North County Times -- "They expressed strong confidence in Stone as a responsible business, and predicted the 285-acre park would become a more popular regional destination because of Stone's popularity and some upgrades the company is planning for the park's amphitheater and adult softball complex.

The council's endorsement, while not a final approval, allows Stone chief executive Greg Koch and city officials to begin crafting a more detailed proposal regarding the extent of the park renovations and how revenue from concessions would be shared."

North County Times -- "Stone Brewing Co. is looking to fill 41 open positions, the iconic Escondido craft brewery and bistro said this week. Brewers, engineers, a sous chef, bistro management, warehouse workers and other positions are available the company wrote Tuesday on its Facebook page."

San Diego Daily Transcript -- SDDT Editor in Chief George Chamberlin interviews Stone Brewing Co. CEO & Co-Founder Greg Koch about the success of the brewery, and gets some insight into Greg's entrepreneurial vision.

Hoptomology -- "The book takes you through history of the brewery and the people that made it possible. It chronicles all the special release beers and collaboration brews it has done. It also give us a scaled down recipes of their famous ales for us to try at home. Replete with food parings and recipes from the Stone World Bistro and Gardens, (which of course, all include beer!) this is a beautiful book and another great addition to your brewing library."

Best Craft Beer -- "I have never had a beer from The Alchemist, unfortunately, but knowing well the character of other brews by Ninkasi and Stone, I wouldn’t expect a black (okay, brown) IPA from them that would be anything less intense than this. I am not a big fan of the 'Black IPA', 'Cascadian Dark Ale' or 'Very very very dark brown IPA', but this one certainly stood out for me."

Carlsbad Business Journal -- "San Diego has established itself as a paradise for those who enjoy quality beer, and one of the area’s most notable successes is Stone Brewing Co., the Escondido-based brewery that has experienced a meteoric rise since it first launched in 1996. Now, the company’s founders are giving a first-hand account of the company’s history with a book, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance. Co-written with Randy Clemens, an author and the company’s public relations coordinator, the book provides an inside look at the company’s first 15 years."

San Diego Magazine -- "Local hopheads are bound to love this brew, but anyone can get behind a beer created to raise money for hurricane victims. Proceeds from the sale of this beer go to a charitable organization established to help victims of Hurricane Irene, a scourge that decimated numerous structures and lives in Vermont, including the The Alchemist Pub and Brewery, an avant garde operation whose head brewer, John Kimmich, contributed his talents to this collaborative quaff."

New York Times -- "Even in times of tight budgets, finely crafted beer remains a relatively approachable luxury, and few American regions have more brewing momentum than San Diego County. Maybe it’s time, then, to think about building a beer safari in the land of sunshine, fish tacos and hopped-up American IPAs. Long established craft breweries like Karl Strauss Brewing Company and the cheeky Stone Brewing Company have mentored brewmasters and created demand for some seriously offbeat ales."

Dallas Observer -- "Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA was one of my favorite new beers and an excellent showcase of the Sorachi Ace hop, not to mention a good cause. With its subtle green tea herbal background and Hophead Rating of 92, it was my favorite Stone Brewing Co. beer of the year."

World Of Beer -- "if there is a brewery that more consistently releases hop-forward beers with balance, I don’t know of it, and besides, as illustrated by several of their releases in 2011, notably the Elysian-Stone-Bruery collaboration pumpkin beer, La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado, this is also a brewery that can quite comfortable handle subtlety.

Add in the consistently convivial atmosphere of their World Bistro and Gardens,  their remarkably frequent, and frequently remarkable, collaboration beers, and their aggressive attitude towards growth, and you have what I consider a worthy winner of the 2011 title."

Restaurant Hospitality -- "Thanks to [Executive Chef Alex Carballo's] apparently boundless energy and knack for new ideas, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens' revenues have doubled annually in the last three years.

In three years at the restaurant, Carballo has brought huge imagination to a growing role. A huge fan of the slow food movement, he has made Stone Brewing the largest restaurant purchaser of local, organic produce in San Diego County. He's launched a master pairings series, designing beer-friendly menus with sushi, pork, chocolate, breakfast and vegan foods. His quarterly Fresh! dinners combine produce, seafood and fowl that was all harvested, caught or slaughtered the same day; avocado and olive oils pressed that day; salt collected and dried the day before and beer straight out of the fermenting tank.

