While Natalie Cilurzo worked full-time at a winery, Vinnie Cilurzo bought a 7-barrel system from Electric Dave. This guy was in jail in Bisbee, Arizona, for selling marijuana mail-order. Electric Dave sold Vinnie an old soup vessel for a brewing kettle, a DIY mash tun, and plastic fermenters before the Cilurzos opened Blind Pig in Temecula in 1994. Vinnie was already a homebrewer and had helped form the local Temecula Valley Homebrew Club. Russian River Brewery was started in 1997 by Korbel Champagne Cellars, a Guerneville, California-based winery specializing in “California Champagne,” or sparkling wine of the méthode champenoise persuasion. Korbel’s winemaker was also a passionate homebrewer and talked his boss into opening a brewery. Vinnie Cilurzo, who had worked at Korbel for several years, was hired. Immediately before, Vinnie had been churning double IPAs at the Blind Pig. Those beers fell on deaf ears, but Pliny soon made its mark. In 2002, Korbel shut down the brewery, and after six years, Cilurzo lost his job. He negotiated the rights to the beer names, and the Cilurzos raised $1 million, reopened Russian River Brewing as its separate entity in Santa Rosa, California, in 2004, and quickly became famous in the beer world. Today, Peaks & Pints presents a flight of Russian River beers — a flight we call Peaks & Pints Russian River Beer Flight.

Peaks & Pints Russian River Beer Flight

Russian River Robert

6.2% ABV

Russian River’s duo of beers, Robert and Jannemie, is an homage to the Cilurzos’ dear friends Floris’ parents who have hosted them many times at their home in Antwerp, Belgium. Robert is a saison brewed using American and European malts and hops and a distinctive yeast strain. Primary fermentation occurs in one of Russian River’s unique open-top fermenters, which are designed for brewing yeast-forward styles like saison. This beer has white pepper and fruit characteristics with a lingering dry finish. ‘

Russian River Damnation

7.5% ABV

Damnation is the first official Belgian-style beer brewed at Russian River. Duvel and other strong golden ales of Belgium inspire it. On the surface, Damnation is a mellow, Belgian-style, strong golden ale, but there are enticing subtleties beneath the surface. It’s brewed with a Belgian yeast strain, American pilsner barley malt, and dextrose sugar, which contributes more alcohol and a teasing lightness. Hops are Styrian Goldings for bittering, which lend an orange-citrus note that blends well with the yeast fruitiness. U.S. Sterling hops add herbal notes. This medium-bodied ale has a fruity-banana bouquet and a dry, spicy finish.

Russian River Row 2, Hill 56

5.4% ABV

Row 2 Hill 56 is a pale ale brewed with Simcoe hops selected from the three original Simcoe-growing families in Yakima, Washington, referenced on the front of this label. Russian River has forged long-lasting partnerships and friendships with these families and cherishes their annual visits during the hop harvest each Fall. Row 2 Hill 56 has a classic Simcoe aroma with notes of grapefruit and pine and a lingering hoppy finish.

Russian River Happy Hops

6.5% ABV

In 1944, the Grace Brothers Brewery in Santa Rosa, California, brewed the original Happy Hops IPA. Their brewery went out of business in the 1960s. Still, Russian River Brewing wanted to resurrect “Happy” (the hop on the logo) and pay homage to the Grace Family and their pioneering beer history. Happy Hops is an incredibly hoppy IPA with intense citrus flavor, aroma, and pronounced grapefruit characteristics. It’s mildly bitter with aromas of blueberry, mango, and other tropical fruits.

Russian River Pliny the Elder

8% ABV

Pliny the Elder first appeared in 1999, and year by year it gained a following. The beer’s mighty name has almost certainly helped create the sensation. Pliny the Elder was named after the great Roman naturalist who first described the wild European ancestor of hops, among many elements of the natural world, the plant so essential to beer making. Brewed with Amarillo, Centennial, CTZ, Cascade, Warrior, and Simcoe hops, the double IPA boasts balance and body, whereas some other double IPAs burn. In the glass, it glows a godly gold, smells notably of pine sap and needles, and carries a reassuring and delicious backbone of caramel.

LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory