Pliny the Younger 2025

 Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa, CA has been doing an annual release of Pliny the Younger, a 10.25% Triple IPA for the past 20 years, this would be their 21st!! It's based off their flagship beer: Pliny the Elder, an 8% Double IPA. The release only lasts 2 weeks, March 21st - April 3rd, then it's gone until the following year. I've been wanting to check it out ever since visiting the brewery many years ago. This year I finally remembered it was going on BEFORE it happened, so I scheduled a vacation day and booked a stand-by flight.

The funny this here is, I really don't care for IPAs. However, Pliny the Elder is one of the few I do like as it goes down smooth and doesn't hit you with a second hop blast. How would the Younger compare? Hopefully, I would find out.

Some back story here. The brewery is so popular due to Elder, that it is often at capacity. Wait times just to get inside can be long on a normal day, like over an hour as I experienced before. The Younger release attracts beer enthusiasts from all over and lines can often be over 2 hours. The brewery has the process dialed in: You get your hand stamped while in line, put your name and number of your party on the list (like when checking in at a restaurant), all this to prevent line cutting. Then you get a wrist band with 3 pull tabs as you are only allowed 3 drafts of Younger. Each party is allowed to be inside the brewery a maximum of 2 1/2 hours - helps to keep the line moving. Then each person is allowed to purchase 3 bottles of Younger. The brewery also has daily limits on the number of bottles sold. I've been there before to purchase bottles of Elder and they ran out, I came home empty handed. I really hoped that wouldn't be the case today.

How did my day unfold? I would be flying in/out of Sacramento even though American Airlines flies non-stop to Santa Rosa, STS. However, for a day trip, this doesn't work as there is only one inbound/outbound flight a day and they don't allow any time to leave the airport. San Francisco is a bit more of a hassle to drive from, so Sacramento it was. The flight schedule was this: Leave Phoenix at 7:15a, arrive around 9a. Then the return flight left Sacramento at 7:30p. My hope was to be in line at the brewery by noon, then back on the road no later than 4p. Would 4 hours be enough time?

First things first, get on the outbound flight. Done. There were only 21 people on the regional jet, so I had a row to myself. Nice. 

Flew over Lake Tahoe!!

Creative way to dress up a column in the baggage claim area.

Rental car secured. I was traveling with two medium suitcases, both had two sweatshirts and about a dozen thick ski socks inside, plus a rain jacket as the forecast was calling for rain at some point. The drive to Santa Rosa only took 1h 45m. I landed a parking spot directly across from the front door and max'd out the parking meter at 3 hours. I was in line at 11:45a. Sweet!!

Made it!! Look at that line.

STS Pils stamp.

My hand was stamped an name put on the clip board, first available please. We were told we were about at the 1h 45m - 2h waiting spot on the sidewalk. The brewery opened at 11a, so the first wave of people were all still inside. I'm guessing not many people just go in, buy their 3 bottles and leave. They have really good food too, so most people stay a while. That meant for the first hour or so, we didn't really move up a whole bunch.

The brewery had setup a couple of port-o-potties on a side alley, if needed. People would check in, then leave line to go get food from a nearby restaurant. It was a generally cool vibe from everyone right from the get-go.

I light mist began to fall and it was borderline chilly. I really hoped I wouldn't get seated outside, but I also wasn't going to be picky about it.

The intentionally had roped off gaps in line for the next door businesses. Gotta be a good neighbor.

It took over an hour to actually reach the premises. We joked that we now felt like we were in the actual line to get in.

The people around me were super cool, as most seemed to be. We were all here for the same reason. One couple up ahead had been to 7 releases over the years. I guess that should tell you that it may be worth it. The group ahead of me, husband/wife/son, were on vacation and just happened to see this was going on, so they planned a day during their travels to try the goods. The funny thing was, their son was turning 21...the following day!! Gah!! He didn't seem too upset about it, but the dad sure got a kick out of it. Haha.

I was now steadily moving up as the crowd inside began to spread out with the timing. We would all lightly cheer when we'd see a group leave with their black tote bags of beer. 'We're about to move up!!' About 1:30p I was next in line, then called in.