Carballo continues to take on more projects, launching Stone Catering; Stone Farms, which supplies organic produce to the bistro and a farm stand; a spinoff of the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens planned near the airport for 2012; on-site locations at the San Diego airport; and foodservice for the Stone Hotel set to open across from the brewery in 2013."

Washington City Paper -- "Finding the outspoken and gregarious face of southern California's Stone Brewing Company is not very difficult. From participating in beer events, brewing collaboration beers with other breweries, to being a social media maven, Koch is as recognizable for his personality as he is for his beers. The beers for which many of 'are not worthy' are about to become easier to find around the world as Koch has been traveling Europe in search of a country to call home to Stone's planned European brewhouse."

Boston Globe -- "Another Stone collaboration, another beer that raises money for a good cause. This time the beneficiary is in New England. The beer looks like a strong brown ale, but one whiff and there's no mistaking it for one. This aroma is heavy on the hops -- citrusy, piney hops that suggest evergreens and orange rinds. The taste is hoppy and dry, and though the solid malt foundation does bring a measure of balance, the hops dominate."

San Diego Beer Blog -- "Pouring The Alchemist / Ninkasi / Stone More Brown Than Black IPA it looked like any other brown ale. But upon first whiff it was obvious this was no regular brown ale. Maybe it was the huge disconnect between what I expected based on the color and what my senses detected, but this was one of the best smelling beers I’ve come across. Huge piney hops. When people call a beer 'dank' this is what they mean."

BevNET Magazine names the Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA "Best Collaboration" and named Stone Brewing Co. CEO "Person of the Year"

BrewChief.com -- "As a beer enthusiast, I feel enriched by my visit to the majestic Stone Brewing Co. It has been on my short list of brew related landmarks to visit and I couldn't be happier with the experience. If there were such things as the ''7 Wonders of the Brewing World'', this would definitely be one of them. If you are a true fan of craft beer, it's damn near a religious experience. Do yourself a favor and add it to your brewing bucket list."

The Washington Post -- "Over the last 15 years, Stone Brewing Company has become one of the most famous microbreweries in the world, thanks to such heavyweights as Arrogant Bastard Ale and Stone Ruination IPA. Co-founder Greg Koch is in Washington tonight to promote the new book 'The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.', which contains the history of the microbrew scene, homebrew recipes for Stone beers and beer tasting and pairing notes."

London Free Press -- "Leave the wines to Napa Valley; San Diego's forte is beer. The county boasts more than 30 craft breweries among them the Stone Brewing Co., formed in 1996 by beer lovers Steve Wagner and Greg Koch. Now housed in a large, new facility in Escondido, Stone Brewing Co. has become a tourist destination with its stunning restaurant and gardens, and is a popular end-of-the-work-week destination for locals. The restaurant serves dishes made from only locally grown, mostly organic produce, much of it supplied by the brewery's own farm."

Buzzbin Magazine -- "Greg Koch is the face behind quite possibly the most well-known and respected craft beer company in the country, San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co. Over the last 15 years, he has been on a mission to save the world from what he calls the “fizzy yellow nonsense” that has been force-fed to the public for years. Thanks to some brilliant marketing and hop-heavy beers, Stone has created a recipe for success."

Listen in as CEO & co-founder Greg Koch speaks with Lynn Krielow Chamberlain of iWineRadio about the history behind Stone and the process of putting together the new book, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance.

North County Times -- "They expressed strong confidence in Stone as a responsible business, and predicted the 285-acre park would become a more popular regional destination because of Stone's popularity and some upgrades the company is planning for the park's amphitheater and adult softball complex.

The council's endorsement, while not a final approval, allows Stone chief executive Greg Koch and city officials to begin crafting a more detailed proposal regarding the extent of the park renovations and how revenue from concessions would be shared."

North County Times -- "Stone Brewing Co. is looking to fill 41 open positions, the iconic Escondido craft brewery and bistro said this week. Brewers, engineers, a sous chef, bistro management, warehouse workers and other positions are available the company wrote Tuesday on its Facebook page."

