Stone Brewing - Why Does Everyone Love Them?

I'll tell you why I love them. They occasionally make a very nice beer, some of the BA stuff is pretty damn good. But most importantly for me, it is how they grew and didn't sell out. Dude has a vision and wishes to keep his business at least for now. And the Europe expansion is mighty impressive. I dig the business chops of this company.

Still never been to their main facility, though passed by many times.

 

short version is they are OG.

Not as seminal as Anchor or first gen like Sierra Nevada and Bells but they have been around for 20 years. Some may argue that they have a cold hand in the new money "wacky adjunct/limited collab" game but they do classic styles well and are a historically important spot that helped move this whole thing along.

 

Stone isn't making the best beer but they make a lot of good and very good beer. Plus they've been around forever so were the introduction to craft beer to many, many BAs. They also helped foster the craft beer community/market in the US and look to do the same in Western Europe.

 

Stone beers are great local shelfies you don't have to drive far or trade for. Yeah, I'd pass them up at restaurants or bars if there are better alternatives, but the variety and quality is up to par at least for me. They're right on the same level as Modern Times and Ballast Point, which are also good locals. The stuff people rave about are mostly hard to find whales, sometimes overrated. I have a general appreciation for beer as long as it's not nasty.

 

I remember going to the San Marcos location and getting a tour from Greg while I was still in college. At one of their early anniversaries at the original location I tried Speedway which introduced me to AleSmith. So Stone is who started me on my journey.

Back on track. I typically don't buy their beer at a bar or restaurant. But I'll probably buy a 6 pack a month or a couple 22's. Sprout's use to have their 6 packs for $7.99 (now $8.99) and Costco typically has their 22's for $5.99 or less. Still like crushing a Go To on a really hot day when doing yard work or out at the river. Last summer Costco had a case of Go To for like $27.

I still love Double Bastard and the BA versions (man the DB aged in brandy barrels was amazing). Wish they would length their aging because it seems like they now between the 3-5 month timeframe. Love they offer new beers all the time and when you go to a tasting room there are a few pilot beers. Looking forward to Bitter Oatmeal Chocolate Stout (might be my all time favorite anniversary beer), Enjoy By with Tangerine and Pataskala.

 

First. Try Double Bastard and Ruinten. Second. Come back and report to the thread.

Based upon the beers mentioned in your OP, you seem to be primarily an IPA guy. You need more breadth in your selection to appreciate Stone. Good/great beer at good price points.

 

I don't, have not bought a Stone beer in years.

 

Because taste is... subjective?


I mean, I don't really seek out or buy much Stone these days, but it's pretty much the go to beer that you know will live up to what it's advertising.

 

Question based on a premise that is not true.

I have respect for them, and occasionally will try out Stone beers, but love? Well, maybe I'll love the Bitter Chocolate Stout anniversary reprise.

 

They're not everyone's cup of tea and that's okay. In fact, they actively say they aren't for everyone. They have a specific style in terms of their aggressive hopping of their IPAs and some people don't care a lot for that.

Why I like Stone:
-Consistently good and available
-They care about freshness dates more than anyone in the industry. They stamp on the label of one of their bottles for crying out loud.
-They're one of the big reasons craft beer is where it is today. They're not one of the first, but they were there early on and didn't compromise on their vision for what they wanted to be. It was much, much harder to start a craft brewery 15 years ago.
-They don't pander to the lowest common denominator, but they listen to what their fans want. People wanted Xocoveza back, they made it happen. People want cloudy IPAs, they make an unfiltered IPA.
- @StoneGreg comes on here regularly and engages with us. He's one of a handful of high profile industry folks that do so regularly.
-They've been a big part of moving the industry forward in terms of brewing techniques, new hops and approaches to business.
-They don't act like they're the only one making great beer. I've heard Greg talk about other beers he enjoys, and they also distribute other breweries and put them on tap in their restaurant. They're as active on the collaboration scene as any large brewery out there. They're about the industry, not just themselves.

 

What? I thought everybody hated Stone know.

 

They came along when craft beer was largely Sierra Nevada/Sam Adams (and Karl Strauss here in San Diego) and basically showed that there was way more that could be done with craft beer. They also had that "we're not making beer for everyone" attitude that might have rubbed some people the wrong way, but did a lot to get people to try new/different styles of beer. And they are still making very good beer at relatively reasonable prices, even if the actual beer isn't as groundbreaking as it was a decade ago.

 

Nobody love love love loves Stone. They make a small number of very good beers, lots of decent stuff, and some misses. They're simply a fun destination to visit, and a gateway into craft beer for many people.

 

Stone is like your mom's cooking it is the comfort food (beer). It was one of the first "craft" beers I drank many years ago and thus have great memories of drinking it and it reminds me of a happy time. Yes there may be better out there but sometimes you just want what's familiar. Plus they throw a kick ass anniversary party each year.

 

I'm kinda disappointed at the level of thoughtful, adult conversation happening in here.

 

The original Stone Pale Ale was what got me into craft beer years ago, that and Sierra Nevada pale ale. It drastically shaped my palette and gave me a curiosity into more hoppy bitter beverages and later BA beers. With that said I wouldn't say I love their beers as much any more. It's more so about the experience and what they stand for. I like that they have grown to the size their at with national distribution but still experiment and collaborate making small batch brews.

 

Because if you walked into a shop, and didn't see Stone beer behind the door - every part of your craft-dna would scream... "something's not right."

They've transcended to the point where they embody what craft brewing stands for in this day and age. That speaks volumes into who they are, what they've accomplished, and how much we all owe to them. The day American Adjunct falls to its knees, I would be perfectly fine if it was Stone that performed the finishing move. They've earned it.