Russian River Pliny The Younger Release 2020

2019 is nearing its end and Russian River is already making plans for the return of its legendary ‘event beer.’ A beer that still draws hundreds of thousands to Russian River’s home in Northern California…

It’s official…Pliny the Younger will make its 16th Annual return to Russian River Brewing on February 7th through February 20th, 2020.

And for the first time ever, this special release will be available at Russian River’s new Windsor brewery as well as the original Downtown Santa Rosa location.

Pliny the Younger Release is Still a Huge Event

At a time when so many “event beers’’ have cooled off considerably, Russian River’s Piney the Younger release is still one of the most heralded beer events in the world.

Sold for only two weeks (or until it runs out) every February, this ever-evolving India Pale Ale has enshrined Russian River Brewing as one of Americas’ most important craft operations.

Russian River’s hugely anticipated event drew almost 400,000 beer lovers to its humble Santa Rosa brewpub in 2017. And in 2020 it is expected to continue to do similar numbers.

Pliny the Younger: The Man

Yes it’s true, before Pliny the Younger became a beer legend…It was a man…also a legend.

This from Russian River….

“Pliny the Younger was the nephew and adopted son of Pliny the Elder. He was a lawyer and an author in Ancient Rome and witnessed the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD, which took the life of his uncle. Pliny the Younger lived from 61 AD to 112 AD. He wrote many letters which survive today and have great historical value. We thought it appropriate to also pay tribute to Pliny the Elder’s nephew by naming this special beer after him!”

Pliny the Younger: The Beer

This also from Russian River…

“Pliny the Younger is considered a “triple” IPA, simply meaning that it is higher in alcohol and has tons of hops. The alcohol should finish at about 10.25%, although it is remarkably dry for the amount of malt used in the recipe. It is loaded with hop flavors, bitterness, and aromatics.”

Russian River first brewed the Triple IPA in 2005 as a winter seasonal built upon the brewery’s Pliny the Elder recipe, pushing the envelope with malt, hops, and alcohol to audacious levels that had never been seen before.

It is always brewed only once a year and released the first Friday in February, rain or shine. This year’s beer has yet to be brewed, and details about the release are still being developed.

Younger is served in a 10oz. glass only, with a maximum of 3 per person PER DAY and only avaialble for on-premise consumption.

Russian River’s tasting room will still be open for growler fills and 5 oz. tastes of other beers, but not Pliny the Younger.  A taste of Younger will, however, be a special added bonus on the guided tours at the brewery’s Windsor, California location.

Russian River’s Pliny the Younger release takes place during Northern California’s rainy season, and it ALWAYS generates huge lines, so bring an umbrella.

Weekends will be insane..and according to Russian River the best time to visit to ensure the shortest wait times is midweek.