Carlsbad Business Journal -- "San Diego has established itself as a paradise for those who enjoy quality beer, and one of the area’s most notable successes is Stone Brewing Co., the Escondido-based brewery that has experienced a meteoric rise since it first launched in 1996. Now, the company’s founders are giving a first-hand account of the company’s history with a book, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance. Co-written with Randy Clemens, an author and the company’s public relations coordinator, the book provides an inside look at the company’s first 15 years."

New York Times -- "Even in times of tight budgets, finely crafted beer remains a relatively approachable luxury, and few American regions have more brewing momentum than San Diego County. Maybe it’s time, then, to think about building a beer safari in the land of sunshine, fish tacos and hopped-up American IPAs. Long established craft breweries like Karl Strauss Brewing Company and the cheeky Stone Brewing Company have mentored brewmasters and created demand for some seriously offbeat ales."

Dallas Observer -- "Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA was one of my favorite new beers and an excellent showcase of the Sorachi Ace hop, not to mention a good cause. With its subtle green tea herbal background and Hophead Rating of 92, it was my favorite Stone Brewing Co. beer of the year."

Restaurant Hospitality -- "Thanks to [Executive Chef Alex Carballo's] apparently boundless energy and knack for new ideas, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens' revenues have doubled annually in the last three years.

In three years at the restaurant, Carballo has brought huge imagination to a growing role. A huge fan of the slow food movement, he has made Stone Brewing the largest restaurant purchaser of local, organic produce in San Diego County. He's launched a master pairings series, designing beer-friendly menus with sushi, pork, chocolate, breakfast and vegan foods. His quarterly Fresh! dinners combine produce, seafood and fowl that was all harvested, caught or slaughtered the same day; avocado and olive oils pressed that day; salt collected and dried the day before and beer straight out of the fermenting tank.

Carballo continues to take on more projects, launching Stone Catering; Stone Farms, which supplies organic produce to the bistro and a farm stand; a spinoff of the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens planned near the airport for 2012; on-site locations at the San Diego airport; and foodservice for the Stone Hotel set to open across from the brewery in 2013."

Washington City Paper -- "Finding the outspoken and gregarious face of southern California's Stone Brewing Company is not very difficult. From participating in beer events, brewing collaboration beers with other breweries, to being a social media maven, Koch is as recognizable for his personality as he is for his beers. The beers for which many of 'are not worthy' are about to become easier to find around the world as Koch has been traveling Europe in search of a country to call home to Stone's planned European brewhouse."

Boston Globe -- "Another Stone collaboration, another beer that raises money for a good cause. This time the beneficiary is in New England. The beer looks like a strong brown ale, but one whiff and there's no mistaking it for one. This aroma is heavy on the hops -- citrusy, piney hops that suggest evergreens and orange rinds. The taste is hoppy and dry, and though the solid malt foundation does bring a measure of balance, the hops dominate."

BevNET Magazine names the Baird/Ishii/Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA "Best Collaboration" and named Stone Brewing Co. CEO "Person of the Year"

The Washington Post -- "Over the last 15 years, Stone Brewing Company has become one of the most famous microbreweries in the world, thanks to such heavyweights as Arrogant Bastard Ale and Stone Ruination IPA. Co-founder Greg Koch is in Washington tonight to promote the new book 'The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.', which contains the history of the microbrew scene, homebrew recipes for Stone beers and beer tasting and pairing notes."

London Free Press -- "Leave the wines to Napa Valley; San Diego's forte is beer. The county boasts more than 30 craft breweries among them the Stone Brewing Co., formed in 1996 by beer lovers Steve Wagner and Greg Koch. Now housed in a large, new facility in Escondido, Stone Brewing Co. has become a tourist destination with its stunning restaurant and gardens, and is a popular end-of-the-work-week destination for locals. The restaurant serves dishes made from only locally grown, mostly organic produce, much of it supplied by the brewery's own farm."

Buzzbin Magazine -- "Greg Koch is the face behind quite possibly the most well-known and respected craft beer company in the country, San Diego’s Stone Brewing Co. Over the last 15 years, he has been on a mission to save the world from what he calls the “fizzy yellow nonsense” that has been force-fed to the public for years. Thanks to some brilliant marketing and hop-heavy beers, Stone has created a recipe for success."

