ESCONDIDO— Stone Brewing Co., has announced plans to become the first American craft brewery to open in Europe. The tenth largest craft brewery in the United States will open The Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Berlin, Germany, by late 2015 or early 2016.
“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,” said President and Co-founder Steve Wagner in a press release announcing the venture.
The company estimates the European brewery will cost $25 million and the build out will take between 14 and 20 months.
The 18-year old company got its start in San Marcos and moved to Escondido when they outgrew their location.
The facility which is in Marienpark, Berlin, will feature three buildings, a brew house, distribution center and an event space.
The new brew house in Berlin will take over a historic gasworks plant that was built in 1901. The red brick main hall will house a farm-to-table restaurant offering seasonal, locally sourced food. German and European beers on tap and in bottles will also be offered alongside Stone’s famous hop-heavy beers.
A second building will be used to brew and bottle beer for distribution throughout Europe, with at least a 70-barrel capacity.
The event space will have expansive gardens at the facility.
“Stone’s future European home will serve as the company’s international hub,” said Wagner, “A central location promoting goodwill and quality craft beer spanning the globe.”
Stone has also launched an Indiegogo campaign to help offset costs to the company. Instead of selling shares, the owners prefer to keep it independent and are asking fans to donate to the cause. In return, donors can choose to receive rare beer, merchandise, or even collaborate alongside Stone brewers to make their own beer.
