The expanding Stone Brewing empire

With US craft brewers you can always be in for surprises. Greg Koch to all intents and purposes could become the next Walt Disney or Richard Branson (he who founded the Virgin empire) as he already sports three hats: that of brewer, publican and hotelier.

With three breweries in operation – in California, Virginia and Germany -, and its Stone World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido a major attraction, the brewer announced in August 2016 that it would next build a 99-room craft beer hotel nearby its themed beer garden. The cost is said to be USD 26 million. The brewery is partnering with San Diego-based Untitled Hospitality to construct the project, which officials hope will be open by the first quarter of 2018.

In Richmond, Virginia, they will set up a Stone World Bistro & Garden too, which could open in 2018 too. While Stone has not released plans for a similar hotel in Richmond, a company exec did not rule out the possibility.

Obviously, the whole point of a craft beer hotel is that you don’t need a designated driver because you are home for the night already.