If you've been following along...

 ... Pliny the Younger was on tap at La Quinta Brewing in Palm Desert yesterday (1/18/25). They were not limiting customers to one glass (which is surprising since the ABV is 10.25%) which means they weren't overly concerned about running out. It's very likely, imo, that there is more to be had today if you weren't able to get to the brewery yesterday.

Pliny the Younger at La Quinta Brewing, Palm Desert

I also have it, from a reliable source, that The Younger will not be made available at the brewery's Old Town location. If you're interested on getting your hands - or tastebuds, in this case - on this seasonal release from Russian River Brewing, right now is your chance.

Is it an overrated IPA or a cult thing? Probably both but I, for one, am all in.

Pliny the Younger is on draft now at…

La Quinta Brewing, Palm Desert.

Limit me glass per customer until the keg runs out.

Screenshot 2025-02-17 at 9.53.02 AM

Coming Soon . . .

 

Beer Here!

With imports on aluminum, the price on your favorite packaged beer may go up.

All the more reason to drink local.

Visit a brewery today and show your support. 

Environmental and economic bonus: bring a washable, reusable growler for fresh brew at home.

Pliny the Younger

Distribution of Pliny the Younger could be as early as today! This is a rare and highly coveted beer from Russian River Brewing Company. La Quinta Brewing in Old Town La Quinta often gets an allocation but I have seen nothing yet on social media. I've checked other locations as well but don't see any announcements for keg tappings of Pliny the Younger anywhere yet.

Because distribution of this beer is so limited, it is not likely to be broadly advertised. You have to keep an eye on social media daily or be signed up on a mailing list to get advance notice of its arrival. And, then, you might be subject to a lottery for drink tickets.

You could, of course, drive to Santa Rosa to drink up to three 10 oz. glasses of the brew plus buy up to three bottles to go. Be prepared to wait a long time, however. From their website: 

"In year’s past, a line generally starts forming in the early morning hours (5-6AM) particularly on weekends. We are almost always busier on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, sometimes seeing twice as many people as we would on a weekday. Pro-tip: come Monday -Thursday to minimize your wait to get in. Evenings, especially in Windsor, tend to taper off. Be prepared to wait 6 hours or more on a very busy day, especially on weekends." 

[Emphasis mine.]

Keep an eye out. I will, too, and if I see anything don't count on me to tell you! I want it all for myself. (Although at 10.25% ABV, I won't be drinking much!)

Have a glass if you can get your hands on it. Call an Uber if you have more than one! It's delicious.

UPDATE 2/11/95: Pliny the Younger was sighted at Pizza Port at Imperial Beach. No news yet on its arrival to the Imperial Valley.

Get canned today!

Beer Can Appreciation Day (National Today)

" On January 24, we celebrate Beer Can Appreciation Day in remembrance of the historic, monumental, and thirst-quenching day beer was first sold in cans. Now canned beer just makes sense. Beer cans are easier to pack in a box or cooler. Advanced thermodynamics and quantum physics tells us beer cans are more efficient to pick up. But remember, fellow history buffs, it wasn’t always that way. If we don’t remember where we’re from, how will we know where we’re going? And wouldn’t we still be thirsty when we got there? Take a minute to think that one over while downing a cold one. Happy National Beer Can Appreciation Day! "

The World's Best Stout

Forbes : The World’s Best Stout—According To European Beer Star Competition

At this competition, a panel of expert judges blind-taste tested 2360 beers from 50 countries in 75 categories at the Nuremberg Exhibition Center in Germany.

A blind-taste test of 2360 beers would probably end in falling-down-blind-drunk. But that's not the point.

The point is that the United States won a medal in each of the three Stout categories in the European Beer Star Competition, an international beer event: Forty-Ninth State Brewing (Anchorage, AK) took a Bronze in the general category of Stout. River North Brewery (Denver, CO) took Gold in the category of Flavored or Pastry Stout. And No-Li Brewhouse (Spokane, WA) took Silver in the category of Imperial Stout. 

That's very stout indeed.

In fact, the USA took home 32 medals in 29 categories. The whole list is here. There are probably some breweries on that list you will recognize.

Congratulations to all and Próst.

Rumor has it ...

 Yesterday we had to fetch some Grin-itch spinach and while we were out, we gathered a little more beer intel.

First, Coachella Valley Brewing has already broken ground on their third location in Palm Desert. (Their original location is Thousand Palms and their second is in Palm Springs.) They are feeling good about a target opening sometime in 2025 having learned a lot with their second location in Palm Springs. However, now they're dealing with a different municipality so who knows?

The rumor is that the Laugh Factory has purchased the property next to CVB's Palm Desert location which the brewery is excited about because they feature comedy nights at both of their existing locations and have hosted a annual comedy festivals so they look forward to the Laugh Factory as possible neighbors. It's also rumored that Michal Longfellow (now of Saturday Night Live) once performed at a Coachella Valley Brewery comedy fest.

Desert Beer continues to be optimistic about opening in Indio as early as February of 2025 despite a series of setbacks. (Their original location is Palm Desert.) The latest hurdle has been overcome and it appears the only thing left is a sign-off on the work (which entailed rerouting a gas line, if I understand things correctly).

That's the up-to-the-minute update. We'll keep you posted....

Just a quick update:

 Yesterday, we had to go out. We had to do an errand and pick a peck of Snide... actually, we just grabbed a sandwich. But while we were out, we drove by local breweries promising to open in 2025:

January is the timeframe promised by Babe's Smokehouse and Tavern. Their website still says January but  their last post on Facebook was October 2024 with no further updates. While I have no experience in these kinds of things other than waiting for more than a year for Desert Beer to open despite all their expectations to be open sooner. Based on a driveway inspection of Babe's, I'd say January is out of the question. 

Speaking of questions, will Babe's be brewing at their new location? The place doesn't look large enough. Either they will be brewing offsite or they've given up their brewing endeavors altogether. Their name no longer includes the word "Brewery"but they do incorporate "Tavern" so while I can expect there will be beer, I can't say whether Babe's will continue to be a brewery.

Indio Brewing doesn't have a website and their FB page doesn't offer a target opening date. Google Maps is suggesting February 2025. Again, I don't have any experience in these things (such as waiting for permits and inspections) but based on what I saw yesterday, February might be wishful thinking. There were tanks inside but not a whole lot more.

Lastly, Desert Beer has been mum for a long time about their aspirations to open in Indio and for good reason. They have been working on their new location for over a year encountering one problem after another. This was the only location we didn't drive by yesterday because we tend to go by it often enough to know they still aren't ready. I think the last time we were by, the tanks were still being stored outside. This is the one I'm most excited about because I think it will be a good addition to the downtown area of Indio so I've got my fingers crossed that whatever is going on there gets resolved soon.

Not much of an update except that you can expect to wait a little longer.