From those scrappy beginnings, Stone’s history is pure zany rebellion. In 1996, when distributors wouldn’t touch craft beer, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner bought their own van (an Aerostar, no less!) and started hauling kegs from multiple small breweries to bars and stores themselves—literally building the distribution network that fueled the craft explosion. They grew fast: moving to a state-of-the-art Escondido facility in 2006, adding solar power and eco-friendly practices (like turning spent grain into animal feed), opening an East Coast spot in Richmond, VA in 2016, and even briefly running a Berlin brewery. Through it all, the gargoyle stood guard over epic, no-compromise brews like Stone Ruination IPA (a double IPA monster), Double Bastard Ale, Stone Imperial Russian Stout, and Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine. Classics like Stone Delicious IPA (juicy, crushable citrus bomb) and fun experiments like Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager kept the party going. Stone didn’t just brew beer—they waged war on boring brews with attitude, innovation, and a healthy dose of arrogance.
Now, in 2026, Stone Brewing is throwing the ultimate bash for its 30th anniversary, toasting three decades of passion, collaboration, and kick-ass beer. The year-long celebration kicks off with special gold packaging on flagship Stone IPA, plus the 30th Anniversary Sweepstakes—grand prizes include epic San Diego trips with behind-the-scenes brewery tours, brewer hangouts, and meals at both Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens spots (Escondido and Liberty Station). First-place winners snag $500 merch bundles. Enter now and cross your fingers!
True to Stone’s collaborative spirit (remember that DIY distribution van?), 2026 brings a slew of collabs with old and new friends—most on draft at Stone spots, with one big San Diego partnership hitting shelves in 16oz six-packs this summer. They’re dusting off the archives too: limited rebrews and small-batch releases available only at Stone locations, including fan-faves like Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous IPA, Stone Ruination IPA, Stone Imperial Stout, and Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine. Draft-only gems feature the original Stone Pale Ale, Stone Mocha IPA, and a mind-blowing fresh-hop Ruination made with hops picked at dawn in Washington, flown same-day to San Diego, and brewed immediately for peak freshness. Nostalgia meets next-level execution at every taproom visit.
The grand finale? A late-summer 30th Anniversary Celebration festival packed with invitational guest breweries, fresh innovations, classic Stone pours, live entertainment, and ticket prices straight out of 1996 for that old-school vibe. Follow @StoneBrewing on Instagram for weekly throwbacks, release drops, and surprises all year.
As CEO Zach Keeling puts it, this milestone honors the fans, team, and partners who’ve built Stone’s greatness. From a single Aerostar van to a craft empire, Stone Brewing’s zany, bold history proves one thing: greatness is built on a foundation of hops, heart, and a little arrogance. Raise a Stone IPA (or an Arrogant Bastard) to 30 years of protecting palates from boring beer—here’s to many more!
Enter Stone’s Ultimate Brewery Experience Sweepstakes!
The year kicks off by spotlighting the iconic brewery’s flagship Stone IPA with limited-time gold packaging and a 30th Anniversary Sweepstakes. Grand Prize winners will be selected in May and September for a trip to San Diego including behind the scenes brewery experiences with Stone brewers and meals at both Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens locations. Additional First Place winners will be selected to receive a merchandise bundle valued at $500. Enter to win here.
ABOUT STONE BREWING
Founded in 1996, Stone Brewing pioneered the West Coast Style IPA, helping to fuel the modern craft beer revolution and inspire generations of hop fanatics. Today Stone operates breweries in Escondido, CA and Richmond, VA plus seven tap room and bistro locations. Stone offers a wide range of craft beers including its most popular Stone IPA, Stone Delicious IPA and Stone Buenaveza Lager. The company’s long list of environmental efforts includes a LEED Silver Certification, world-class water reclamation and creative uses of spent grain. Stone has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. To find Stone beers, visit find.stonebrewing.com. For more information on Stone Brewing visit stonebrewing.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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