Russian River (2020)

Yep... saw that happening on Saturday. Pretty f’d up if you ask me.

 

Monday is a holiday weekend good luck. I’m here right now and got to Windsor at 9:30 and sat down at around 1:25pm. If I was 30min earlier I would have been seated with the first seating. I definitely plan on going again if I get a chance before the 20th. The weather was awesome, the people were great and pty was delicious, could drink that all day. This batch Is the best batch I’ve had (3 years drinking it, 2019>2017>2018).
On a side note I met this older lady , my second mom now, who was buying beer for her son. Had a great time talking to her and the people around me which made the wait so much easier.

For those who say it isn’t worth it, maybe your right but I definitely had lots of fun with my group. hopefully I get a chance to go up again, albeit during the week because I’m not waiting 10hrs. 4hr wait was perfect. Good luck to those heading up midweek it should be around 3-4 hour wait time.

 

There's no fucking way I'd get in a line if it looked like there was even the slightest remote chance in hell that I wasn't going to get in before the cutoff.

But then I also wouldn't get in a line for to go beers in 2020.

 

Very true. What's the point of enforcing a 3-hour limit if you limit access up front? Makes no sense.

 

they kept telling the line everyone was looking good. I was constantly telling myself “You have already been there for a couple hours, why leave now.”

It was a total sunk cost fallacy over and over as the wait got longer.

It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Vinnie loves a shit show. Being from out of town, we just didn’t have anything else to do that didn’t involve a decent drive, bailing and drinking at the hotel involved regret. The taps at Barley & Bine we ok, but not really enough to chill all night drinking. And they did string you along right until they knew you were fucked lol

 

This. It is an event and has always been about the event of it all and everyone is missing the point when they argue about making it year-round. A lot of breweries release special beers at special times and everyone understands why - not sure why there's an argument about PtY being different suddenly. The real problem is that I've seen a lot of people who make the annual trip saying they'll never go again if it is like this. Yes, a lot of us knew it would be an utter shitshow, but there was also a large group of people arguing (in good faith) that nobody would care about PtY bottles because "lol WCIPA". I think we're far too early to accurately judge the secondary value of PtY, and I think the final amount will help set a precedent for how this event is handled for years to come (if bottles are available). If it actually somehow manages to hold current value, then of course people are going to wait 7-8 hours because what else from CA moves like that?

 

I’m just surprised people are willing to waste that much of their time for the opportunity to drink a beer and buy a couple of bottles. I’ll be in the area this Thursday through Sunday and there’s no way I’m going to waste my time waiting in line for that long. So many better things to do.

 

I just got into town and was interested in doing dinner (I couldn’t care less about bottles) because I’ve always been told their food is awesome. But no food or beer is worth a line that long.

 

I stood in line for a beer recently. It was a Skookum Barren Wood Vanilla Port Bourbon. There were three people in front of me. It is awesome. It’s all about the game.

 

I'm going to Windsor for the release on Thursday. I'm not looking forward to a long wait, but this is a bucket list trip and beer I've wanted to try for at least the last 10 years. Been trying to plan the last 3 years, and the schedule finally worked out. I have nowhere to be the whole day so timing isn't an issue. I'm happy to get bottles to share with my friends back home so they can get to try it, though I would've been perfectly happy with the low key format of year's past. I think if you just set the expectation right you won't be disappointed. I've waited longer for bourbon/beer before just to buy at retail. At least I get to drink beers with my best friend and have a good meal as well with this event.

 

Like you guys have said, it is a planned event that happens annually. It draws large crowds, and if you've done your homework you know what to expect. If your a fan of the style, it's in your best interest to try it once. I already have, but haven't been back for a subsequent PtY release.

 

Short, to the point ( and valid I might add) and most importantly didn’t pass judgement. You did it once and it looks you wouldn’t do it again.

I mean people wait in lines for everything and then there are those who don’t. I’m not saying hey it’s worth it but it was to me so no reason for all the negativity for people who actually did wait for pty. Like @mogulskier said most people already planned for the wait times and knew what to expect. We’re all adults here right.

 

Out of curiosity is the line on the RR property? I wonder if drinking/sharing in line is acceptable at RR? I know it is illegal in California to drink in public, but I was wondering if this would be different if you were on RR grounds.

In St.Louis 90% of the fun of big releases is the line shares. I care less about the beer at the end, then the excuse to get in line with friends and strangers to share a couple of good bottles of beer. I have so much fun meeting new people and sharing beer. This is easier in St.Louis since drinking in public is legal at most places. Side Project Brewery and Perennial regularly draw long lines and no one complains. Now I won't wait if it's below 40 outside, but I don't think that is an issue in Santa Rosa. And for disclosure I have waited 3-hours for a beer that has zero secondary value just to hang with friends. It's a part of being in the community for me.

I don't think waiting in line affects the secondary value of beer because you waited in line. Now, I will say that I am more likely to wait in a line for a beer that I perceive to have a higher secondary value. But, just because I waited in line doesn't automatically make my beer more valuable.

Really glad PtY is still going at RR and hope everyone who wants to try it gets to.

 

I was wondering the same thing. I didn't see anyone sharing in line over the weekend. Definitely nothing happening like you would see in StL or NYC. I think you could be fine if you're super low key about it, flask or cups but no bottles out. You can easily walk back and forth from your car, but no one is walking around offering pours like you'd see at DLD or anything.

 

The event page on the Russian River website states a strict no outside alcohol policy. Open container laws, plus their liquor license in Windsor does not extend outside of the building.

 

No line drinking especially because it’s on property. Maybe Santa Rosa location but definitely not at Windsor. Didn’t see anyone drinking or at least out in the open.

 

That would make waiting in line a lot harder. Not sure I would wait 2-hours let alone 4 if I couldn't share in line. I wonder why they can't process all these people faster if people are waiting while the brewery is open.

 

No line drinking is the standard response however I’ve been to many releases like cellarmaker and moksa and there’s always line drinking.