Pliny pursuit pays off with hoppy memories
SANTA ROSA, CA (April 8, 2024) – Three hours might seem a long drive for a beer, but it’s well worth it for the first swallow of Pliny the Younger.
Russian River Brewery produces the iconic drink in limited batches each year, dispensing it for just two weeks at the brewery’s location in downtown Santa Rosa and its Windsor pub.
This year’s event was March 22 to April 4, marking the 20th anniversary for the medium-bodied, copper-colored hoppy craft brew – not to be mistaken with the brewery’s other creation, Pliny the Elder, a double IPA.
The Younger is a Triple IPA, meaning that it is higher in alcohol and has tons of hops. Though the alcohol by volume finishes at about 10.25%, it is remarkably dry and balanced for the amount of malt it contains.
Each year, the brewmasters slightly change up the hops based on the cream of the hop crop selected from the prior year’s vintage. But the base recipe stays practically the same.
Cult status
Russian River officials describe the latest Pliny the Younger iteration as triple dry-hopped with Simcoe, Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic, Elixir, Nectaron and Warrior. The beer itself is loaded with citrus, orange, stone fruit, nectarine, mango and strong pine/resinous aromatics. They added a bit more Nectaron this year, which is noticeable with the orange/citrus/candied fruit. It is also slightly more bitter than 2023, contributing to a balance of aroma, flavor and mouthfeel.
After making the trek to Sonoma County, we joined the line that swung around the corner a block and half away from where our prize awaited. We were surrounded by old hands and hard-core consumers who have contributed to the beer’s cult status. They passed the time talking of past Youngers and their Pliny plans for the rest of the day, which included ending it at the Windsor location for still more consumption of the perfectly chilled Triple India Pale Ale.
After plugging the parking meter again to ensure ample time to thoroughly revel in the Pliny experience, we approached the brewery’s front door. A bubbly hostesses welcomed us with hardy hellos and green wrist bands that would be our golden ticket to Pliny heaven.
The first and subsequent sips from the first glass, and a second that followed, certainly presented the brew’s hoppy character, yet it kept going down oh so smooth. It was a perfect complement to the thin crust meat and veggie pizza we ordered for lunch.
Settling the day’s tab included ordering additional bottles of the sought-after beer. Unlike past years when patrons could only purchase up to two extra bottles, this year is even more unique as they offered a special commemorative anniversary box to afford patrons the opportunity to purchase up to three bottles to enjoy at home and create plenty more Pliny the Younger memories.
We are already hatching plans for next year, with a bigger group to baptize still more virgins of the Pliny the Younger adventure.
David Scholz
David Scholz is back in journalism as a freelance writer and photographer after nearly two decades in education. Prior to moving into teaching in 2000, he worked as a full-time journalist since 1988 for rural community and small daily newspapers in Central Ohio and Northern Nevada, and later in California with The Business Journal in Fresno and dailies in the Bay Area, including The Oakland Tribune and The San Francisco Chronicle. More recently Scholz also worked in an editing, writing, and page layout role with the Rossmoor News.