Russian River Brewing
Russian River Says: “Our Growlers Only”
Even though the state of CA legislation has changed and breweries with certain types of licenses can fill any types of growlers, Russian River will continue to only fill their own. The following is their explanation:
- Quality: We feel our growler is the highest quality growler for the price on the market and have been using it for 20 years since we owned Blind Pig Brewing Company. Vinnie was the very first brewer to use this growler and we are still quite fond of its ease of use, look and quality! It is easy to fill, holds a good seal for up to a couple of weeks, and is dark glass so the beer does not become light struck.
- Sanitation: We currently have no means to provide adequate sanitation of other types of growlers. We also do not carry replacement parts (like screw caps).
- Logistics: We designed our entire draft system to accommodate filling only our specific growler. Growlers that are taller, shorter, fatter, thinner, bigger, or smaller will not fit properly under our taps.
- Branding: Growlers are like bottles- it’s just another way to package beer to go. We work hard to make the best beer possible and are proud to put our name on it! Nothing against other breweries growlers, but we want our beer going home with you in our branded growler!
400 Deep Just to Get a Taste?
This week marks the launch of Pliny the Younger and as expected the crowds are out in full force hoping to get a taste of this highly sought-after beer. Pliny the Younger is considered to be one of the best beers in the world scoring highly not just on Beer Advocate and Rate Beer, but amongst those who have had the opportunity to enjoy a glass or two. Reports of the line at Russian River Brewing being around 400 people deep started popping up on social media around noon today. There’s no guarantee that each person will get a glass as Russian River plans to ration their supply to ensure it stays on tap through the weekend. Would you wait in a line of 400 people just for a beer?
Style: 2x IPA
Availability: on tap in extremely limited quantities
Russian River Pulls Out of Washington
Let the speculation end here: Russian River has pulled their distribution out of Washington state. The brewery states that the recent withdraw was entirely due to supply vs. demand. Their brewpub does a whopping 50%+ of their sales and therefore they have chosen to take the supplies meant for Washington and send them to their brewpub. Also, for the same reason, don’t expect to see them expanding distribution any time soon. Finally, don’t believe the hype – all the rumors surrounding expansion, pulling out of Oregon, and just about everything else regarding the situation are just that. Now that all that is cleared up, carry on.
2013 Pliny the Younger Release Schedule Announced
Here’s some exciting news for all you Pliny the Younger fans: Russian River plans to release their next batch on tap at their brewpub from February 1st-14th 2013. Only 10oz glasses will be available at this time, no growlers, and no bottles. According to Russian River, at any given moment there could be a 5 hour wait or no wait at all so good luck preparing!
As far as distribution is concerned, small amounts of kegs will be sent to their distributors the same day. The first batch starts brewing tomorrow. They plan on brewing and distributing the same amount as past years, but who will get what has yet to be determined.
Style: Imperial IPA
Availability: Draft Only
Arrival: February 2013
10.5 % ABV
Zymurgy’s Best Beers In America 2012
Zymurgy Magazine, the official Journal of the American Homebrewer’s Association just published their results from the reader’s rankings. For the 4th year in a row, Russian River’s Pliny The Elder takes 1st place. Bell’s Two Hearted and Dogfish Head 90 Minute aren’t far behind for best IPA in the country. Interestingly, the harder to find Pliny The Younger ranked at the other end of the list, at #48.
More than 16,000 votes were received in this years vote. Check out the full story for brewery rankings. (T= Tied) [AHA]
| 1. Russian River Pliny the Elder |
| 2. Bell’s Two Hearted Ale |
| 3. Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA |
| 4. Sierra Nevada Pale Ale |
| 5. Stone Arrogant Bastard Ale |
| 6. Bell’s Hopslam |
| 7. Sierra Nevada Celebration |
| 8. Stone Ruination IPA |
| 9. Sierra Nevada Torpedo |
| 10. North Coast Old Rasputin |
| 11. Firestone Walker Union Jack |
| 12. Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye |
| 13. Bear Republic Racer 5 |
| 14. Oskar Blues Dale’s Pale Ale |
| 15. Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA |
| 16. Firestone Walker Double Jack |
| T17. Ballast Point Sculpin IPA |
| T17. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot |
| 19. Stone IPA |
| 20. New Belgium Fat Tire |
| 21. Deschutes Black Butte Porter |
| 22. Avery Maharaja |
| 23. Founders Breakfast Stout |
| 24. Left Hand Milk Stout |
| T25. Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA |
| T25. New Belgium Ranger |
| T25. Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale |
| 28. Deschutes The Abyss |
| 29. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout |
| 30. Surly Furious |
| T31. Lagunitas Little Sumpin Sumpin |
| T31. Rogue Dead Guy |
| T31. Samuel Adams Boston Lager |
| 34. Troegs Nugget Nectar |
| T35. Lagunitas IPA |
| T35. New Belgium La Folie |
| T37. Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron |
| T37. Founders KBS |
| T37. Russian River Blind Pig IPA |
| 41. Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale |
| 42. Victory Prima Pils |
| 43. Great Divide Yeti |
| T44. Alaskan Smoked Porter |
| T44. Anchor Steam |
| T44. Lagunitas Hop Stoopid |
| T44. Samuel Adams Noble Pils |
| T48. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald Porter |
| T48. Oskar Blues Ten Fidy |
| T48. Russian River Pliny the Younge |
Russian River Debuts Row 2 Hill 56
Russian River officially debuts Row 2 Hill 56 in bottles today. The name is the brewery’s nod to the 3 simcoe hop growing families in Yakima valley plus a reference to the exactly location of the experimental hopyard where it was first developed. The beer? 100% simcoe hopped pale ale.
Bottles will hit the pub this afternoon, with limited distribution to follow.
Style: Pale Ale
Availability: 510ml bottles, Draft.
5.8% ABV
rel
Russian River on New Brux Collab
Natalie Cilruzo of Russian River post a few notes today on the impending release of Sierra Nevada/Russian River Brux collaboration arriving in July.
I’m sure many of you have heard about our collaboration with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company! This 2 year, 2 brewery, 2 family project is about to hit the streets and hopefully make it to a bottle shop near you! Set for National Release in July (I bet you thought you would never hear me say something like that!), BRUX was brewed in Chico (at Sierra Nevada) and will go through their distribution channels, which will, of course, greatly increase your chances of getting a couple of bottles. BRUX is a “domesticated wild ale”, or an ale fermented with Belgian yeast, finished by a secondary bottle fermentation with Brettanomyces bruxellensis. It’s a little more than 8% alcohol, very dry, earthy, spicy, and tasty.
Through distribution, you’ll see 750 ml bottles. The very little draft available will tap at Sierra Nevada & Russian River’s tap rooms during the month. July 5th Brux taps at Russian River. On July 9th the beer will tap at Sierra Nevada.
