Booth: Russian River Brewing Co.

Discussion in 'Lager Fest in Cyberspace (2021)' started by Todd, Aug 18, 2021.

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  1. Todd

    Todd Founder (13,172) Aug 23, 1996 California
    Staff Super Mod Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Lager Fest in Cyberspace (2021) Virtual Booth/Discussion Thread for:

    Russian River Brewing Co. (Santa Rosa, California)

    STS Pils; Keller Pilsner; 5.35%; 16oz can
    A hoppy Keller-style Pils. It has balanced malt, hop, and yeast contributions and a dry, lingering, slightly bitter clean finish.



    Joining us: Vinnie Cilurzo (Owner, Brewmaster)

    Have a question for Vinnie? Drop it in this thread and your question could make the live feed!

    Like what you're drinking? Review the beer and buy some merch!
     
  2. Mexican_Viking_Domerdoc

    Mexican_Viking_Domerdoc Initiate (0) Jan 12, 2021 Texas
    Society Trader

    No question. Just want to say you all are amazing and make awesome beer!! The beer gods speak through you and we all better because of it! #russianriverismygraceland
     
  3. cigardave

    cigardave Initiate (0) May 25, 2005 Oklahoma

    Hey Vinnie!! What's the possibility of getting your beers into Oklahoma? Love to try more of them, especially the ones that are OTF!! And getting more Pliny the Elder would be a HUGE plus too!
     
    OU-CXpunch-DP, Davebomb and Chefie like this.
  4. MadtownMaltman

    MadtownMaltman Aspirant (224) Feb 28, 2015 Wisconsin
    Society

    Thanks for doing this Vinnie and showing some cool videos! How does OTF affect the taste of different beers, especially lagers? What yeasts lend themselves best to OTF?
     
  5. cspence

    cspence Devotee (358) Mar 24, 2008 California

    You talk about the tank ratio. How does the ratio affect the yeast? Is it that a 1-to-1 fermenter is shallower, so the pressure at the bottom is lower?
     
    beergoot and TongoRad like this.
  6. cjgiant

    cjgiant Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,248) Jul 13, 2013 District of Columbia
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Ha! I wasn't expecting a PowerPoint presentation, but enjoyed the information I gleaned jumping around the video due to some apparent sound issues. I'm sure it was covered (pun unintended) in the video, but in my jumping around I didn't see if the larger environment for these fermenters is enclosed in some fashion to avoid the non-wild aspect you would want to get from your coolships.

    Also, I saw you used aluminum foil as a loose covering as an example of a porter you brewed; would that or some other technique be possible for a home brewer to try to achieve something similar to what you are going for with OTF?
     
    KyleKingma likes this.
  7. PapaGoose03

    PapaGoose03 Grand Pooh-Bah (5,159) May 30, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Hi, Vinnie.

    Hops are showcased in your most well-known beers, so hops are a very important ingredient to you. Are you a brewer who goes to the hop growing source to hand-select your supply for each year? Is it difficult to keep flavor consistency from year to year because of growing conditions, and do you sometimes have to vary the amount of hops in a recipe because of that? If yes, what percent volume change might you make?
     
    KyleKingma, beergoot and TongoRad like this.
  8. beerking1

    beerking1 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2004 Virginia

    Hey, Vinnie! Long time no see!
    How does this recipe for STS differ from your STiVO Pils?
    -Lyle Brown
     
    beergoot and TongoRad like this.
  9. Davebomb

    Davebomb Initiate (199) Feb 12, 2021 Oklahoma

    So since you are collecting yeast as it bubbles over in the krausen, I am assuming this takes away yeast from a fermentation that isn't quite complete. Do you have to pitch more yeast to compensate for this escaping yeast, as compared to a closed fermentation, or is it a minimal enough amount to not worry about it? Does losing this yeast make fermentation take any longer? Also, I definitely second the request to extend your distribution to Oklahoma, we need some Pliney in OKC!
     
  10. ANewHop

    ANewHop Devotee (374) Apr 20, 2020 California
    Trader

    Great insight from Vinnie, as always. Thank you!
    I know this is Lager Fest, but is Pliny fermented in open-top?
     
