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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.

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.

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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“Where were you in ‘62?” We are excited to announce our first free Movie Night of 2025! Join us Wednesday, May 28th in the Windsor Beer Garden for AMERICAN GRAFFITI, the George Lucas classic filmed in Sonoma County!

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“Where were you in ‘62?” We are excited to announce our first free Movie Night of 2025! Join us Wednesday, May 28th in the Windsor Beer Garden for AMERICAN GRAFFITI, the George Lucas classic filmed in Sonoma County!

Row 2 Hill 56 is BACK... AGAIN! Now on tap at both pub locations and bottles available for purchase in our gift shops and online store!

Row 2 Hill 56 is a pale ale brewed with lots of Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, WA, referenced on the front of this label. We have forged not only long-lasting partnerships but friendships with these families and cherish our annual visits during the hop harvest each Fall. Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine with a lingering hoppy finish.

Link in bio!

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Row 2 Hill 56 is BACK... AGAIN! Now on tap at both pub locations and bottles available for purchase in our gift shops and online store!

Row 2 Hill 56 is a pale ale brewed with lots of Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, WA, referenced on the front of this label. We have forged not only long-lasting partnerships but friendships with these families and cherish our annual visits during the hop harvest each Fall. Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine with a lingering hoppy finish.

Link in bio!

Vinnie and I are super excited to collaborate with Afro Caribbean Brewing and speak at BeerEx Africa next month! First time visiting South Africa and we can’t wait!

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Vinnie and I are super excited to collaborate with Afro Caribbean Brewing and speak at BeerEx Africa next month! First time visiting South Africa and we can’t wait!

We can`t wait for the @andersonvalleybrewing 27th Annual Boonville Beer Fest on May 10th!
Tickets available here: https://avbc.com/boonville-beer-fest/

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We can't wait for the @andersonvalleybrewing 27th Annual Boonville Beer Fest on May 10th!
Tickets available here: https://avbc.com/boonville-beer-fest/

Hop Queen is back on tap! Brewed once a year for the Craft Brewers Conference with our German hop supplier, IGN, Hop Queen a German-Style Pilsner brewed with 100% German hops- Diamant and Tradition.

It’s a beautiful day to enjoy this delicious brew out in the Windsor beer garden!

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Hop Queen is back on tap! Brewed once a year for the Craft Brewers Conference with our German hop supplier, IGN, Hop Queen a German-Style Pilsner brewed with 100% German hops- Diamant and Tradition.

It’s a beautiful day to enjoy this delicious brew out in the Windsor beer garden!

New in the online store: Bring Back Brewer`s Gold Hazy IPA 12-packs!

Previously developed on our 5-barrel pilot brewery and released as RnD #54 Hazy IPA, everyone enjoyed the beer so much, we decided to give it a proper name! Brewed with Brewer’s Gold, a hop variety over 100 years old that had largely faded into obscurity, this beer represents a collaboration between Vinnie and CLS Farms. Together, they revived this classic hop by combining modern growing and kilning techniques with innovative brewing methods.

Grab some Pliny Sauce before checkout and you are all set for a great weekend!

Link in bio!

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New in the online store: Bring Back Brewer's Gold Hazy IPA 12-packs!

Previously developed on our 5-barrel pilot brewery and released as RnD #54 Hazy IPA, everyone enjoyed the beer so much, we decided to give it a proper name! Brewed with Brewer’s Gold, a hop variety over 100 years old that had largely faded into obscurity, this beer represents a collaboration between Vinnie and CLS Farms. Together, they revived this classic hop by combining modern growing and kilning techniques with innovative brewing methods.

Grab some Pliny Sauce before checkout and you are all set for a great weekend!

Link in bio!

R&D IPA #68 is brewed is two new experimental hop varieties bred through the Hop Quality Group breeding program, HQG #3 and HQG #4. Both hops exhibit loads of fruity, tropical, stone fruit characteristics. We are excited to be able to showcase these hops through R&D IPA #68! Available in about 3 weeks on tap and in bottles at both pubs, online and for full distribution!

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R&D IPA #68 is brewed is two new experimental hop varieties bred through the Hop Quality Group breeding program, HQG #3 and HQG #4. Both hops exhibit loads of fruity, tropical, stone fruit characteristics. We are excited to be able to showcase these hops through R&D IPA #68! Available in about 3 weeks on tap and in bottles at both pubs, online and for full distribution!

Row 2 Hill 56 Simcoe Pale Ale is BACK in our online store and available in 12-packs! Get it while it`s fresh!

Link in bio.

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Row 2 Hill 56 Simcoe Pale Ale is BACK in our online store and available in 12-packs! Get it while it's fresh!

Link in bio.

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