You can't visit Santa Rosa without visiting Russian River, but the locals advise not to simply dive into the Pliny. So at the advice of bartender Jeff and customer Gary, I started with a "Row 2 / Hill 56," before moving to the inevitable Pliny the Elder. They were both my kind of beers, and had some pleasant chats with various folks at the bar. Russian River sells over 50% of its beer in this one pub, which was the main reason cited for ceasing shipments to my hometown Washington state in 2013, thus putting an end to the annual Pliny the Younger frenzy here in our thirsty town. E.g. from the Seattle Times 2011:
"It causes lines around the block and packed houses that would violate most cities’ fire codes. Last year, Naked City Brewery & Taphouse in Greenwood blew its Pliny the Younger keg in six minutes."
'Last year, Jamie Butler, co-owner of The Dray in Ballard, nonchalantly noted on Facebook one night that he would tap Pliny the Younger at 3 p.m. the next day. He ran some errands and strolled in at 3 to find a full house with “people slamming their hands on the bar,” he said.'
"The Whisky Bar in downtown won’t announce when it will release Pliny the Younger because, the bartender said, the place would just go nuts." (seattle times)
Of course the delta between Pliny and many other fine, more readily available beers doesn't merit the mania unless you are fairly devoted. But it does add to the gratification of a northwesterner casually sipping Russian River's goods while in town.
725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 - (707) 545-2337
Est. April 3, 2004
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