    ChicagoJoe and TongoRad like this.
  11. SiC_MaGGoT

    SiC_MaGGoT Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2020 New York

    Hey Vinnie! I know you talked about the ventilation system you have to change out the air inside the room and needing to make sure it is not too co2 heavy before entering. Is there any special processes for anybody entering into the room to make sure that they themselves aren't bringing in anything contaminating?
     
  12. maltguy808

    maltguy808 Initiate (0) Apr 8, 2021 Washington

    Hi Vinnie, thanks for providing some interesting info on OTFs and the one's you're using. I'm curious, did you perform any side-by-side tastings using the same recipe but fermenting one in a tall closed fermenter and one in an open top?
     
  13. LeedsZimbabwe

    LeedsZimbabwe Zealot (506) Nov 23, 2014 New York
    Trader

    Hi Vinnie! I love Kellerbier and Pilsner, and wanted to know more about the differences. As I understood it, Keller was typically something served straight from the keg in someone’s cellar - practically, though, does this mean longer lagering? Some oak-aging? Other than being unfiltered, what separates these two in production in the US?
     
    UrbanCaveman likes this.
  14. Tuanb

    Tuanb Initiate (0) Jul 20, 2021

    I mean do you guys brew a bad beer!! This Pils is great! Clean and crisp with that German dankness that compliments the style
     
  15. JessicaN

    JessicaN Initiate (0) Dec 7, 2020 Massachusetts

    I love the STS glassware.
     
  16. beerking1

    beerking1 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2004 Virginia

    Dense enough to float a pfennig!
     
  17. beerking1

    beerking1 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2004 Virginia

    That foam is dense enough to float a pfennig!
     
    Celogan123 likes this.
  18. Celogan123

    Celogan123 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2021 California

    This STS is Great!!!!
     
  19. Celogan123

    Celogan123 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2021 California

    For the moment opting to use the little special glass instead of one of my Sierra Nevada or Feather Falls glasses
     
  20. rdruckenmiller

    rdruckenmiller Devotee (351) Sep 23, 2009 Massachusetts
    Trader

    What weyermann pils malt? e.g. Barke, Floor malted bo pils, etc
     
  21. KyleKingma

    KyleKingma Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2012 Washington

    Loving the beer!!
    You mention you lager for 4 weeks - what would be the benefits/drawbacks you would see in STS with a longer lagering period?
     
  22. BeerPHD

    BeerPHD Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2012 Texas

    STS Pilsner Is very good. This beer is one of the reasons I wanted to attend. It didn't disappoint! Vinnie have you considered distribution in Texas?
     
    Todd likes this.
  23. Pivodog

    Pivodog Devotee (392) Mar 31, 2016 Texas

    Vinny, would you share the water profile or at least where it's modeled from?
     
  24. mirrorball

    mirrorball Crusader (429) Aug 14, 2005 Virginia

    Fantastic beer
     
  25. beerking1

    beerking1 Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2004 Virginia

    Great beer, as always, Vinnie!
     
  26. Pivodog

    Pivodog Devotee (392) Mar 31, 2016 Texas

    Vinny, would you share the water profile or at least where it's modeled from?
     
    FBarber likes this.
  27. MusicaleMike

    MusicaleMike Savant (1,208) Mar 17, 2008 Pennsylvania

    The lacing on this is incredible. Talk about thoughts on foam chemistry. What is done in the brewing process to keep the foam retention and development so hearty?
     
  28. entheos

    entheos Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2019 California

    My STS Pils was canned in 24 June, 2021. How long can I expect it to remain fresh?
     
  29. Celogan123

    Celogan123 Initiate (0) Apr 14, 2021 California

    Need this in Oroville CA Normally I've been a Hop Head Ale guy, but man alive this is a good beer
     
  30. BeerPHD

    BeerPHD Initiate (0) Jan 15, 2012 Texas

    Professor Vinnie. I could listen to you explain the brewing process all day long.
     
  31. cspence

    cspence Devotee (358) Mar 24, 2008 California

    He answered this in passing.
     
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