Around 2:00 p.m., everything was humming along and the mash-in was ready to begin on the first “public” brewing at Russian River Brewing’s new production brewery.

Before the brew, Travis, Vinnie, Natalie, James and Jesse, the new sales and delivery guy.

The it was back to work, and up the stairs to the brew kettle.

The new brew kettle, formerly at Dogfish Head Brewery in Delaware.

Though it was originally made for Henry Ortlieb, apparently a son of the famous Ortlieb brewing family in Philadelphia.

The inside is sprayed with water until it covers the screen.

Then Vinnie flips the switch to being the mash-in.

Which pours in from above.

Melissa Myers, Vinnie and Vic talk shop while the kettle fills.

Which takes the better part of an hour.

Vinnie monitors its progress throughout the process, before beginning the boil.