I'm Greg @ Stone Brewing and "The Beer Jesus From America" - Ask Me Anything!

Just finished 6 pages. Wow! What a read. And thanks for being so damned engaged and verbose in your participation here @StoneGreg .

 

Didn’t see this asked yet but is Enjoy By the same recipe every time? On a homebrewing podcast Mitch Steele states that it’s the same, after the initial recipe change due to Nelson and other hops not being accessible enough. I have been saying it over and over on here that it’s the same recipe. Am I right or wrong?

An answer straight from the source would be awesome.

Thanks for all the time you spent replying to the countless posts. Enjoying a stone ipa while reading through them. A true classic ipa that never gets old. Cheers

 

if a german goes into a bar expecting to pay 2,80€ for a beer (as many do, as you know...and rightfully point out about the cheapness over there) and are instead charged 3 times that (7,80€), it is analogous to an american going into a bar expecting to pay $7 and instead being charged 3 times that ($21).

we can certainly debate whether the german expectations for such cheapness are realistic, good, sustainable, etc. all I am saying is that seeing prices 3 times what they have come to expect has to come as a huge shock. certainly that isn't hard to understand?

 

I simply used your Indiegogo numbers and did the math. It would appear there are numbers missing from the Indiegogo website. I understand your reasoning behind the crowdfunding campaign better now that you've gone into some detail and I appreciate you taking time to do so.

I've never felt Germans as a whole had a conflict with an American brewery, just a conflict about what "beer" should be. While most may be interested in a conversation about beer, getting them to agree that "beer" can be outside a narrow definition is difficult and getting them to drink something "new" or "different" can be even more difficult. And most feel it should be cheap; hell, beer and its ingredients are even subsidized at the federal level.

Thank you again for taking time to reply.

 

This of course assumes one can pin down the actual definition of "craft beer".

Why not consume both?

Way too many winky faces in my posts.

 

I think what we are dealing with is the corruption that people are willing to do to further feather their nests. That something may be legal does not mean that that very legality wasn't crafted for someone's benefit. I Iook specifically at archaic franchise laws that protect wholesaler's "ownership" of brands. It is a remnant of prohibition and reeks of corruption. There are pieces of our general character that just may be beyond repair or remedy. The world moves on.
As a young fellow I always found new beers to instruct me about the history of beer and I am very happy about how things now are. This is enough for me. And I thank and praise Stone Brewing for their strident and important posture.

 

What a great discussion. All this, after 7 pages, makes me (finally) want to visit the Stone places in San Diego. Going to start planning by beer-cation today. Cheers @StoneGreg ! Thanks for taking the time...

 

I mean, I think I'd be lying if I said I think it could survive year round in the marketplace. But I would absolutely buy that 12 pack I just made up. And as long as they could restrain themselves to like once, MAYBE twice a year, I would absolutely buy variations like it (as The Bruery is doing with their 12 beers of Christmas box, give me the Vertical Epic 12 pack...inventing the 01.01.01 they never brewed). They've done reduxes before (rebrews of anniversary beers and vertical epics), I can't imagine it moves the needle a ton in sales (given the cost associated), but as long as they weren't losing their shirts over it I selfishly think it would be a great marketing angle by playing into their relative seniority.

I still enjoy Stone's beer despite my getting tired of their shtick (just a personal preference over time), but I haven't been inspired by a lot of their recent offerings (to clarify, have purchased some of everything, but find that they strike a similar itch to just getting a Stone IPA when I'm thinking Stone, not that the beers haven't been consistent as always). But I'd absolutely pay them to indulge some nostalgia.

 

In case you are still answering questions, what was up with 2018, Stone's year of the Loral hops? I was excited with all the new releases that came out that year like Ghost Hammer, Stone Exalted, Fear/Movie/Lions and Inevitable adventure all featured loral hops prominently and they all started to taste too similar.

 

Apparently a recipe that was brought back, that was originally brewed up by a group of Ladies connected to the brewery.

 

What beer are you holding in your avatar?

My guess is Stone Russian Imperial Stout (RIP).

That or Smoked Porter.

 

Hey, I'm the same way!!! (sort of an inside joke about me not caring about beer prices...well, it's sort of a joke, but not really)

@meefmoff @steveh

 

I like the beers and don't buy them often. This just may be changing. The arrogance thing was always off-putting to me but I know that it has always been a joke that happens to be true. Sometimes things are simply real and need to be embraced for historical truth.

 

Good to know you're in that elite top percentage of beer drinkers Mr. Dupont. ;-)

 

Well now I'm thirstier than ever for Enjoy By...., and that ever present Oregon dilemma isn't going to make it easy!

 

How's China going. Are you serving in plastic bags.

 

Touche! appreciate your Q&A here. Have always had a soft spot for Stone. I'll be buying a 6 pack of enjoy by and a mixpack this afternoon to enjoy. Cheers!

 

No. It was and is just an angle of marketing that didn't appeal to me. I think I know who you are and I trust that. I've liked your group for many years.

 

So I just watched beer Jesus. Sad to hear after all that you had to sell. Do you know how well BrewDog is doing since they took over? And if they are doing well why is it that Stone couldn’t do as well to be able to stay open

 

I was excited when I heard you may build east coast distribution in your home state. Either way, you introduced a lot of people to the world of craft beer (me as well back around 2003) and for that, a tip of the cap to you sir.

-An Ohio Hayseed living in a flyover state

 

Stop by the brewery in RVA and ask if you can speak with one the brewers.

 

Greg, do you still feel confident that Stone will remain independent? Many of your long-standing comrades have said the same, and many have eaten their words.

 

Greg, any chance Stone will start producing IRS again? I miss it quite a bit. I used to buy a case a year.

 

@StoneGreg I really have enjoyed reading all your replies to the folks here. So good to see you back, its been a too long. I always enjoyed your previous participation here on Ba and hope you will still pop in as your schedule allows going forward.
Cheers to all the great beers you make and to all the new ones yet to be born, Happy Holidays to you and your family.

 

I miss that beer more than any other beer that I can no longer get. I used to buy a bomber or two every single time I went to the beer store.

 

Hey...so what's your take on black IPAs/black ales? I've been told more than once in shops/taprooms that it's a 'dead style'...?!? Not cool, it's one of my favorites! Your Sublimely Self-Righteous IPA was certainly a winner (which I miss, haven't seen it--or as much Stone, period) since I moved to KY from IL. They're harder and harder to find (Old Louisville Brewery makes a good one that's regular), and with all the various taste explosions in every other direction I don't see why more black IPAs aren't out there...thanks!

 

Hey Greg, unless I missed it thru all the posts (though I think I read all of them), I didn't see an answer to my selfish question. Post #29

 

In Germany good beer is ubiquitous and not generally considered anything but well crafted beer. Craft beer is likely an odd concept to many in Germany. I'm sure this is changing, but I'm an old Bamberg conservative and have always been perfectly happy with the many stellar local brews.

 

Greg, after over 2000 years even OG Jesus doesn't have the entire world following his command. You need more patience . Who knows you may even sway the Portman Group.

(BTW your letter to the Portman Group was hilarious to me but those offended, pompus asses probably didn't get the humor).