San Antonio News-Express -- "Stone Brewing Co. is one of America's most beloved craft breweries ... and it will be the first to tell you that. [Their] book starts with a nice, concise background on what beer is and how it's made, followed by a long history of the brewery [...]. What sold me on it was the section from Stone's beer and food pairing expert, “Dr.” Bill Sysak. The good doctor is well known in the craft beer community and you can catch him on the weekly podcast “New Brew Thursday.” He really breaks down not only how to pair beer with food, but also aging and storing, and he gives some of the best practical advice you'll read on the subject. There's also a wide range of recipes at the end of the book [...and] a section on brewing Stone's beers at home for the home brewers. Nothing like getting the exact recipe from the brewer to make sure you get it just right.

San Diego CityBeat -- "It’s a convention that the Stone Brewing rabble-rousers happily challenge with their annual Beer vs. Wine dinners at the posh El Bizcocho restaurant. They pit professionally selected beers and wines against five courses for diners to judge which is the ultimate pairing. The four previous cage fights split victories evenly, meaning I was party to judging the gustatory rubber match."

DRAFT Magazine -- "The shelves were awash with trendy black IPAs this year, but none wowed as much as Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Often, black IPAs miss the mark with either too much roasted malt or none at all, but this beer finds the perfect blend of velvety milk chocolate, dank pine and lively orange hop notes, all accompanied by a subtle roasted malt bite that makes the swallow sing. Hands down, Self-Righteous is the premier example of the style."

North County Times -- "'The Craft of Stone Brewing Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes and Unabashed Arrogance' is much more than a standard chronicle of Stone's colorful 15-year history. Written by co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner with PR man Randy Clemens, the book provides some basics on beer, a brief history through the ages, and then completely opens up the vault with previously untold stories of Stone's early days and then some."

North County Times -- "Commissioners who oversee Escondido parks approved a proposal Thursday that would allow Stone Brewing Co. to take over concessions in limited portions of Kit Carson Park, where alcohol is now banned except in rare instances when groups receive permits for one-time events."

MetroWest Daily News -- "Like all of Stone Brewing Company's beers, "The Craft of Stone Brewing Co. Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance," is a must-have for beer lovers."

Travel+Leisure -- "The people at Stone Brewing Co. took the term beer garden quite literally, planting pine, elm, and olive trees and creating a koi pond and large swaths of grass. CEO and co-founder Greg Koch calls the 205-seat garden a 'one-acre Shangri-la.' When paired with a pint of beer and dishes like barbecued duck tacos or wild boar baby back ribs, it’s not hard to see why."

New York Times -- "In Brussels, Moeder Lambic is among the most traditional of Belgian beer cafes, specializing in the obscure sour brews known as lambic and gueuze. By contrast, California’s Stone Brewing Co. is among the most innovative of American brewers, turning out broad-shouldered double I.P.A.’s and other highly hopped, high-octane ales with names like [Stone] Sublimely Self-Righteous [Ale] and [Stone] Ruination [IPA].

This weekend, the two collide at Moeder Lambic vs. Stone, a weekend beer festival that will pair a record 30 taps from Stone — some of the brewery’s only officially imported kegs in Europe — with another 30 draft Belgians from Moeder."

The Place -- “Being sustainable is more of a constant progression,” says Greg Koch, CEO and Co-Founder of Stone Brewing Co. “As Stone has grown, our ability to increase our efficiencies has grown. If Stone Brewing has been influential in any way, we have shown that doing things in a unique way, our way, a sustainable and responsible way, actually equates to a good business model.”

North County Times -- "There he stood, high on the rooftop of a semi-truck, screaming and almost preaching through a bullhorn to a seemingly endless line of craft beer fans eagerly waiting to enter Stone Brewing Co.'s biggest party of the year.

Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of the Escondido brewery, never does anything quietly. Neither does the brewery, which celebrated another anniversary this past weekend at Cal State San Marcos with more than 6,000 of its closest friends."

Dallas Observer -- "With its gargoyle logos and its cocky slogans and beer names, not to mention its intensely bitter IPAs, Stone Brewing Co. -- which celebrated its 15th anniversary Tuesday -- may try to maintain a bad-ass image. But a couple of new collaborations coming out this summer show that they're really big softies under that gruff exterior, and have no problem playing nicely with others."

North County Times -- "A proposal by Stone Brewing Co. to contract with the city of Escondido to run the adult concessions in Kit Carson Park is one residents should consider carefully. With two upcoming forums, Escondido residents will have the opportunity to weigh the facts and decide if this is a good move for their city.

