Russian River Brewing Co.

Located in downtown Santa Rosa in California’s scenic Sonoma County, Russian River Brewing Co. is the Holy Grail for hopheads, boasting an incredible selection of strong IPAs and delicious sour beers on tap at its brewpub.

© Sashimomura | Flickr

Though I’d heard the name several times and tried its award-winning Pliny the Elder IPA on more than one occasion, I have not had many opportunities to try the brewery’s exclusive ales, so I was excited to visit and indulge this past summer.

Having heard the brewpub often gets packed, I set out to the restaurant in the early evening to avoid long lines and was pleasantly surprised to nab spots at the bustling bar no more than 10 minutes after arrival. The first thing I noticed was the massive sampler trays, featuring small samples of all 18 beers on draft. Staying nearby, I happily indulged in the full sampler (for $15), enjoying all but really savoring the strong sours the brewery is known for.

© Adam Barhan | Flickr

From the brewpub’s menu of pub bites like garlic bread, wings, sandwiches and pizza, I paired beers with the Omni pizza, topped with salami, pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, green bell peppers, red onion and olives. The spicy pizza complemented the hoppy beers and was delicious, but took a while to arrive due to the growing volume of people visiting the brewpub.

All in all, it was an excellent experience and I hope to return one day for the release of the brewery’s much sought-after Pliny the Younger double IPA on the first Friday of February.

Russian River Brewing Co.

1812 Ferdinand Court

Santa Rosa, CA 95404

tel 707 545 2337