Russian River Brewing Company wordmark logo in yellow

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

We are on Instagram

🦃THANKSGIVING SPECIAL!🦃
Stock up on Pliny bottles and Pliny Sauce for the upcoming holiday! Enjoy 12 bottles of Pliny the Elder, 1 bottle of Pliny Sauce and shipping, all for just $80! Order now while supplies last! Link in bio.

853 15
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17865943149692804
🦃THANKSGIVING SPECIAL!🦃 Stock up on Pliny bottles and Pliny Sauce for the upcoming holiday! Enjoy 12 bottles of Pliny the Elder, 1 bottle of Pliny Sauce and shipping, all for just $80! Order now while supplies last! Link in bio.

We had a great time this Halloween weekend! What’s your favorite employee costume? Let us know in the comments! 🎃🍻#rrbccrew

173 7
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18183465589426884
We had a great time this Halloween weekend! What’s your favorite employee costume? Let us know in the comments! 🎃🍻#rrbccrew

Pearls and Pliny is almost here!

Our limited-edition collaboration with our good friend Stephan Pastis, creator of Pearls Before Swine, will start landing on shelves locally later this week and soon throughout our distribution network!

Beginning November 11th, Pearls and Pliny bottles will also be available at our Santa Rosa and Windsor pubs and online for shipping throughout California.

And don’t miss the fun on November 12th at the Windsor brewery! Join Stephan, Vinnie and Natalie for a special book and bottle signing celebrating Stephan’s newest release, Pearls Jubilee, marking 25 years of the Pearls Before Swine comic strip. Books will be available for purchase at the brewery during the event.

2761 42
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17922140613241857
Pearls and Pliny is almost here! Our limited-edition collaboration with our good friend Stephan Pastis, creator of Pearls Before Swine, will start landing on shelves locally later this week and soon throughout our distribution network! Beginning November 11th, Pearls and Pliny bottles will also be available at our Santa Rosa and Windsor pubs and online for shipping throughout California. And don’t miss the fun on November 12th at the Windsor brewery! Join Stephan, Vinnie and Natalie for a special book and bottle signing celebrating Stephan’s newest release, Pearls Jubilee, marking 25 years of the Pearls Before Swine comic strip. Books will be available for purchase at the brewery during the event.

🎃DDH Pliny is back just in time for Halloween weekend!🎃

Bottles and draft available in markets where RRBC beers are sold. On tap and in cans at both pubs and our online store!

Link in bio.

547 10
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17998037688010866
🎃DDH Pliny is back just in time for Halloween weekend!🎃 Bottles and draft available in markets where RRBC beers are sold. On tap and in cans at both pubs and our online store! Link in bio.

Tickets are still available for the CCBA Summit Beer Festival next week, November 7th, at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance! Check out vintage aircraft and aviation exhibits while sampling some of the best beers from over 80 California breweries.

Vinnie and I will personally be there pouring tasty RRBC beers including Intinction Sauvignon Blanc, Small Batch Peach Beer, Shadow Of A Doubt Imperial Porter and DDH Pliny the Elder! We may even bring some aged 3 liters to share from our private stash!

Get your tickets NOW- link in bio. See you at the CCBA Beer Fest on November 7th!

812 7
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18035756516905528
Tickets are still available for the CCBA Summit Beer Festival next week, November 7th, at the Western Museum of Flight in Torrance! Check out vintage aircraft and aviation exhibits while sampling some of the best beers from over 80 California breweries. Vinnie and I will personally be there pouring tasty RRBC beers including Intinction Sauvignon Blanc, Small Batch Peach Beer, Shadow Of A Doubt Imperial Porter and DDH Pliny the Elder! We may even bring some aged 3 liters to share from our private stash! Get your tickets NOW- link in bio. See you at the CCBA Beer Fest on November 7th!

It`s 🐔Wing Wednesday🐔 at the Windsor pub! Stop in for lunch or happy hour before Movie Night and enjoy $1.50 wings with your favorite beer! 🍺

A free screening of I Know What You Did Last Summer begins at 7pm in the beer garden! See you soon! Cheers!🍻

841 7
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 17969879321965355
It's 🐔Wing Wednesday🐔 at the Windsor pub! Stop in for lunch or happy hour before Movie Night and enjoy $1.50 wings with your favorite beer! 🍺 A free screening of I Know What You Did Last Summer begins at 7pm in the beer garden! See you soon! Cheers!🍻

Guess who’s back? 👀
This two-stage, double dry-hopped take on the original Pliny the Elder recipe is bursting with notes of pine, resin, and stone fruit.

Coming soon in bottles and draft for distribution, plus cans at our pubs and online store! 🍻

1795 35
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18123989006473994
Guess who’s back? 👀 This two-stage, double dry-hopped take on the original Pliny the Elder recipe is bursting with notes of pine, resin, and stone fruit. Coming soon in bottles and draft for distribution, plus cans at our pubs and online store! 🍻

🎞Our last Movie Night of the year is this Wednesday!🎞 Join us in the Windsor Beer Garden for a FREE screening of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER!

Low/beach chairs welcome. No outside food or drink. Not suitable for children.

177 1
Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18476308933118403
🎞Our last Movie Night of the year is this Wednesday!🎞 Join us in the Windsor Beer Garden for a FREE screening of I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER! Low/beach chairs welcome. No outside food or drink. Not suitable for children.
Russian River Brewing Company logo small

Are You 21 or Older?

Yes
No