Hopheads the world over revere Russian River Brewing Co.’s Pliny the Elder double IPA, and devotees line up around the block each February for a chance to taste the limited-edition Pliny the Younger triple IPA. Before there was Pliny, however, there was Blind Pig.
Russian River Brewing Company History
First a little back story: Vinnie Cilurzo, the pioneering brewmaster at Temecula’s Blind Pig Brewing, created America’s first double IPA, the appropriately named Inaugural Ale, in 1994. A few years later he closed Blind Pig, moved to Northern California with his wife, Natalie, and began brewing at Russian River Brewing Co., which was owned by Korbel Champagne Cellars at the time. When Korbel decided to get out of the beer business in 2002, the Cilurzos bought Russian River and in 2004 opened their Santa Rosa brewpub, which in addition to their beers also offers an extensive, vegetarian-friendly menu of pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and appetizers.
About the Beer
Pliny the Elder still accounts for most of the brewery’s sales, but other Russian River beers of distinction such as Supplication, a wine barrel–aged sour brown ale, and the Brett (a type of yeast with particularly vivid characteristics)-fermented Sanctification have loyal followers of their own. Inspired by the success of Pliny the Elder, in 2005 the brewery debuted the seasonal triple IPA Pliny the Younger, which takes the Elder recipe but maxes out the malt, hops, and alcohol percentage; it continues to be released annually in the spring. In addition to IPAs, Russian River is also a go-to for fans of Belgian-style ales.
Happy Hour and the Windsor Brewpub
Russian River’s downtown brewpub seats fewer than 200 people, so scoring a table or a seat at the bar can be challenging. But the place more than compensates for the lack of elbow room with friendly patrons, delicious beer, and a casual dining menu. There’s also a happy hour weekdays from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and all day Sunday. In 2018, the Cilurzos opened a larger brewery and brewpub in nearby Windsor. It features the same great beer along with its own distinct menu, outdoor seating, interactive self-guided tours, and an expansive gift shop. Both locations are dog-friendly.