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.

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!

Connect with us

We are on Instagram

🌶️Pliny Sauce is BACK!🌶️

Swing by either pub location or head to our online store and stock up! The last batch went fast, so don’t wait! 🍻

Link in bio.

3433 38

Open

🌶️Pliny Sauce is BACK!🌶️

Swing by either pub location or head to our online store and stock up! The last batch went fast, so don’t wait! 🍻

Link in bio.

We just signed up to help our friends, family and neighbors in L.A. Who else is in?

1159 27

Open

We just signed up to help our friends, family and neighbors in L.A. Who else is in?

DDH Pliny the Elder is back and tasting great! Available on tap and in cans tomorrow at both pubs, online for shipping beginning this Friday at 11am. DDH Pliny is also heading out for distro in kegs AND in bottles for the very first time! #ddhplinytheelder #rrbccrew

3075 40

Open

DDH Pliny the Elder is back and tasting great! Available on tap and in cans tomorrow at both pubs, online for shipping beginning this Friday at 11am. DDH Pliny is also heading out for distro in kegs AND in bottles for the very first time! #ddhplinytheelder #rrbccrew

Did someone say Simcoe? Row 2, Hill 56 is back in stock in our online store! Grab a 12-pack of this delicious pale ale packed with notes of grapefruit and pine today!

1261 8

Open

Did someone say Simcoe? Row 2, Hill 56 is back in stock in our online store! Grab a 12-pack of this delicious pale ale packed with notes of grapefruit and pine today!

Looking for a beer alternative this January? Head to our pub locations and pick up some refreshing Sparkling Hop Water infused with Citra and El Dorado hops!

355 10

Open

Looking for a beer alternative this January? Head to our pub locations and pick up some refreshing Sparkling Hop Water infused with Citra and El Dorado hops!

Hard to believe it’s already Younger time! Brewing the first batches of Pliny the Younger 2025 for wholesale draft distribution next month. This year’s Younger includes the addition of @segalhopranch Tangier, one of our favorite new hop varieties. In these photos, JR is adding whole cone Simcoe from @perraultfarms while Shea is prepping Amarillo from @crosbyhops. Younger draft distribution will happen the first week of February as usual. Be on the lookout for Younger popping up in areas where we distribute including Las Vegas for the very first time! Our in-person Pliny the Younger release is March 21-April 3, 2025. For everything you ever wanted to know about our 21st Annual Pliny the Younger release (including discounts at local hotels!), check out our website here:
https://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release/
Cheers! #plinytheyounger2025 #plinytheyounger #rrbccrew

2924 24

Open

Hard to believe it’s already Younger time! Brewing the first batches of Pliny the Younger 2025 for wholesale draft distribution next month. This year’s Younger includes the addition of @segalhopranch Tangier, one of our favorite new hop varieties. In these photos, JR is adding whole cone Simcoe from @perraultfarms while Shea is prepping Amarillo from @crosbyhops. Younger draft distribution will happen the first week of February as usual. Be on the lookout for Younger popping up in areas where we distribute including Las Vegas for the very first time! Our in-person Pliny the Younger release is March 21-April 3, 2025. For everything you ever wanted to know about our 21st Annual Pliny the Younger release (including discounts at local hotels!), check out our website here:
https://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release/
Cheers! #plinytheyounger2025 #plinytheyounger #rrbccrew

From all of us here at Russian River Brewing Company, we wish you a happy and healthy 2025!

535 4

Open

From all of us here at Russian River Brewing Company, we wish you a happy and healthy 2025!

DDH Pliny the Elder is being bottled for the very first time! Available mid-January in our pubs, online and for full distribution. More info coming soon! #ddhplinytheelder

2394 54

Open

DDH Pliny the Elder is being bottled for the very first time! Available mid-January in our pubs, online and for full distribution. More info coming soon! #ddhplinytheelder

Load More Follow on Instagram

About Us

About RRBC

We are on Instagram

About Us

Shop

Contact Us

Are You 21 or Older?