Russian River Working On Funky Foeder Blueberry Beer

Today brings exciting news from Russian River Brewing Company, with locations in both Windsor and Santa Rosa, California. The brewery is gearing up to release a new foeder‑aged fruited saison in 2026, and fans of mixed‑culture ales and oak‑aged beers will want this one on their radar.

The upcoming beer, Funky Foeder Blueberry Beer, is crafted as a traditional saison aged in large oak foeders and conditioned with blueberries. This combination promises a vibrant blend of rustic saison character, subtle oak complexity, and bright, fruit‑forward acidity. Expect notes of earthy funk, soft tannins from the oak, and a refreshing blueberry tartness that complements the beer’s farmhouse profile.

Funky Foeder Blueberry Beer will land at a sessionable 5.5% ABV, making it an approachable yet expressive addition to Russian River’s lineup of mixed‑fermentation and oak‑aged offerings. The beer will be packaged in 510ml bottles, a format well‑suited for sharing, cellaring, or enjoying fresh.

Stay tuned for full 2026 release details, distribution updates, and additional information as Russian River Brewing moves closer to launching this new foeder‑aged fruited saison.

Label Text Russian River Funky Foeder Blueberry Beer:

“A mildly tart Saison aged in our large oak foeders (think giant upright wine barrels) with blueberries. All our foeders (pronounced ‘FOODER’) were sourced from local Sonoma and Napa wineries and are all over 30 years old. Funky Foeder Blueberry Beer has distinct aromas of berry, with earthy, tart notes. Cheers!”

About Russian River Brewing:

Russian River Brewing Company was founded by Korbel Champagne Cellars in Guerneville, CA, in 1997. Vinnie was hired as the brewery’s brewmaster and initially sole employee. For the next 6 years, Vinnie continued to set the bar high for super hoppy and Belgian-inspired beers. Pliny the Elder, first brewed at the Korbel location in 1999, was one of the first commercially brewed Double or Imperial IPAs in America and won numerous awards over the years. It is still our most popular beer more than 20 years later.

In 2003, Korbel decided to get out of the beer business and transferred the rights to the Russian River Brewing Company name, all beer names, and the recipes to Vinnie and his wife, Natalie. We wrote a business plan, found 2 managing partners, and convinced 30 friends and family to invest in their new brewpub venture. In April 2004, we opened the doors to the next chapter of Russian River Brewing under our ownership.

Our beers have won dozens of awards from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Vinnie and the brewery were twice named “Brewery and Brewmaster of the Year” at both the GABF and World Beer Cup. In 2007, Vinnie was awarded the “Russell Scherrer Award for Innovation in Brewing”. We received the “Brewers Association Recognition Award” in 2017. But the most important award of all are the many beer enthusiasts who visit from around the world year after year!

Over the years, we were able to buy out all of our partners and investors. The decision was made in 2014 to build our dream brewery right here in Sonoma County. The search for property took nearly 2 years which allowed us time to assemble our “dream team” of architects, consultants, designers, and contractors. We also received a lot of helpful advice from their friends in the beer industry! We found 15 undeveloped acres in Windsor, CA, and were quickly immersed in the project of a lifetime.

On October 11, 2018, we opened the doors to our new brewpub! The entire brewery is 85,000 square feet and encompasses beer production for both clean beers and sour barrel-aged beers, administrative offices, a brewpub, an outdoor beer garden, a gift shop, tasting room/growler fills, guided and self-guided tours, and 2 acres of free parking. This increased capacity has allowed us to distribute more draft and bottled beer to markets in which we currently sell as well as open up some new territories within the state of California. The original Downtown Santa Rosa location continues to thrive offering small batch brews and tasty pizza. Vinnie, Natalie, and all our dedicated employees are excited to share a beer or two at both breweries with you!