[UPDATED: 3/4/14] HopWatch 2014: Where to Find Pliny the Younger in SoCal

Now that the dust on the annual Pliny the Younger brewery release at Russian River is starting to settle, many SoCal hop heads have begun the close watch for PtY releases popping up this month all across the south land. Once again, here at TFP we’re on HopWatch 2014 to bring you the latest news on Younger events happening near you.

For the uninitiated, Pliny the Younger is Russian River Brewing’s famous triple IPA that is often ranked among the best beers in the world. We here at TFP have been following this trend for years , but for those of you who aren’t actively on the hunt, we’ve compiled a list of places who have announced their PTY events in the coming weeks.

Stay tuned as we update this running list as often as we can. Are we missing something? Leave us a comment or e-mail [email protected] with your tips!

Beachwood BBQ’s Pliny Fights Cancer Charity Raffle: Once again, our friends at Beachwood BBQ are holding their annual Pliny Fights Cancer Charity Raffle. Tickets are on sale now at both Seal Beach and Long Beach locations until Feb. 22nd at $5 a pop. Names will be randomly selected on Feb. 24, with winning pours of PtY available for redemption between Feb. 25 & March 6th. Click here for full details.

2/17: Hollingshead Delicatessen in Orange is tapping Pliny the Younger at 10am on Monday, 2/17! First come, first serve — Hollingshead is notorious for serving larger (I believe pint sized) pours of PtY. FB here.

2/18: Toronado San Diego will be tapping two kegs of PtY at opening on 2/18. If a 3rd keg is acquired, it will be tapped on Sunday, 2/23 at 11am. Stay tuned on FB.

2/19: Tustin Brewing Co:  Russian River Week featuring Pliny The Younger: “Here at TBC, the most wonderful time of year is Russian River Week. The release of Russian River Pliny the Younger is obviously enough to celebrate on it’s own, however, we like to take it up a notch. We will be showering you with as much Russian River beer as possible. The hits, Pliny the Elder, Blind Pig, Row 2 Hill 56, and a slew of the beloved “tions.” Be sure to check with which ever source of information (website, Facebook, Twitter, Tap Hunter) you prefer because there will be some things you don’t want to miss. Not only your favorite “tions,” but perchance, your favorite “tion” aged… Obviously this goes into personal preference but you get the idea. We can’t determine each year how much we will be able to hoard, but we do know we will have more Russian River than anyone else in the OC. Thanks in advance to Vinnie and Natalie for helping us share the love…Oh yes, I know you’re all asking yourselves…Pliny the Younger will be released Wednesday, February 19th. Event details to follow…”

2/19: The Salted Pig  in Riverside has your IE PtY needs covered with an event on 2/19 featuring a selection of other Russian River favorites (the Elder, Blind Pig, Row 2, Hill 56; and Consecration). Guests are limited to one 8-ounce pour of PtY for $8 on a first come, first serve basis. If a line forms, tickets will be issued. Details via FB.

2/19: Pizza Port San Clemente has confirmed tapping a keg of PtY at noon on 2/19. First come, first serve. See FB.

2/20: Verdugo Bar has confirmed tapping PtY on 2/20 along with a few other RR faves (Supplication, Pliny the Elder, and more TBA). Doors open at 6pm, PtY tapped at 8pm — first come, first serve via FB.

2/22: 38 Degrees Ale House & Grill is bringing back the Younger at 11:30a.m. during brunch hours. In the past, Clay and crew have put on a selection of Russian River brews for the occasion. Details are TBA. FB event here.

2/22: Mohawk Bend in Echo Park will also tap Pliny the Younger on the earlier side with doors opening at 9:30a.m. In order to better serve guests this year, 280 tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis which will entitle the ticket-holder to one 6-ounce pour for $6.50. PtY will tap at 11am.

2/22: Blue Palms Brewhouse has you covered if you’re not an early riser. Also on Saturday, 2/22! This year’s event will take place at 2pm and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests are limited to one 10-ounce pour (at a time) for $20 while supplies last. Proceeds benefit the Keep-A-Breast Foundation. Details here.

2/22 & 2/26: O’Briens Pub in San Diego’s planning on tapping TWO kegs of PtY starting with their first tapping on at 4pm on 2/22. Tickets for the second keg to tap on 2/26 go on sale on 2/20 with proceeds benefiting a local animal charity ($15 for a 10-ounce pour).

2/22: SD TapRoom has confirmed the Younger has part of an epic taplist celebrating their 7th anniversary on 2/22. Full details here.

2/22: Killarney’s Riverside: is tapping PtY and serving it in flights — they kept it on the hush over the weekend.

2/22: Barbara’s at The Brewery: was once again the scene of a very low-key and no-fuss tapping during their anniversary party.

2/23: Blind Lady Alehouse in San Diego is tapping PtY with proceeds from ticket sales benefiting Cancer for College. Tickets go on sale at noon on 2/21 here. $23 gets you a .4L pour of the Younger and the Elder.

