Buzz then Beer?

I knew that TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery in Paoli had Pliny the Elder on tap today and I just couldn't resist the tempation to stop in after work for a quick one.  I look forward to the day when Russian River Brewing Company either expands their capacity to the level required to satisfy the demand for this great beer or decides to have it contract brewed, but something has to give.  I guess the same could be said for Pliny the Younger but I don't know because I have never had it.  It is that hard to get!  Sometimes I wonder if it is really a matter of capacity and resources or is it really just an elaborate long-term marketing scheme.  Come on guys, you got the buzz now get the beer.  Kind of backwards huh?

Hoppe Yes, Pty No

I stopped in at TJ's Restaurant and Drinkery in Paoli after work because I wanted to try Hoppe Imperial Extra Pale Ale from Souther Tier Brewing Company.  This brewer never disappoints me.  This is a nice clean-tasting amber beauty and although I could not taste much alcohol I know it is in there because I actually started to get that good relaxed feeling after only one.  I talked to Will on my way out.  He told me that Pliny the Younger only lasted about 10 minutes during their event last week.  People were lined up along the sidewalk in front of TJ's at 11:30am.  He also told me that althougth they sold 66 tickets for a glass of Pliny the Younger the keg yeilded a couple of beers shy of that number.  Imagine being the poor bastard that bought a ticket and waited a couple of hours only to be told the keg had kicked.  Yeah they got their money back and yeah it's hard to have a bad time at TJ's but it still had to be disappointing.  Not familiar with Pliny the Younger?  I read an interesting article about Pty (that's apparently what the cool folks call it) by Joe Sixpack on Philly.com if you would like to become acquainted.