How to Score PTY?

IIRC, RR is the only one with Younger for the first couple of days (locals to the bay area can correct me if I am wrong here).

Lines, don't really cease, but the 3hr time limit is a welcomed addition to allowing more individuals through the door. Your best bet is to hit up RR and grab it from the source but be prepared for a long ass line.

 

So then the answer is look hard at who is running their even on the 9th and 10th. Toronado would be one place to search more info on.

 

Your best bet is after 5 p.m. on a week day. The mornings always have lines, no matter the day. If you wait for the afternoon or evenings you can get in with no lines and get a seat right at the bar.

 

Tried to get Younger here in the SF Peninsula once and it was laughable. My friend and I of course didn't realize the insane amount of attention required to get a pour locally. We went over to The Rose and Crown Pub in Palo Alto at around 10pm, my friend saying it was on tap that day.

There was a sign on the door when we arrived, with "NO MORE PLINY THE YOUNGER" scribbled on it. We found out that it was tapped at 10AM and it ran out at 11AM.

City Beer Store in SF told me that they had it on tap for a day in Feb' 15...but they had set it up as a blind tasting. It sounded like it was really difficult to get into, there was super huge lines, and you'd have no idea if you were going to get a pour.

I guess I would recommend going to RR. I am planning on making the pilgrimage myself this year on a weekday.

 

There are other threads that popped up on this recently, just search...that said, just go to RR, on a weekday. Get there at 8am to ensure you are in the first wave of people they let in at 11am or you will have to wait until 1-2pm. Otherwise, go late in the day (~9pm), when the line is small and the PtY is still pouring (no guarantee but this strategy worked for the duration last year).

 

Get a really good growler of DIPA at CellarMaker. Get 1/2 lb of hops. Get a french press. Forget the line in Santa Rosa

 

I have flown out for PtY the last 3 years. One year I went to the brewery, waited in line, and didn't get it. The other 2 years, I lined up at Toronado 30 minutes before they open and got it right away. I highly recommend Toronado, since they typically tap it every day. The one advantage of the brewery is they always have a bunch of other amazing beer on tap that makes the long drive worth it.

 

Toronado is an exception. Most of the tappings around the Bay Area happen at the tail end of the brewery release and afterward, sometimes several weeks afterward. (Although I think Monk's Kettle gets it somewhat earlier, usually sold as a charity event.)

I've been to the brewery release once and other tappings several times, and, as others have said, there are many great reasons to make the trip to the brewery. One that most haven't mentioned is that you'll get PtY as fresh as possible. And, yes, it does make a difference.

In years past, people have recommended going on Super Bowl Sunday as there will be fewer people in line, but I don't know whether that's a legit tactic or not.

 

February 6th. The Bistro DIPA Festival. Hayward, CA. 11am.

Do that. Get PTY and 30 other beers that are just as good and that you'll never have in Illinois, either.

Baddabingbaddaboom

 

Historically, Super Bowl Sunday isn't that busy at the pub, which seems weird. It may be different this year, seeing as SF is hosting. The second week is *usually* slower as well, and obviously during the week is more mellow with shorter waits, though the new 3X3 system really made a difference last PtY. I say this as someone who worked at RRBC for 3 years (I left in Fall 2015).

 

Seems odd and very unlikely they would have PtY a day after RR taps it and 3 days before RR sends it to distribution.

 

They've had it every year in the past, it's not out of the realm of possibility. You have to remember that while the Bistro's festivals are pretty ho-hum these days, they've been around forever and were some of the premiere events in the area just a few years back.

 

Hey, Nate had some yesterday from the tank.........just sayin

 

No distribution involved, breweries personally attend this event.
It is a competition, and RR enters PTE and PTY every year.