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Russian River Raises Money for California Wildfire Victims with Pliny the Younger Contest

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This week, CraftBeer.com updated readers on some of the breweries impacted by the devastating fires raging in the California counties of Napa and Sonoma. One company, Russian River Brewing, had been spared of damage, but sadly some of Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo’s employees lost everything in a blaze that has now claimed more than 30 lives and thousands of homes in Russian River’s town of Santa Rosa. The Cilurzos remained on-call for an evacuation notice, despite having a skeleton crew at their pub on Tuesday and having made a promise to announce a relief effort for those who want to help. Today, Russian River announced that effort.

The award-winning brewery is offering an incentive to those who donate to the King Ridge Foundation, part of the Sonoma County Fire Relief Fund. While anyone can donate directly to the cause, Russian River announced through its Sonoma Proud Brand page that for every $25 donated to the cause, beer fans “will have one chance to win line-cutting privileges to Russian River Brewing Company’s 2018 Pliny the Younger release between February 2nd and 15th of 2018. All donors have a chance to win line-cutting privileges for two people, each day of the 14-day release.”

Donate Now: Cut For The Cause

Pliny the Younger is a renowned triple IPA brewed annually. The popularity of the beer makes visiting Russian River Brewing for a chance to try the beer fresh a bucket-list trek for beer lovers. The opportunity to cut the line to try Younger is a unique opportunity for a drastically dire cause.

Dry winds are expected to return to the area this weekend, taxing fire crews and putting more lives and property in peril. It will take a lot to support this community in its recovery. Please join the effort with Russian River and perhaps gain the chance to support the area again by returning for Russian River’s Pliny the Younger release in February.

Andy Sparhawk, the Brewers Association's acting editor-in-chief for CraftBeer.com. Andy is a Certified Cicerone® and BJCP Beer Judge. He lives in Westminster, Colorado where he is an avid craft beer enthusiast. On occasion, Andy is inspired to write on his experiences with craft beer, and if they are not too ridiculous, you might see the results here on CraftBeer.com.

CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.