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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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Come celebrate the Holidays with us at RRBC Windsor this Friday and Saturday, 12/19 and 12/20! Wear your favorite Ugly or Festive Holiday sweater to receive Happy Hour pricing on beers ALL DAY! Plus, we will have a J Brands Prime Rib Special while supplies last!

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18079297478349792
Come celebrate the Holidays with us at RRBC Windsor this Friday and Saturday, 12/19 and 12/20! Wear your favorite Ugly or Festive Holiday sweater to receive Happy Hour pricing on beers ALL DAY! Plus, we will have a J Brands Prime Rib Special while supplies last!

🎄🎁Look what we found under the tree today!🎁🎄 Mosaic Stack and Simcoe 25 are back in cans and on draft at both pub locations, as well as for shipping in our online store! Mosaic Stack bottles and draft out for limited distribution now! 🍻Cheers!🍻

Link in bio.

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18092433145923568
🎄🎁Look what we found under the tree today!🎁🎄 Mosaic Stack and Simcoe 25 are back in cans and on draft at both pub locations, as well as for shipping in our online store! Mosaic Stack bottles and draft out for limited distribution now! 🍻Cheers!🍻 Link in bio.

Thank you to everyone who joined us at the pubs last week for Dining Out For Life 2025! With your help, we were able to raise $11,025 for @fftfoodbank !
🍻Cheers!🍻
#fftfoodbank #dofl2025 #diningoutforlife2025

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18295123141277007
Thank you to everyone who joined us at the pubs last week for Dining Out For Life 2025! With your help, we were able to raise $11,025 for @fftfoodbank ! 🍻Cheers!🍻 #fftfoodbank #dofl2025 #diningoutforlife2025

Simcoe 25 cans are back in stock at both pub locations!

Brewed to celebrate the Simcoe hop`s 25th anniversary, this West Coast IPA bursts with notes of pine, grapefruit, and hop resin, finishing clean, bitter, and dry.

Get it while it`s fresh!

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18545829883047576
Simcoe 25 cans are back in stock at both pub locations! Brewed to celebrate the Simcoe hop's 25th anniversary, this West Coast IPA bursts with notes of pine, grapefruit, and hop resin, finishing clean, bitter, and dry. Get it while it's fresh!

This Friday, Mosaic Stack is back! This easy-drinking West Coast IPA has beautiful hop aromas and flavors followed by a dry, hoppy finish. Mosaic hops give the beer a pronounced tropical, berry, and dank quality, while Simcoe adds a nice grapefruit note. On tap and in cans at both pubs as well as online! Also heading out for limited distribution starting this week!

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17867052408516078
This Friday, Mosaic Stack is back! This easy-drinking West Coast IPA has beautiful hop aromas and flavors followed by a dry, hoppy finish. Mosaic hops give the beer a pronounced tropical, berry, and dank quality, while Simcoe adds a nice grapefruit note. On tap and in cans at both pubs as well as online! Also heading out for limited distribution starting this week!

Looking for a great gift for the holidays for that beer lover in your life? Guided Brewery Tours are now available for this year`s Pliny the Younger release from March 20th through April 2nd!

This special guided tour lasts 1 hour and takes guests through the entire brewing process from mashing in to packaging and everything in between! All tours include 3 tastes of different beers at various stops along the tour loop including one taste of Pliny the Younger, our Triple IPA released only once a year. This is a great way to see the brewery and have a taste of Pliny the Younger without having to wait in line. Guests receive a clean souvenir glass at the end of the tour!

Book today! Link in bio.

*Please note: A tour booking does not grant access to the pub*

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17998601093839076
Looking for a great gift for the holidays for that beer lover in your life? Guided Brewery Tours are now available for this year's Pliny the Younger release from March 20th through April 2nd! This special guided tour lasts 1 hour and takes guests through the entire brewing process from mashing in to packaging and everything in between! All tours include 3 tastes of different beers at various stops along the tour loop including one taste of Pliny the Younger, our Triple IPA released only once a year. This is a great way to see the brewery and have a taste of Pliny the Younger without having to wait in line. Guests receive a clean souvenir glass at the end of the tour! Book today! Link in bio. *Please note: A tour booking does not grant access to the pub*

We have some great new releases available today!

ROW 2 HILL 56 is back!
Brewed with lots of Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, WA, Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine with a lingering hoppy finish.
Available in both pubs and for shipping in our online store, as well as in bottles and draft for distribution.

SUPPLICATION 3 Liter Bottles!
A brown ale aged in used Pinot Noir barrels with sour cherries, Brettanomyces, and good bacteria. This beer is a brown-red color with hints of cherry, oak and a medium sourness. These large format bottles make a great gift for the beer lover in your life or to share with your friends and family during holiday celebrations!
Available in both pub gift shops and for shipping in our online store (while supplies last).

Link in bio.

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18094497116507113
We have some great new releases available today! ROW 2 HILL 56 is back! Brewed with lots of Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, WA, Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine with a lingering hoppy finish. Available in both pubs and for shipping in our online store, as well as in bottles and draft for distribution. SUPPLICATION 3 Liter Bottles! A brown ale aged in used Pinot Noir barrels with sour cherries, Brettanomyces, and good bacteria. This beer is a brown-red color with hints of cherry, oak and a medium sourness. These large format bottles make a great gift for the beer lover in your life or to share with your friends and family during holiday celebrations! Available in both pub gift shops and for shipping in our online store (while supplies last). Link in bio.
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