While we understand the concerns voiced by some about selling beer in a city park, we think that with proper safeguards it need not be a deal killer. And in a time of depressed city resources, Stone's infusion of cash could help not only save part of the city's recreation program, but even improve it."

North County Times -- "15 years ago today, a bunch of beer geeks celebrated the opening of their microbrewery on Mata Way in San Marcos. Today, Stone Brewing Co. is no less beer-geeky, but a lot less micro -- it's the 14th largest craft brewery in the United States. Stone will hold its 15th Anniversary Celebration & Invitational Beer Festival on August 19-20."

San Diego Reader -- "Stone Brewing Company has put out a great many collaboration beers of late. One of the latest to hit the scene is the Baird / Ishii / Stone Japanese Green Tea IPA. The beer was conceptualized and forged into reality with the assistance of Toshi Ishii, the owner of Guam's Ishii Brewing Company and a Stone alumnus, and Bryan Baird of Japan's Baird Brewing Company. That duo teamed with Stone brewmaster Mitch Steele to develop the recipe for the beer, the main purpose of which is to raise money to benefit victims of Japan's recent tsunami tragedy."

San Diego Union-Tribune -- "When disaster strikes, brew beer. In May, two months after an earthquake and tsunami devastated northern Japan, three brewers gathered in Escondido to formulate a relief plan."

San Diego Reader -- "Koch says that the tone Stone set has been important for the development of San Diego beers. 'I’m the first to say that I think this has been a group effort, and it’s because of the collective talent of brewers in San Diego that we’re all so successful. But if Stone did anything, we demonstrated that we were making beers the way that we wanted them.'"

Construction Digital -- "In the mid-90s Greg Koch had a vision, to make American beer that people actually enjoyed drinking. It was a novel concept in a country that specializes in watered down, mass-produced beer that favors quantity over quality. Fifteen years later, Koch oversees Stone Brewing Co., a coast-to-coast craft beer distributor based out of San Diego, CA that ships to 36 states across the US and plans to get even bigger."

San Diego Reader -- "When even the wine bar is pairing beers with its happy hour food, you know something's up. What's happening is the official opening of Stone Brewing's South Park store (2215 30th Street) where you can taste brewskis and get growlers of cheeky breeds like Arrogant Bastard [Ale]."

North County Times -- "Stone Brewing Co. chief executive and co-founder Greg Koch showed no lack of enthusiasm when presented the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 San Diego Award. As he claimed his award at the June 16 gala at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla, he pulled out a bullhorn and began extolling the merits of Stone's beers. He ended his speech by diving face-first into the crowd."

North County Times -- "Greg Koch, Stone Brewing's charismatic CEO & co-founder, has received an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2011 award in San Diego, in the Consumer Products category."

TheKitchn's Emma Christensen writes quite the review of our deliciously decadent Stone Imperial Russian Stout: "This is one smooth talking beer, all right. Silky and rich from the first sip to the last..."

Boston.com -- "[T]he stout had an incredible nose. It gave off a complex, smoky aroma that brought to mind dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans, molasses, and hazelnut. A nice tan head caps a beer so black that not a trace of the bright sunlight penetrates it. The taste is burnt and smoky, with hints of caramel and warming alcohol on the swallow."

"Stone's Imperial Russian Stout is a great beer, heavy as lead, and released — as a dare, apparently — in the heat of summer. Buy it now, and stash it in the fridge for a few months. It's a fireside sipper, not meant for warm-weather dining. [Stone] BELGO Anise Imperial Russian Stout is a different story. Fire up the grill, and pour this one for dessert."

"Stone Farms is a welcome presence in our local food landscape."

CigarAficionado.com -- "Cigar smokers understand that the difficulty of pairing a cigar with beer is that a cigar's smoke tends to overwhelm the flavor of beer. Stone Brewing seems to have solved this quandary with their Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine and Stone BELGO Anise Imperial Russian Stout offerings."

SDNews.com -- "Stone Brewing Co., Southern California’s largest craft brewer, will open a second outfit of its award-winning Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens in Point Loma’s historic Liberty Station as part of early $27 million in expansion projects slated for the coming year."

