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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

We are on Instagram

Join us at the Windsor Brewery this weekend for the World Cup! We have 3 extra TVs ready to go, including one in the beer garden! Watching at home? Stock up on to-go beer, including a fresh batch of Blind Pig in CANS! Happy Hour All Day Sunday!🍻⚽

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Join us at the Windsor Brewery this weekend for the World Cup! We have 3 extra TVs ready to go, including one in the beer garden! Watching at home? Stock up on to-go beer, including a fresh batch of Blind Pig in CANS! Happy Hour All Day Sunday!🍻⚽

This Friday is California Pint Day at both our pub locations! All RRBC beers will be available in limited edition commemorative Pint Day glass which you get to keep (limited quantities available.) In addition to donating $2/glass purchased, we will be throwing in an extra 5% of the day’s total food and beverage sales to the CCBA! #CAPintDay

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This Friday is California Pint Day at both our pub locations! All RRBC beers will be available in limited edition commemorative Pint Day glass which you get to keep (limited quantities available.) In addition to donating $2/glass purchased, we will be throwing in an extra 5% of the day’s total food and beverage sales to the CCBA! #CAPintDay

TOMORROW! Join us at the Windsor brewery from 4-7pm to see 3 Top Fuel cars up close and get photo ops with the drivers and team ahead of the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals!

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TOMORROW! Join us at the Windsor brewery from 4-7pm to see 3 Top Fuel cars up close and get photo ops with the drivers and team ahead of the DENSO NHRA Sonoma Nationals!

Happy Monday! As a reminder, both of our pub locations will be closed today for our annual company picnic. The gift shop in Windsor will be open from 11am to 3pm. Cheers! 🍻

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Happy Monday! As a reminder, both of our pub locations will be closed today for our annual company picnic. The gift shop in Windsor will be open from 11am to 3pm. Cheers! 🍻

Citra Flash Mob IPA is back in cans! Available at both pubs and for shipping in our online store! Citra hops pair well with other varieties, but their strong notes of citrus, stone fruit, and tropical are the star of this West Coast IPA. Link in bio.

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Citra Flash Mob IPA is back in cans! Available at both pubs and for shipping in our online store! Citra hops pair well with other varieties, but their strong notes of citrus, stone fruit, and tropical are the star of this West Coast IPA. Link in bio.

As a reminder, both pubs will be closed for our annual company picnic this Monday, July 13th. The gift shop in Windsor will be open from 11am to 3pm. Cheers! 🍻

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As a reminder, both pubs will be closed for our annual company picnic this Monday, July 13th. The gift shop in Windsor will be open from 11am to 3pm. Cheers! 🍻

NEXT WEEK! Excited to host our friends in NHRA Top Fuel on Wednesday, July 15th before the Sonoma Nationals! Join us at the Windsor brewery to see 3 Top Fuel cars up close and get photo ops with the drivers and teams. This has become an annual tradition which we look forward to every year!

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NEXT WEEK! Excited to host our friends in NHRA Top Fuel on Wednesday, July 15th before the Sonoma Nationals! Join us at the Windsor brewery to see 3 Top Fuel cars up close and get photo ops with the drivers and teams. This has become an annual tradition which we look forward to every year!

Join us and many breweries around the state as we kick off California Craft Beer Week with California Pint Day! All RRBC beers will be available in the limited edition commemorative Pint Day glass which you get to keep (limited quantities available.) In addition to donating $2/glass purchased, we will be throwing in an extra 5% of the day’s total food and beverage sales to the CCBA! California Pint Day will be celebrated at both our Windsor and Santa Rosa locations. Thank you for helping us support our beloved craft beer state trade association, the CCBA! #CAPintDay

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Open post by russianriverbrewingofficial with ID 18169953418428904
Join us and many breweries around the state as we kick off California Craft Beer Week with California Pint Day! All RRBC beers will be available in the limited edition commemorative Pint Day glass which you get to keep (limited quantities available.) In addition to donating $2/glass purchased, we will be throwing in an extra 5% of the day’s total food and beverage sales to the CCBA! California Pint Day will be celebrated at both our Windsor and Santa Rosa locations. Thank you for helping us support our beloved craft beer state trade association, the CCBA! #CAPintDay
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