Pretty obvious why everyone is here.

She's probably been getting her photo randomly taken a thousand times!! Haha.

I was seated at the bar, along with most others who were there by themselves. The guy to my right was the taller guy a few people ahead of me in line in one of the photos above. He was from San Francisco, as were a bunch of people I met, and had come last year. He couldn't tell me how it compared to last year, the brewery slightly tweaks the batch each year, except that it was really good!! He said he was just really getting into the beer scene. What a way to start.

Almost as soon as I was seated I was asked if I was ready for my first Younger. Of course!! Beer delivered and the first pull tab removed.

Quick photo, then a taste. Better than I thought it would be. Super smooth and a wonderful flavor profile filled with citrus notes. It did not drink like a 10.25% beer.

I put in a food order and enjoyed my beer. It went down quick, so I figured I'd be there long enough to have another one. I sent that picture to a few of my friends who I knew would appreciate it.

Everything on the board available in draft. Left board is the California styles, mostly IPAs, right side are the Belgian inspired brews and sours.

You can get a flight of either board or go full - 18 samples!! I wanted to try a few of the Belgians while I was there, but didn't want that many since I had to drive back to Sacramento. I found out you can simply choose ala carte. Perfect.

Taking in the scene. Place was obviously busy, but not chaotic.

One bank of taps. Solid lineup, including the special release of the Double Dry Hopped Pliny the Elder. It coincides with the Younger release.

My Belgian flight, sour on the bottom and an already empty DDH Pliny the Elder on top.

The lady sitting next to me was so impressed with the flight board, she wanted to take a photo. She too was from San Francisco and tried to get some of her friends to join her for the trip. She said they didn't want to stand in line that long, so she came solo and was happy she did. At one point she accidentally knocked her Younger over. Gah!! The bartender heard what happened and without hesitation, topped her off. Maybe there's a trick in that... :)

The guy I had been sitting next to left, the seat wasn't vacant for long. The next fella, come to find out, was a semi-recent ASU graduate in robotics.

I was nearing the end of my time as it was now around 3:30. I knew I wanted to take a bunch of beer home and they make it convenient as you can order all your take-out stuff from your seat. I hoped I could carry it all!! Of course I grabbed my three bottles of Younger, then a case (12 pack) of Elder, a couple of the DDH Elders, sour and another Belgian. Add in some release souvenirs and it was a rather expensive bar tab. Haha. Good thing we received a bonus at work a couple weeks ago.

Bottle in hand. Can't wait to share these with some friends.

The line looks about the same as when I arrived, although the guy who sat next to me around 3p said he 'only' waited about an hour to get in.

It was 3:45p when I began packing all the beers, one per sock, in my luggage, then layer the socks and surround with the sweatshirts. This method has worked to perfection for years. I was on the road at 4:05p. I had to stop to top off gas, drop off the car and get these bags checked in for the 7:30p departure and get my seat assignment. Then I could relax a bit.

I arrived at the check-in kiosk at 6:30p after hitting a bit of rush hour traffic on the return, which took about 30 minutes longer than the drive to Santa Rosa. As I was getting into the process, a gate agent asked where I was flying to. Phoenix, I said. She replied to her co-worker 'Didn't we reach our time cutoff for checked bags?' What?!? I was a bit stunned, I thought I easily made the cutoff, but apparently I had less than 5 minutes!! They both told me to skip the kiosk and come right to the desk. They checked the bags manually and all was well. Sheesh, that was close!! I'm kinda glad I didn't know how close I was, as that would've been nerve wracking.

Beautiful sunset as we get airborne out of Sacramento.

Beer fridge has never looked better. Fine looking top shelf, plus one on the far right of the middle shelf and I still have a Heady Topper.

What a fun day!! So glad it all worked out and now I'm planning to take a couple of co-workers to the release next year with plans to spend the night there.

For the record, our beer stash at home lasts a long time as we only have a couple per week. It's all about quality over quantity these days.

Cheers!!

