Season’s Greetings from Sonoma County! I hope everyone is having a fabulous Holiday Season thus far! We have certainly had our share of excitement around here, and finally settling down for the winter. As many of you know, we had another major wildfire in late October, early November, that came dangerously close to burning homes and businesses within the city limits of Windsor. While several homes and more than 75,000 acres were burned, thankfully no one was seriously injured or worse. And we owe it all to the 5,000 First Responders from local agencies as well as throughout the state and beyond who literally saved our community from yet another horrible disaster.
That is why this year’s Sonoma Pride is dedicated to them: the brave men and women who kept the Kincade Fire on the East side of the freeway, and implemented early evacuations to keep everyone safe while ensuring they had the resources available to kick this fire’s butt! After being evacuated at the Windsor brewery for 6 days, and without gas for 8, we decided the first beer to be brewed had to be Sonoma Pride. This year’s version is an India Pale Lager with all the citrusy hops like Citra, Comet, Crystal and HBC 692. And the logo for both the bottles and t-shirts came out exactly as I had envisioned! We will be donating 100% of the proceeds from sales of the shirts (available online and in the pubs) as well as all proceeds from the beer based on total production. Our money will be going to a scholarship fund for the SRJC Fire Academy and local fire agencies to aid in future firefighting efforts. Tax-exempt donations to the Windsor Residents Firefighters Appreciation Fund may be made by check, payable to the SRJC Foundation, at 1501 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95401; online at santarosa.edu/foundation, by clicking on the “donate” button and typing in Windsor Residents Firefighter Appreciation Fund under the drop-down donation category menu; or to the “Windsor Thanks” account at any Exchange Bank branch.
While most of you are busy with the Holidays, we are already prepping for Pliny the Younger 2020! We have several local hotels offering Younger rates, many of whom have extended this special offer year after year. Check out the Younger page on our website for all the details regarding the release. Guided tours will include a generous sample of Younger again this year, too! Tours may also be booked through our website. https://www.russianriverbrewing.com/pliny-the-younger-release/.
We had our first ever can packaging run just before Thanksgiving! Mind Circus, a hazy IPA usually found at our brewpubs on draft and occasionally bottles, was the test can run, meeting our quality expectations which has been our biggest hurdle. It was also well-received by our customers and staff! While we are latecomers to the can craze, we have no plans to start distributing cans anytime soon. The next can run is this Friday, December 20th, with another batch of Mind Circus just in time for Christmas and available at both breweries!
I hope 2019 has been a good year for you. If not, well, it’s almost over! Vinnie, our entire RRBC team and I wish you and your families the happiest of Holidays and a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Cheers!
Natalie
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