Drowning in Russian River

When it comes to Pliny, I’m a cougar- give me the Younger! PtY is the delicious Russian River Triple IPA, which is then dry hopped four different times. Unfortunately, it is brewed in February only and very few sixtels make it here. TJ’s tapped one a few weeks ago and it kicked in 17 minutes. My one glass that afternoon was not enough to satisfy my Younger appetite so I knew I’d have to visit Teresa’s Next Door for their Russian River Fest. Obviously I wasn’t the only one looking for a Sunday morning beverage. The line started forming 45 minutes before TND was in business and filled the sidewalk and a few parking spots before the doors were opened.

The delirious selection of Russian River beers was enough to please lovers of all beer styles and our group was among the first to be seated. The TND staff did an excellent job of getting everybody in and had already begun to prepour my Pliny. We ordered the Younger, Consecration (a strong dark ale aged for six months with currants in a Cabernet Sauvignon barrel), and a Temptation Trio, a trifecta pour of Batches 1, 2, and 3. Temptation is a blonde ale aged in French oak chardonnay barrels with Brett yeast. I preferred Batch 2 as it had a nice blend of oakiness and sourness. We also sampled Salvation, a 9% Belgian strong dark ale with spices, tart fruits, and candy sugar. TND was also pouring Bling Pig, Pliny the Elder, Damnation, and Collaboration not Litigation.

Kevin raided his Russian River treasure chest and generously shared his booty with us. This included Depuration Batch 1, a 7% blonde ale with Chardonnay grapes and four yeast strains, aged for 15 months in oak barrels, Perdition Batch 2, a 6% Belgian pale ale with hops and pear, and Sanctification Batch 3, a 6.25% blonde ale with 100% Brett. Awesome event!