Stone Brewing Co. Turns Its Taps To Europe

One U.S. craft brewery is taking on the fatherland of beer.

California-based Stone Brewing Co. announced on Monday its plans to open Stone Brewing Co. – Berlin, a production brewery and destination restaurant in Berlin, Germany.

Stone's move to Germany marks the first American craft brewer to independently own and operate brewery in Europe.

The venue is set to open by early 2016 at the site of a former gasworks complex in Marienpark, Berlin, which spreads across more than two acres of both indoor and outdoor space. Stone is investing an intial $25 million dollars into the renovations.

But this will be so much more than a craft brewery.

Stone Brewing Co. – Berlin will be home to a custom-built, stainless steel brewhouse that will produce year-round and special-release Stone beers to be packaged, kegged and enjoyed on site and eventually distributed; a Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens restaurant, or an eclectic farm-to-table restaurant that will highlight locally grown and organic food; and a Stone Company Store, a retail store featuring specialty Stone beers and merchandise. 

The company also launched an Indiegogo crowd-participation campaign today, to help raise money for the venture. Fans can participate in the project by purchasing special collaboration beers to be brewed with award-winning, renowned craft brewers from around the world at Stone Brewing Co. – Berlin once the facility is operational.

Stone Brewing Co. is the tenth largest craft brewer in the U.S.