"Perhaps the best dish of the evening followed, a cannelloni that used thin-sliced zucchini in lieu of pasta to sheath a house-made soy ricotta cheese that was more flavorful than most varieties available in our region. This simple yet creative dish was made even tastier thanks to the addition of crispy fried spinach and a sweet heirloom ragout featuring one of spring’s greatest delicacies, morel mushrooms. It was a nice preview of the type of fare that’s likely to come when the brewing company’s newest venture, Stone Farms, is fully in bloom and operational."

North County Times -- "City officials say they may lift a longtime ban on alcohol in Kit Carson Park to allow Stone Brewing Co. to take over concessions in the park's Adult Softball Complex, amphitheater and the picnic area next to the Queen Califia sculpture.

Adding Stone's popular beer and food would make those mostly underused attractions much more popular with residents, city officials said. In addition, Stone plans to spend $250,000 upgrading the softball and concession areas, chief executive Greg Koch said."

FoodGPS.com -- "Stone Brewing has made many great collaborative beers with everyone from Victory Brewing in Pennsylvania to San Diego neighbors Green Flash to 21st Amendment in San Francisco. Add to that list, Toshi Ishii of the eponymous Ishii Brewing that recently opened in Guam and Bryan Baird, brewmaster at Baird Brewing in Namazu, Japan. They joined Stone’s Mitch Steele to brew a green tea IPA, the proceeds of which will go toward Japanese tsunami relief."

San Diego Union-Tribune -- "The city and Stone Brewing Co. are exploring the possibility of a partnership that would help spruce up Kit Carson Park and make the Escondido-based brewery an exclusive vendor in three areas of the park."

SignOnSanDiego.com -- "Stone Brewing Company, whose recession-defying growth has made it Southern California’s largest craft brewer, is announcing Wednesday $26.6 million in expansions and new businesses."

North County Times -- "Greg Koch, Stone's CEO and co-founder, likens beer collaborations to musicians from different genres who collaborate on a song -- think 'Walk This Way,' the Aerosmith-Run DMC version from the late 1980s. 'They introduced a completely different element that individually would not have been there,' he said. 'Collaboration beers are different because the stage is set to enable them to be different.'"

Stone, founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, was not the first craft brewer in San Diego, but its edgy attitude, willingness to push the boundaries of normal craft beer expectations and an eagerness to distribute its beers outside of the region has made it the poster child for San Diego beer.
"With our success, I think we have helped embolden very creative and talented brewers to follow their muse," said Koch. "We showed other brewers that they could do it their way and be successful."

Daily Trojan -- "This is it. The Big One, Shiva, the Godzilla of American IPAs. [T]he aptly named Ruination is a hop-lover’s fantasy and a Blue Moon fan’s worst nightmare, with blasts of pine, bitter citrus, alpine flowers and cereal grains. [It] is not a beverage to be taken lightly, but for those mature and masochistic enough, it’s a transcendent experience."

Greg Koch and Steve Wagner grace the cover of Beverage World magazine and discuss what they see for the future of the business, and what it's been like working together over the past 15 years.

"The Stone Brewing Co. folks today announced the schedule for what they are calling Stone Week Minnesota, which they promise will be 'a weeklong lineup of epochal events.' The brewery has been on the forefront of the high-hop revolution since its founding 15 years ago. [It] is one of those breweries whose beer people seek out."

Inc. Magazine -- "Greg Koch took his first sip of a craft-brewed beer in 1987. Nine years later, he co-founded, with Steve Wagner, Stone Brewing in Escondido, California. Since then, highly regarded brews like Arrogant Bastard Ale have catapulted the company into the ranks of the country's top microbreweries."

"A competitor is anyone that acts unethical or lowers the bar of the product they sell. A competitor creates an inferior product and tries to convince the public it's superior. But those that raise the level of our industry are not competitors, but rather compatriots. Another craft brewer doing well is not a threat to our success. As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats."

"SAN DIEGO [...] About 30 miles north, in Escondido, is Stone Brewing Co.'s World Bistro & Gardens, which features impressive and thoughtful food items (think BBQ duck tacos) to pair with more than 30 draft beers and dozens of bottles from up the street and around the world."

"Stone Brewing is finalizing plans to become the first American craft brewer with its own European plant, operating in Belgium or Germany."

