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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!

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🚂SHADOW OF A DOUBT🚂 This Imperial Porter has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice, and clocks in at 9.9% ABV. As an homage to local film noir, the 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.
Now available in bottles and on draft at both pub locations and out for distribution!

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🚂SHADOW OF A DOUBT🚂 This Imperial Porter has rich notes of chocolate, tobacco, raisins and spice, and clocks in at 9.9% ABV. As an homage to local film noir, the 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. Now available in bottles and on draft at both pub locations and out for distribution!

Hoppy Friday! Hopfather is now available on tap and in cans at our pub locations and for shipping in our online store, plus Row 2 Hill 56 bottles are back in stock! Link in bio!

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Hoppy Friday! Hopfather is now available on tap and in cans at our pub locations and for shipping in our online store, plus Row 2 Hill 56 bottles are back in stock! Link in bio!

Fresh off the packaging line, Hopfather IPA is back! This beer is all about the hops with notes of black currant, stone fruit, and citrus. The finish is smooth and warm, well balanced between bitterness and malt.

Heading out in bottles and draft for distribution as well as in cans and on tap at both our pub locations tomorrow!

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Fresh off the packaging line, Hopfather IPA is back! This beer is all about the hops with notes of black currant, stone fruit, and citrus. The finish is smooth and warm, well balanced between bitterness and malt. Heading out in bottles and draft for distribution as well as in cans and on tap at both our pub locations tomorrow!

Green Rush, a collaboration with our friends at Bale Breaker, will be on tap at both pubs tomorrow! This fresh hop West Coast IPA features freshly picked Simcoe hops for vibrant aromas of grapefruit, peach, mango, and resin, as well as Citra and Krush!

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Green Rush, a collaboration with our friends at Bale Breaker, will be on tap at both pubs tomorrow! This fresh hop West Coast IPA features freshly picked Simcoe hops for vibrant aromas of grapefruit, peach, mango, and resin, as well as Citra and Krush!

☠“Goonies never say die!”☠
Join us tomorrow in the Windsor Beer Garden for a FREE screening of THE GOONIES! Did you know the film’s final scene was shot at Goat Rock Beach on the Sonoma Coast? Low/beach chairs welcome. No outside food or drink. Cheers!🍻

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☠“Goonies never say die!”☠ Join us tomorrow in the Windsor Beer Garden for a FREE screening of THE GOONIES! Did you know the film’s final scene was shot at Goat Rock Beach on the Sonoma Coast? Low/beach chairs welcome. No outside food or drink. Cheers!🍻

Beginning today at the Windsor pub, we will feature a different special every weekday!
🍔SMASH BURGER & A BEER 🍺
Today`s special is a smash burger (J Brand beef patties, onion, yellow mustard, shredded lettuce, house pickle, and Russian River Sauce), fries and a beer all for only $20!

🌮TACO TUESDAYS🌮
Steak & Cheese, Carnitas, Fish Tacos, and Cheese & Potato Taquitos! $4.50 each.

🐔WING WEDNESDAYS🐔
Pliny Sauce or dry served with choice of blue cheese or ranch! $1.50/wing.

🥪THURSDAY SANDWICH OF THE DAY🥪
This week: Crispy Mortadella on brioche with havarti, dijonnaise, house pickles
inspired by Anthony Bourdain!

🍗FRIED CHICKEN FRIDAYS🍗
Half chicken (breast, thigh, drum, wing) dusted with Memphis-style rub served with side of mac, coleslaw and house pickles!

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Beginning today at the Windsor pub, we will feature a different special every weekday! 🍔SMASH BURGER & A BEER 🍺 Today's special is a smash burger (J Brand beef patties, onion, yellow mustard, shredded lettuce, house pickle, and Russian River Sauce), fries and a beer all for only $20! 🌮TACO TUESDAYS🌮 Steak & Cheese, Carnitas, Fish Tacos, and Cheese & Potato Taquitos! $4.50 each. 🐔WING WEDNESDAYS🐔 Pliny Sauce or dry served with choice of blue cheese or ranch! $1.50/wing. 🥪THURSDAY SANDWICH OF THE DAY🥪 This week: Crispy Mortadella on brioche with havarti, dijonnaise, house pickles inspired by Anthony Bourdain! 🍗FRIED CHICKEN FRIDAYS🍗 Half chicken (breast, thigh, drum, wing) dusted with Memphis-style rub served with side of mac, coleslaw and house pickles!

🍻OKTOBERFEST IS HERE!🍻 Brewed in the modern style of beer served at Oktoberfest in Germany, this Festbier is smooth and clean with a moderate malty flavor. Tapping today at both pub locations for a limited time! Plus, we have some great Oktoberfest-themed specials in Windsor today: bratwurst & spatzel, a giant Bavarian pretzel, and meatballs!🍻Prost!🍻

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🍻OKTOBERFEST IS HERE!🍻 Brewed in the modern style of beer served at Oktoberfest in Germany, this Festbier is smooth and clean with a moderate malty flavor. Tapping today at both pub locations for a limited time! Plus, we have some great Oktoberfest-themed specials in Windsor today: bratwurst & spatzel, a giant Bavarian pretzel, and meatballs!🍻Prost!🍻
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