One thing you see when you travel the world drinking beer are collections of empty bottles. Whether it’s a bar, bottle store, or brewery, there’ll be bottles left over from tastings, like trophy brews that’ve been enjoyed over the years. If ever you see these lined up, you can guarantee there’ll be a tall brown bottle with a green label and a red circle in the middle; there’ll always be a Russian River Pliny the Elder. It’s a simple measure of the beer’s lure.
Go To Russian River Brewing Because Everyone Wants To Drink Pliny At The Brewery, Right? Photo Gallery
Russian River Brewing in downtown Santa Rosa is the type of place that will have you feeling butterflies of anticipation on your first visit (and probably subsequent ones). Not many other breweries can do that. There’s an “I’ve made it” kind of joy when you see the sign hanging on 4th Street, a relief and excitement, an excitement that grows when you step inside and see the colorful chalkboard beer list. You’ll probably want to order everything—and you can, as they offer a tasting tray of all the draft beers. But don’t get this because, by the time you’ve drunk the whole thing, you’ll be too pissed to have pints of all the beers you really want. It’s like having an all-you-can-eat buffet and then ordering a few main courses and some desserts.
I always want a Blind Pig, then a Pliny, then some Belgian beers, and then probably some of the beers you can only get on tap there. These are among the most revered beers in America; the hoppy pale brews have come to define the industry’s upper-level of quality, to define their own kind of terminally dry, bitter, and exaggeratedly aromatic IP As that others have copied since. The Belgian styles, in particular the barrel-aged sours, can surely be credited with starting the craze for quality sour American beers and they are still among the best being brewed in the country. If you can time your visit to get Pliny the Younger, then you’ll get to drink one of the world’s most-hyped and huntedafter Triple IP As (although personally I’d prefer a six-pack of Blind Pig over a small glass of Younger).
Russian River are building a new brewery, which will include a taproom and tours in Windsor, around 10 miles (16km) north of Santa Rosa. This is due to open in late 2018, with the downtown brewpub to remain. Once the new site opens, that adds another Beer Bucket List tick because you’ll obviously want to visit both places. Take some Pliny home to your mates and friends who work in local breweries and bars. They can add this muchwanted trophy to their empty bottle collection and you can tell them how it’s even better fresh.
The Lowdown
WHAT: Russian River Brewing Company
HOW: Open daily, from 11 am—midnight (www. russianriverbrewing. com).
WHERE: 725 4th Street, Santa Rosa, California 95404, USA
LOCAL TIP: Beer then Wine?
Not content with being home to some of the best beers on the planet, the Russian River Valley also produces some world-class wines in the form of Pinot noirs and
Chardonnays. Beer lovers might want to pay particular attention to the natural wines produced in the area. The low-intervention techniques used will be familiar to those who appreciate naturally fermented beers with their dryness and funk.
Pouring Pliny the Younger, the brewery’s triple IPA, which is released as a special, once-a-year beer every February.
