I didn’t realize the food menu between Windsor and Santa Rosa would be so different.
I was looking forward to finally having the pizza bites again. But that’s only at Santa Rosa.
Going to go to Santa Rosa instead.
Ended up going on opening day, 3/20. Got in line at 8:47AM. Didn’t get seated until 1:20PM, so a 4 hour, 33 minute wait. Not much better than the 5.5 hours in 2014, on a Sunday.
If you don’t get in during the first wave, you pretty much have to wait 2.5 hours until people empty out. They started seating people at 10:30am.
On one hand, I think 2.5 hours is a bit quick, considering people are probably having at least 3 pours of Pliny The Younger, if not an additional beer beyond that. Kicking you out after just 2.5 hours seems quick.
On the other hand, it is depressing knowing that you’ve already passed all of the other adjacent stores in line that are before Russian River, so it’s literally the next shop. But, even though you’re so close, it’s still a 2.5 hour wait from that point.
I guess if I go back, I will try for a mid week day. I didn’t want to go on the first Friday, but it was the best day for my friend.
It was my friend’s first time, my 2nd time. He was actually fine with the wait.
Me, I want to find a way to get it to 2 hours or less. Maybe the mid week strategy would help.
I did bring a chair this time, so that helped. A collapsible stool with a backrest. Part of it got a little damaged in its first use. But it was still useful.
I think my initial idea of going to Windsor would have been faster, with its bigger space. But I cannot go to Russian River and not have the pizza bites. So switching to Santa Rosa was the right move. They do need to make the food menus across both locations more similar.
The Petite Robert table beer, and Mortification, were also good.
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2 hours is a long time to wait for a beer! Unless you really have to have it at the brewery, next year I would perhaps try going to Toronado in SF during their beer week assuming they have the same amount of Younger they usually do. I’m assuming you’re in the South Bay or the Peninsula? SF is a lot closer than Santa Rosa.
I posted this year’s Toronado Beer Week schedule above - they had it for like 10 days, with no wait or short wait depending on when you got there. They did usually run out later in the day I think, but they open at 11:30 AM if you wanted to be sure to get some. Plus, Toronado always has an interesting selection of other beers to try.
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