Pine: Trail Closure & A Grand Opening

 I saw a post online about a new trail opening in Pine on Saturday called Two Ravens. This trail would essentially replace the crappy Walnut trail, providing a rideable option to connect to/from the Arizona Trail and also officially complete the Pine Town Loop. The Rim Country Mountain Biking Association was hosting a group ride shuttle on the new trail. I didn't feel like making the two hour drive to only ride a handful of miles, so why not ride the now completed full town loop? Duh.

I made the drive north to the cool pines and fairly busy Pine trailhead. I was riding shortly after 10a, beginning a CCW loop, getting the big Pine Canyon climb out of the way early.

Pine trailhead.

Short bit of AZT, over halfway to Utah!!

The climbing starts right away.

A bit disappointing to see so many shoe prints mixed in with the Elk post holes. If you sink into the trail, don't use it. Thanks.

Town view as the elevation stacks up.

Snow clinging to the upper reaches of the Mazatzal range.

Spur trail to Dripping Spring.

Spring was flowing...

...and dripping as the name indicates.

Ginormous down tree.

Ahh, some real nice tread.

By now my climbing legs were feeling it as were my lungs as I approached 6000'. It's that time of season where I begin to head north for cooler temps and higher elevation.

Bike pushing mode activated.

Whoa!! Did not expect to see snow on the trail. This was around 6200'. It's not going to last long with temps hovering around 60º.

I was cruising along, settling into the pace of the day, when I came around a corner and was greeted with this:

WTF?!? Hard trail closure. I was stunned and a bit pissed as no other notice was posted. Would have been nice to have a warning at the last trail junction almost 3 miles back or down at the trailhead.

Had I known this, I probably wouldn't have done this portion of the ride as the climb was difficult and there's a crappy section of trail that I'd now have to hike-a-bike back up.

Now that the ride is done, I've learned that the operations have ended for the year. So why was the closure notice left behind?? C'mon, people. Heck, I would've removed it for you.

Closed from early December to April 30.

I flipped the bike around and made my way up the crappy section of trail. From there it rode well. I decided I'd check out the Good Enough trail to get down into town quicker. The goal was to still check out the new trail across the way.

Would it be Good Enough??

It was a bit challenging to follow at times, but cairns led the way through the churned up area. So, yeah, I guess it was Good Enough.

A quick spin through the neighborhood and out to the main road. Next was a short climb up Hardscrabble Rd. to the trail junction.

The connection to the Pine-Strawberry Trail.

There was an older couple chatting by the trail when I arrived. The fella was warning the woman about recent mountain lion sightings as I snapped the above photo. I think it spooked her, because she left. He then came over to me with the same warning. I told him I'll take my chances and thanked him for his concern.

At the top of the Towhee trail I opted to go right so I could then go left on a newer bit of trail. There has been a good amount of work done along the Pine-Strawberry corridor in recent years. I hadn't been on this newer section yet.

The older alignment was tough, a bit loose too.

Now on the newer tread. So far, happy with my decision.

Town view from the other side.

This trail was riding great, cool routing too.

Splitting the rocks.

Distant, snowy Four Peaks.

A short downhill to Hardscrabble Rd. brought me to the beginning of the new Two Ravens trail. This would replace the old Walnut trail.

The trail began with a bunch of Elk post-holing, but quickly faded to this.

Cresting the high point of the trail.

Sure is beautiful up here.

Routed by a neat rock feature.

Flowy benchcut all the way.

About halfway down is another access point by a neighborhood.

Short climb up a switchback before joining the AZT.

On the AZT heading towards the Pine TH.

Almost had the feel of riding by a lake.

Couple of gates on each side of AZ87.

I opted to add in the Pineview Loop to get my ride over 20 miles, similar to what the town loop would have been.

Part of the trail cuts through a recent burn area.

All downhill from here!!

This interpretive trail was added recently next to the trailhead, makes a short loop around the parking lot.

Done. Made the most of it and rode a couple of new trails.

Leaving town, the Elk were dumpster diving!!

Gotta pick up dinner in Payson. Mmmmm.

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