Pliny The Younger

It's that time of year again - time for the long awaited release of America's most infamous triple... PTY.

Russian River - in Santa Rosa, California - has been brewing the beer since 2005, and its release is an annual shitstorm (even at the brewery itself) because the batch is extremely limited.  No bottles, no full pints.  The beer is served in 10oz snifters for a fairly hefty price.  And yet, folks comb social media portals, pore over local beer event publications, and chat up bar owners to find out when (and if) the beer will be available.  We stand in line for hours that we'll never get back.  And we lord our reward over those who have yet to get their lips on a serving.  Only a few places outside of northern California are treated to the rare bird, and only because bar owners are pals with distributors and the folks at Russian River.

Here in Colorado, there are about 10 places (around the state) that hold release events.

The beer itself is a triple.  And it's almost a true triple IPA with three times the amount of hops as a regular IPA.  It is extremely difficult, time and space consuming, and expensive to make.  Hence, its once-a-year release.

Is it worth it?  Some poo-poo it and say they prefer the double IPA from RR, Pliny the Elder, while others wouldn't miss a chance at it every year.  I guess it's sort of a beer "whale" that's hunted, prized, and notched in our ever-larger beer belly belts.

For me?  I'll be sitting at Freshcraft this afternoon around 3p just so I can get close to the ticket stand that opens at 5p and be ready for the 5:30p tapping.  I'll be slurping the nectar of the Russian River Gods by 5:35p.

Cheers!