Russian River Brewing Company


Russian River Brewing Company is a brewery and brewpub in downtown Santa Rosa, California, with a second location in Windsor. The company is known for strong India pale ales and sour beers.

History

Russian River Brewing Company was created in 1997 when Korbel Champagne Cellars of Guerneville, California decided to try their hand at brewing beer. Brewer Vinnie Cilurzo was hired as brewmaster. Brettanomyces, Cilurzo's favorite component of lambic beers, were first used with local wine barrels in 1999 for production of sour beers. Korbel quit the brewing business, and sold the brewery to Cilurzo and his wife Natalie in 2002. Russian River, remodeled and expanded in 2004, eventually moving to Santa Rosa, at their current 4th Street location. Cilurzo is regarded as one of the most innovative microbrewers in the country and credited with inventing the beer style Double India Pale Ale, known alternately as Imperial IPA, when he was the head brewer at Blind Pig Brewing Company in Temecula, California.
Plans to open a second location in Windsor, just north of Santa Rosa, began before the 2017 Sonoma County fires. In 2016, the Cilurzos partnered with Comerica to finance the project, and the Windsor Planning Commission approved the new brewery, pub, and restaurant the following year. By September 2018 the new brewery was completed and operational. The Windsor facility opened its doors to customers that October. The Windsor facility is differentiated from the Santa Rosa location by its larger size, free parking, expanded menu, and guided brewery tour. The Cilurzos hoped that the two locations would give tourists and local customers the opportunity "to come and spread out and enjoy the experience on their own terms," especially during the annual Pliny the Younger release, which sometimes resulted in lines around the block. Windsor officials hoped that the new location would be a financial boon and make the city more attractive for similar businesses, and the city's "Windsor Hopper" shuttle service, linking local hotels, wineries, and breweries, was unveiled coinciding with the 2019 Pliny release.

Production

In addition to the 20 barrel brewpub, Russian River also has a 50 barrel production brewery, originally from Dogfish Head Brewery. In late 2014, the production facility is being updated with a four vessel, 50 barrel brewhouse made by AAA Metal Fabrication in Beaverton, Ore. Russian River has distributors in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. A coolship is used to cool the wort for some of the beers. Barrels of beer are stored in their barrel warehouse and begin tasting after 9 months, though can be aged up to two years before blending.

Beers

American style

Russian River Brewing Company and Vinnie Cilurzo have won numerous awards for their beer.
NameStyleHonors
Aud BlondeBlonde Ale2010 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2006 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
Blind PigIndia Pale Ale2009 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2008 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2007 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2006 World Beer Cup Gold, 1996 World Beer Cup Silver, 1996 Great American Beer Festival Silver
DamnationBelgian-style Ale2004 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2001 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 1999 Great American Beer Festival Gold
English Extra Special BitterExtra Special Bitter1996 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Golden WheatWheat Ale2001 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 1999 Great American Beer Festival Silver
HopTime HarvestFresh Hopped ale2012 Great American Beer Festival Silver
Old Blue GraniteBarley Wine1996 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
O.V.L. StoutDry Stout2004 World Beer Cup Gold
PerditionFarmhouse Ale2004 World Beer Cup Silver
Pliny The ElderImperial India Pale Ale2006 World Beer Cup Gold, 2006 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 2005 Great American Beer Festival Gold, 2004 Great American Beer Festival Bronze
RedemptionBlonde Ale2008 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Russian River ESBExtra Special Bitter1999 Great American Beer Festival Gold
Russian River IPAIndia Pale Ale2000 World Beer Cup Gold
Russian River PorterRobust Porter2010 World Beer Cup Bronze, 1998 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 1997 Great American Beer Festival Silver
SalvationStrong Dark Ale2008 World Beer Cup Gold, 2002 World Beer Cup Silver
SanctificationBrett Blonde2013 Great American Beer Festival Silver
SupplicationSour Brown Ale2012 World Beer Cup Bronze, 2009 Great American Beer Festival Bronze, 2007 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2005 Great American Beer Festival Silver
TemptationSour Blonde Ale2010 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2008 World Beer Cup Silver, 2007 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2006 World Beer Cup Gold, 2004 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2003 Great American Beer Festival Silver, 2002 Great American Beer Festival Gold

Footnotes