Stone Brewing launches in Berlin

The wait is over. On 7 December 2015 California’s Stone brewery served up the first rounds from the inaugural batch of beer brewed at its Berlin brewhouse, “the first independently built, owned, and operated American craft brewery in Europe”, as was pointed out.

Stone’s beer was poured in more than 40 locations in Berlin and six other European states. Stone began brewing a month ago to ship to outlying pubs, but some local Berlin bars will receive what the beer maker calls “uber-fresh” brews from beer kegged and delivered the same day.

Stone is the ninth largest U.S. craft brewer, known for its bold, hoppy beers and brash branding. For the Berlin launch, the brewery is featuring its Stone IPA, Stone Xocoveza for the Holidays and the New Year, and Arrogant Bastard Ale.

The Berlin investment, pegged at USD 25 million, also features a brewpub and beer garden, which are slated to open in March 2016 at a former gasworks plant that was built in 1901 and is on the southern outskirts of the German capital.

Currently, only the smaller of two brew systems is online, but another system ten times as large will be fired up by spring.

According to the Brewers Association, which represents U.S. craft brewers, craft beer exports are climbing, jumping 37 percent from 2013 to 2014 to reach more than 110,000 barrels (130,000 hl) valued at USD 29 million.

In a research note, IBISWorld writes the U.S. craft beer is expected to play an increasingly prominent role in the global market for beer and will redefine the country as a growing region for a vibrant range of beers. IBISWorld forecast U.S. craft beer exports to grow at an annualized rate of 12.7 percent to USD 226 million by the end of 2020.