Has Russian River begun contract brewing?

Im curious about this as well. I'm not sure if its my palate or a change in the beer, nowadays it taste differently and not as smooth as it was about a year or so ago

 

Don't think it is happening yet, but FW will be brewing for them while the do construction at RR.

http://russianriverbrewing.com/blog/big-news-from-santa-rosa-and-paso-robles/

 

The "other brewery" is Firestone Walker, but I'm not sure they've actually started the temporary contract brewing, which will only be for the duration that they're switching out equipment. The last few bottles of Pliny I've had have been as great as always, though.

 

Pliny the Elder, will be temporarily produced in central California next year as Russian River upgrades the equipment at its Santa Rosa brewery. Firestone Walker in Paso Robles, will brew Pliny in February when Russian River installs new brewing equipment at its facility, which produces about 11,000 barrels annually. Its downtown brewpub, which produces 3,000 barrels annually, will not be affected. Firestone will brew Pliny for draft distribution only, and bottled Pliny will continue to come from Russian River. Owner/Brewer Vinnie will work with Firestone's brewmaster, during temporary production to maintain consistency of Pliny the Elder the 14,000-barrel brewery’s most popular beer.

 

And there you have it. I believe it's up and running as I saw a Firestone post with some Pliny content a bit ago...

 

If Im going to Firestone next weekend, can I get Pliney while there?

 

I have talked to a few RR employees who said that they are not going to begin brewing at FW until after the Younger release. I think they wanna break in the new equipment before diving into a beer like that.

 

Unfortunately it is not an expansion just putting in some new equipment. I wish they would expand because getting Pliny the Elder or Blind Pig is difficult and there's always a one bottle limit, I want at least two to enjoy.

 

Growlers of Pliny are better than bottles by a mile

 

Just had a bottle dated 12/11/14 and it was perfect so I believe everything is right in the world...

 

I don't think you quite get what they're doing, and I doubt any RR employee said any such thing. They're only brewing PtE at FW during Jan/Feb while they're switching out equipment in Santa Rosa. Once that's done, it's business as usual.

 

Why ugh? You understand that while they upgrade equipment, there will be no place on-premise to brew PtE, right?

 

And on draft, even better.

 

Based on this tweet (a FW employee), I'd say they have already started:

https://twitter.com/JemWilson84/status/545762126129016834

 

Funny reading this post of a bunch of people just guessing about nonsense and to end it with fact. Shut it down.

 

Well if you have to contract brew, at least they picked an excellent brewery to host them.

There could be a noticeable difference in taste though, if the water sources are significant different.

 

You need to read this.
http://www.amazon.com/Water-Comprehensive-Brewers-Brewing-Elements/dp/0937381993

Edit - have you every asked how Budweiser tastes the same from the 8(?) Breweries across the US?

 

No I have not, because I assume Budweiser uses filtered water, and a similar filtration process at each site to produce similar water. I am not sure what RR does. That was my point, and why I said could.