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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I’m in Fremont.
So far, Smoke Eaters has been one good option, in 2025 and 2026. But they have it for one day only each at Almaden, and Santa Clara. When they’ve had it on a Saturday, it’s been very reasonable, less than 20 minutes wait.
I re-read the Toronado info now. OK, I will be prepared for next year. I see it’s early February, and it’s 10 days.
What’s the longest you’ve had to wait on any day at Toronado? What’s a “short wait”?
Do they have a limit once you’re in there?
No, I don’t have to have it at the brewery. Just wanted to try going again, since the last time was in 2014. Plus I thought maybe with two locations, maybe the wait times would be less.
Overall it was still a good few days in that area. Besides the brewery, went to a cidery and winery the next day. I’d never done a brewery, cidery, and winery in a single vacation before, haha. If I was staying another day, I could have done a distillery too, as that was within walking distance of the cidery.
Yes bro
The only time I had to wait this year was on opening night and that was to get in the bar. They don’t have tickets or anything like that. This was the line when I got in line:
And this is a picture of a glass of Younger five minutes later 
No limit.
Cash only!
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Thanks for all the info. Is that more than 10 oz?
6oz pour, it was $9 + tip
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Was it 6 oz, or do you think it was more? Could it have been 8 oz?
Just asking, and comparing prices.
Smoke Eaters was $8 for 8 oz.
Russian River Brewery was $6.82 for 10 oz.
100% sure it’s 6oz
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