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About Us

Our History

About RRBC

Russian River Brewing Company was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, CA, in 1997. Vinnie was hired as the brewery’s brewmaster and initially sole employee. For the next 6 years, Vinnie continued to set the bar high for super hoppy and Belgian-inspired beers. Pliny the Elder, first brewed at the Korbel location in 1999, was one of the first commercially brewed Double or Imperial IPAs in America and won numerous awards over the years. It is still our most popular beer more than 20 years later.
In 2003, Korbel decided to get out of the beer business and transferred the rights to the Russian River Brewing Company name, all beer names, and the recipes to Vinnie and his wife, Natalie. We wrote a business plan, found 2 managing partners, and convinced 30 friends and family to invest in their new brewpub venture. In April 2004, we opened the doors to the next chapter of Russian River Brewing under our ownership.
Vinnie and Natalie posting with beers at a Pliny the Younger release
Our beers have won dozens of awards from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Vinnie and the brewery were twice named “Brewery and Brewmaster of the Year” at both the GABF and World Beer Cup. In 2007, Vinnie was awarded the “Russell Scherrer Award for Innovation in Brewing”. We received the “Brewers Association Recognition Award” in 2017. But the most important award of all are the many beer enthusiasts who visit from around the world year after year!
Over the years, we were able to buy out all of our partners and investors. The decision was made in 2014 to build our dream brewery right here in Sonoma County. The search for property took nearly 2 years which allowed us time to assemble our “dream team” of architects, consultants, designers, and contractors. We also received a lot of helpful advice from their friends in the beer industry! We found 15 undeveloped acres in Windsor, CA, and were quickly immersed in the project of a lifetime.
Vinnie and Natalie at Russian River Brewing Windsor ribbon cutting
20 year employees on Russian River's 20th anniversary
On October 11, 2018, we opened the doors to our new brewpub! The entire brewery is 85,000 square feet and encompasses beer production for both clean beers and sour barrel-aged beers, administrative offices, a brewpub, an outdoor beer garden, a gift shop, tasting room/growler fills, guided and self-guided tours, and 2 acres of free parking. This increased capacity has allowed us to distribute more draft and bottled beer to markets in which we currently sell as well as open up some new territories within the state of California. The original Downtown Santa Rosa location continues to thrive offering small batch brews and tasty pizza. Vinnie, Natalie, and all our dedicated employees are excited to share a beer or two at both breweries with you!

Connect with us

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New on tap and in cans at both pub locations: ZUMO WRESTLING Pale Ale!

Zumo is a hop bred exclusively by our good friends at Segal Ranch in Grandview, Washington. Zumo Wrestling is filled with hints of bright citrus and lime zest with notes of ripe guava and white peach, creating a crisp, clean, easy-drinking pale ale.

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18057758447205976
New on tap and in cans at both pub locations: ZUMO WRESTLING Pale Ale! Zumo is a hop bred exclusively by our good friends at Segal Ranch in Grandview, Washington. Zumo Wrestling is filled with hints of bright citrus and lime zest with notes of ripe guava and white peach, creating a crisp, clean, easy-drinking pale ale.

This Friday, DDH Pliny the Elder is back! Available on tap and in cans at both pubs, as well as in bottles and draft for distribution!

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This Friday, DDH Pliny the Elder is back! Available on tap and in cans at both pubs, as well as in bottles and draft for distribution!

This Wednesday is Movie Night in the Windsor beer garden! Join us for a free screening of SCREAM, the Wes Craven classic filmed right here in Sonoma County!

Low/beach chairs welcome, no outside food or drink.

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This Wednesday is Movie Night in the Windsor beer garden! Join us for a free screening of SCREAM, the Wes Craven classic filmed right here in Sonoma County! Low/beach chairs welcome, no outside food or drink.

Spooky season is upon us and that means it`s time for Shadow of a Doubt Imperial Porter!

Shadow of a Doubt has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice, and clocks in at 9.9% ABV. As an homage to local film noir, this beer is named after one of our favorite Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Shadow of a Doubt, which was filmed mostly on location in Santa Rosa in 1943.

Available on draft and in bottles at both our pub locations and online store!

Link in bio.

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18058917104158207
Spooky season is upon us and that means it's time for Shadow of a Doubt Imperial Porter! Shadow of a Doubt has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice, and clocks in at 9.9% ABV. As an homage to local film noir, this beer is named after one of our favorite Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Shadow of a Doubt, which was filmed mostly on location in Santa Rosa in 1943. Available on draft and in bottles at both our pub locations and online store! Link in bio.

Coming soon, SHADOW OF A DOUBT Imperial Porter!

As an homage to local film noir, this beer is named after one of our favorite Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Shadow of a Doubt, which was filmed mostly on location in Santa Rosa in 1943. Shadow of a Doubt has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice.

Available this Friday in bottles and on draft at both pub locations and for distribution!

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18101100472728554
Coming soon, SHADOW OF A DOUBT Imperial Porter! As an homage to local film noir, this beer is named after one of our favorite Alfred Hitchcock thrillers, Shadow of a Doubt, which was filmed mostly on location in Santa Rosa in 1943. Shadow of a Doubt has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice. Available this Friday in bottles and on draft at both pub locations and for distribution!

“What’s your favorite scary movie?”

Join us Wednesday, October 8th in the Windsor Beer Garden for our final Movie Night of the year, featuring SCREAM, the Wes Craven classic filmed in Sonoma County!

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18106499992521121
“What’s your favorite scary movie?” Join us Wednesday, October 8th in the Windsor Beer Garden for our final Movie Night of the year, featuring SCREAM, the Wes Craven classic filmed in Sonoma County!

While in Yakima this week for hop selection, Vinnie spoke with Craft Beer and Brewing to celebrate 25 years of Simcoe!

"Recorded out in the experimental hop fields of Perrault Farms, Russian River’s Vinnie Cilurzo and hop breeder and grower Jason Perrault tell the story of Simcoe—from the early days of breeding through its near disappearance to the current context, where it’s used in Pliny the Elder in modern flowable formats."

Simcoe 25 West Coast IPA is now available in cans and on draft at both pubs, as well as online for shipping!

Link in bio.

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17901349140269055
While in Yakima this week for hop selection, Vinnie spoke with Craft Beer and Brewing to celebrate 25 years of Simcoe! "Recorded out in the experimental hop fields of Perrault Farms, Russian River’s Vinnie Cilurzo and hop breeder and grower Jason Perrault tell the story of Simcoe—from the early days of breeding through its near disappearance to the current context, where it’s used in Pliny the Elder in modern flowable formats." Simcoe 25 West Coast IPA is now available in cans and on draft at both pubs, as well as online for shipping! Link in bio.

Thanks to everyone who joined us this summer for Way Back Wednesday at the Windsor brewery! So many amazing vintage cars and great people! We will see you again next summer. 🍻

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17924169612111890
Thanks to everyone who joined us this summer for Way Back Wednesday at the Windsor brewery! So many amazing vintage cars and great people! We will see you again next summer. 🍻
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