2/23: San Diego Brewing Co.  in San Diego will tap their keg of PtY at noon on 2/23! Line up for tickets on a first come first serve basis at 11am when doors open — limit one per person. Once PtY kicks, a keg of the Elder will be tapped. Details via FB.

2/23 & 2/24: Encinitas Ale House in Encinitas is tapping PtY at noon to those fortunate to have been given a Younger card (regulars and locals mostly). General Public can try and get a taste the following day when they open up pours on Monday, 2/24 at 4pm.

2/24: Haven Gastropub in Orange will tap PtY and Pliny the Elder on 2/24 at 11am. Tickets available on a first come, first serve basis — $8 for one 8oz. pour. See FB. 

2/24: Father’s Office Helms in Culver City has confirmed tapping PtY on 2/24 — time TBA, but get there early. Follow along on Twitter.

2/25: The Crow Bar & Kitchen in Newport Beach will tap PtY at 2pm. Tickets on sale at 11:30am (first come, first serve) and are redeemable between 2-4pm. Details via twitter.

2/25: Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank takes us out of the weekend and into their weekly Tuesday’s at Tony’s for their Younger release. Tickets for PtY go on sale at 3pm for a 5pm tapping. Guests are offered two options:
Option 1: Two tickets and one special edition “I Got Younger at Tony’s Darts Away” logo glass for $17
Option 2: Two tickets and two special edition “I Got Younger at Tony’s Darts Away” logo glasses for $20
*one ticket= one 6-ounce pour

2/25: Father’s Office Santa Monica was reported to have tapped PtY on 2/25.

2/25: Library Alehouse in Santa Monica also tapped PtY with no fuss on Tuesday afternoon.

2/25: Urge Gastropub in San Diego announced their PtY for Tuesday via Twitter and kept it low key.

2/26: SD Taproom will be tapping a 2nd keg of PtY at 5pm! First come, first serve! First keg will be at their 7th Anniversary Party on 2/22. See here.

2/26: Eureka Burger in Claremont held an event on 2/26 for the first 160 people to get there.  Confirmed via Twitter.

2/27: The Surly Goat in West Hollywood has confirmed another epic Russian River taplist to accompany PtY. Doors open at 6pm (first come, first serve). List: Pliny the Younger, Pliny the Elder, Blind Pig, Row 2, Hill 56; Damnation, Temptation, and Consecration. See here.

2/28: Downtown Johnny Brown’s in San Diego will be offering tickets to their PtY event happening on 2/28 in conjunction with  the San Diego Enforcers Football Team of the National Public Safety Football League. Stay tuned on their FB for when Brown Paper Tickets go on sale. $10 for a 10oz pour will benefit the United Cerebral Palsy Foundation and other Enforcers supported charities. Follow here.

3/1: Churchill’s Pub & Grille in San Marcos is once again getting PtY for their Renaissance: Churchill’s Finest Hour bottle release! In addition to a highly sought-after Finest Hour release, PtY will share space on an epic taplist for an event starting at 11am. Full details and beer list here.

3/1: Lucky Baldwin’s (12 S. Raymond Ave.,Pasadena): confirmed tapping PtY on 3/1 with tickets on sale at 11am for a 1pm tapping. First come, first serve — limit one per person. Via Instagram.

3/2: Lucky Baldwin’s Trappiste (1770 E. Colorado Ave., Pasadena): confirmed tapping PtY on 3/2 with tickets on sale at 11am for a 1pm tapping. First come, first serve — limit one per person.

3/2: The Bottle Room in Whittier confirmed their event for Sunday, 3/2. Doors open at noon and in addition to PtY, they’ll also have Pliny the Elder, Damnation, and Row 2 Hill 56. See FB.

3/2: Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks tapped PtY on 3/2 with little fuss. Keg was reported to have lasted from 7-10pm and was among other Russian River Brewing beers on tap. 12oz for $10.

3/3: Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria in Rancho Santa Margarita has confirmed their PtY event on 3/3. $15 gets you a 6oz pour and a T-shirt (limit one per person). Wristbands on sale at 10:30am for a 4pm tapping. See FB.

3/4: Selma’s Chicago Pizzeria in Ladera Ranch will tap their keg of PtY on 3/4. $15 gets you a 6oz pour and a T-shirt (limit one per person). Wristbands on sale at 10:30am for a 4pm tapping.

3/4: O’Brien’s in San Diego confirmed via their newsletter that they’ll be tapping PtY on 3/4 at 11am. First come, first serve — no tickets. See here.

3/8: Lucky Baldwin’s Delirium (21 Kersting Ct., Sierra Madre): confirmed tappying on 3/8 with tickets on sale at 11am for a 1pm tapping. First come, first serve — limit one per person.

3/8: Anthill Pub & Grille in Irvine will begin selling tickets for PtY on 2/24. $5 gets you one 5oz pour on March 8th. See FB.

3/13: The Daily Pint in Santa Monica has confirmed their event for PtY on 3/13. Tickets will be on sale on 3/12 after 5pm to redeem the following day. No ticket = no Pliny. First come, first serve.

We are still waiting to hear of more PtY events happening in LA/OC/IE/SD. Stay tuned!