Russian River Celebrates 22nd Annual Pliny the Younger Release This March

Eight days from now, thousands of self-proclaimed beer geeks will start queuing outside Russian River Brewing Company's Santa Rosa and Windsor brewpubs before dawn, some as early as 5 a.m., for the 22nd annual retail release of Pliny the Younger. The triple IPA runs March 20 through April 2, 2026, with both locations open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily until each day's allocation runs out.

The per-guest rules are tight and worth knowing before you show up. Each guest gets three 10-ounce pours of the Younger on draft and three bottles to take home, with a hard cap of three draft pours per person. Bottle allocations can be transferred to others in your party, which gives larger groups some flexibility. Once you're inside, you're on a 2.5-hour clock. Bottles are available at both brewpubs only; Russian River is not selling them online.

Plan your visit around the crowds. Weekend days are brutal, and the brewery warns to be prepared to wait six hours or more on a very busy day, with lines forming as early as 5 to 6 a.m. on Fridays through Sundays. A portion of the line is under a tent, but a chunk of it sits exposed with no shade, so chairs are recommended if you're arriving at dawn. The smarter play: lines tend to run shorter Monday through Thursday and during evening hours at the Windsor location at 700 Mitchell Lane. The Santa Rosa brewpub is at 725 Fourth St. Both locations share the same phone number: 707-545-2337.

If you can't make it to Sonoma County, Russian River has already been distributing kegs to draft accounts throughout California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado, Philadelphia, Maine, Reno, and Las Vegas through February. Local bars and restaurants in the area had Younger on tap before the retail window opened, and some may still have it. The brewery's year-round Pliny the Elder is always an option if Younger proves elusive.

The beer itself earns the pilgrimage. At 10.25% ABV, Pliny the Younger hits with bright citrus aromas of orange and grapefruit, then layers in candied tangerine, stone fruit, and resinous green pine before landing on a clean, bitter finish. For a triple IPA at that alcohol level, it's remarkably balanced, which has been head brewer Vinnie Cilurzo's hallmark since he first pushed the hop envelope after taking over the Russian River brand from Korbel.

The March release timing itself is a relatively recent development. Russian River traditionally tapped Younger in February, but COVID-related staffing shortages forced a postponement in 2022. The brewery called it "a happy accident": better weather, longer days, and a more manageable production schedule. An Economic Impact survey of 2022 attendees found that over 90% either preferred the new March date or had no strong preference. The brewery has kept it in March ever since.

Vinnie Cilurzo's own telling of how the Younger became what it is captures how fast things can change in craft beer. For the first five years, he said on Brew Ha Ha Radio, "It wasn't a huge deal." Then in 2010, he showed up on the first Friday in February to tap the first keg and found people already waiting outside. That was the moment he learned the beer had been rated first and second on two major beer rating websites. He had no idea.

Full details and any updates are at russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release.