mile long. I've been to that release a couple times up there and I've never seen anything like this. There are too many people aware and seeking this brew out. It's not like it was 5 years ago where a few places could keep it under the radar for a while-- at least a full day. Even places who don't make a big deal about it like Pizza Port put it on and then announce it, and after a while they are swamped. In 2009 I was at O'Brien's for the release and the keg blew in about 20-something minutes. There was a line wrapped around the building and they were pouring non-stop till it blew.

To some of us it's not worth it anymore, but there are far more people wanting to try this beer that it outweighs all us old timers (I'm 32, lol) who have seen kegs at Hollingshead's last 5 days, who don't think the wait is worth it anymore.

Don't underestimate the amount of Out-of-staters (or even out-of-towners... LA/central) who will be in town looking for it....

 

Yeah, you are right about the crazy lines and people coming from out of town looking for it. The only time I had it, I just walked into Hamilton's and there it was. I guess that was the situation where it wasn't totally announced to the public, as it did last for quite a while there. It was a random day, and I happened to be off work like you said. I'm hoping that happens again this year, I definitely don't see myself waiting in line all morning just to get to try it.

Same as you (i'm 32), and my wife and I would rather just enjoy the other great SD local stuff, and then possibly get lucky and find Younger like we did last year.

Now, for Churchill's Finest Hour, that's a different story

 

+1000

 

That time has mostly come and gone, thanks to things like Untappd and Twitter. Even a silent tapping goes viral fairly quickly and people will drop what they're doing to go drink it. I had a similar experience at Hamilton's a few years ago, walked in one Friday afternoon and both PtY and Firestone Walker's anniversary beer (XIV I believe) were on tap and there were eight to ten people in there, most of whom weren't drinking PtY or XIV. Hung out for a couple hours, had a couple glasses of each, and didn't see any sort of rush come in.

There's still plenty of world class beer to be had without standing in line. It's easy to get nostalgic about drinking PtY in an empty bar or Cantillon sitting on shelves, but there's more great beer available today than ever before, so there's not too much to be disappointed about.