California’s Stone Brewing, the 10th largest craft brewer in the United States, is about to go where no craft brewery has gone before.
Stone Brewing announced on July 19, 2014, that it will open a brewery and restaurant in Berlin, Germany in late 2015 or early 2016. Stone plans to invest $25 million dollars to renovate approximately two acres of space in Merienpark Berlin to create a world class destination, the first of its kind on the continent of Europe. The site will house a brewery, packaging hall, restaurant, and company store.
“This is a historic moment for Stone. I’ve wanted to say these next words for many years now: We’re coming to Europe. We’re coming to Germany. We are coming to Berlin!” said Stone CEO and Co-founder Greg Koch. “It has been a long time coming and I couldn’t be more proud to say that we are finally on our way to being the first American craft brewer to own and operate our own brewery in Europe. Once open, we will bring Germany and the rest of Europe a taste of our craft beer vision, and look forward to sharing the unique beers that we have spent the last 18 years brewing.”
Stone Brewing President and co- founder Steve Wagner is equally excited about the expansion overseas.
“Stone’s future European home will serve as the company’s international hub; a central location promoting goodwill and quality craft beer spanning the globe,” said Wagner. “With this expansion comes our commitment to brewing bold, aggressive, hop-forward beers in a country with a long history rooted in the art of brewing.”
Stone’s new home in Berlin will include outdoor gathering areas plus three buildings:
- A 43,000 square foot main building with a vaulted ceiling, brewhouse, farm-to-table restaurant, and retail store.
- A 20,775 square foot building that will house brewing operations, fermenters, bright tanks, packaging equipment, and materials.
- A 1,300-square-foot building for the purpose of holding special events and meetings
The large brewhouse will brew year- round and special release beer products for on- site consumption at first and outside distribution later. The restaurant will follow the lead of Stone’s current World Bistro & Gardens in California, featuring locally- grown, organic foods. Further, in keeping with Stone Brewing’s support of the international Slow Food movement, Stone will ensure that all items served at its restaurant are made using good, clean, fair food. And in addition to serving its own beer, Stone will serve other craft and specialty beers from different breweries around the world, in both draft and bottled form.
To add to the fun and encourage participation in this major undertaking, Stone Brewing has also launched an Indiegogo crowd participation campaign. Called The Campaign for Cross Planetary Brewing, it presents an opportunity to you, the Stone craft beer fan and supporter, to purchase collaboration beers and different merchandise to help Stone raise funds to expedite its expansion plans. The campaign just started and will run until August 16, 2014. The goal is to reach $1 million in funding before the deadline.
Click here to visit the Stone Brewing Indiegogo crowd participation page.
Europe is considered the world’s heartland of great beer by many and its historic breweries and brewing tradition date back thousands of years. Expansion to Europe is the dream of many craft breweries but few have the boldness to attempt such a venture. Leave it to our friends at Stone Brewing to boldly go where no craft brewery has gone before and from Great Beer Now, we offer a mighty, heartfelt “Prost” to Greg Koch, Steve Wagner and crew for having the courage to spread the greatness of American- made craft beer to a new continent.
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