Stone Brewing Finds New Home Under Firestone Walker and Duvel Moortgat
Stone Brewing, San Diego’s largest craft brewer, is being acquired by Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Duvel Moortgat USA, bringing Stone’s beers and several taprooms under their umbrella while preserving the brand; the Escondido facility and bistro are not included, production will move to Firestone Walker’s Paso Robles facility and Duvel USA’s Missouri brewery, with distribution split regionally and Liberty Station continuing as a hospitality venue. The deal, expected to close this summer, comes as craft-beer volumes decline in the U.S. and Stone’s annual production has fallen to about 250,000 barrels, with about 300 local jobs in play during the transition.