"After scouting locations in May, Koch and co-owner Steve Wagner received more than 75 brewery site proposals from nine countries, including Denmark, Estonia, France, Italy and Britain. They recently narrowed the playing field to the top two contenders: Bruges, Belgium, and Berlin."

"Stone Ruination IPA: This beer from San Diego is one of the country’s best examples of the popular imperial India pale ale style."

"Stone is a brewery known for its big, ass-kicking beers. So it's saying something that Old Guardian Barley Wine is one of its biggest, most ass-kicking."

"Inside, you’ll find a tasting room, company store, talented and entertaining tour guides (tours fill up quickly) and, surprisingly, one of the better restaurants in North County, the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens. The food is way beyond typical pub grub, utilizing local, seasonal and organic ingredient[s] — try the Wild Boar Baby Back Ribs, the Tilapia Ceviche or the (locally-made) sausage board."

"Independent brewers say the brand-name distributors, with deep pockets and abundant supply, often resort to pay-to-play business practices that mirror the worst of Chicago politics...After selling in Chicago for six months, [Greg Koch] says the city deserves its reputation, but adds that he'll stay in the market." (Video)

"Overall, this was a smooth and well-balanced beer that I would recommend to anyone who wants to try a porter. It is surprisingly approachable, with the smoked character adding some complexity to a very pleasing robust porter instead of overshadowing it."

"Arrogant Bastard has been one of my standards since I started drinking craft beer, and I believe it to be one of the finest examples of an American craft beer: strong, unique, with little attention paid to tradition. It truly is game-changer for your palate."

"He’s not a doctor, but he plays one at Stone Brewing Co. And he’s quite convincing. Dubbed “Dr. Bill," Bill Sysak does not own a Ph.D., but what he does have is a deep knowledge of craft beer and a network of friends in high places at breweries worldwide."

"To kickstart this year’s fest, Stone CEO and co-founder Greg Koch, who may be the West Coast’s most vocal craft beer supporter, led a discussion with L.A.’s top brewers for an audience of passionate beer professionals in the back room of Westside Tavern."

"When several East Coast pub owners asked Greg Koch of Stone Brewing Co. to host beer tastings, Koch decided to “take it to the next level.” And that’s why, last Monday, 40 taps at ChurchKey were dispensing 40 different beers from the Escondido, Calif. brewery best known for its Arrogant Bastard strong ale."

"Stone chief executive Greg Koch said he understands where the Old World got its impressions. Twenty or 30 years ago, American brewing was defined by the mass-produced light lagers and regarded as focused on profits at the expense of innovation."

"Stone Brewing has been on a steady growth spurt, one that seems to defy the recession. The business ranked 32nd on the San Diego Business Journal’s most recent list of the county’s 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies."

"Of the weeklong festivities, we stopped by the Get Real NY Craft Beer and Food Festival over the weekend, where we ran into Bill Sysak, Beverage Supervisor and Certified Cicerone of Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens in California. He taught us a few rules about pairing beer with food..."

"Sierra Nevada and Stone Brewing Co., microbrews that began in California but have become popular national brands, both lashed out at the CBBD after news of the distributor's donation was reported..."

"Like many of the Stone Brewing beers, Arrogant Bastard Ale is strong juju, but it backs up its arrogance with an intricate flavor I recommend."

"My most recent Stone discovery is the Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale. Self-righteousness in people generally puts me off, but in a beer it seems to be a good thing."

"About 120 judges - most accompanied with designated drivers - recently showed up to the Tribes Alehouse & Grill in Mokena to decide the outcome of the Ultimate Beer Bout between Three Floyds Brewing Co., of Munster, Ind., and Stone Brewing Co., of Escondido, Calif."

"[Stone Brewing Co.] is hoping to open a production facility in Europe sometime in the next few years that will be the American craft beer movement’s first foothold on the continent."

"In addition to the popular Arrogant Bastard Ale jersey, the Stone Series includes the Oaked Bastard Ale jersey and the Fizzy Yellow Beer jersey, which proclaims 'Fizzy yellow beer is for wussies.' We agree."

"Stone just closed its request for proposal to construct a brewing facility in Europe. If it works out, in a few years Stone will be the first American craft brewery to make its product outside the United States."

"Stone's Greg Koch, who writes the back-of-the-beer labels, said he can take days, weeks and even a few months coming up with what he wants to put on the labels."

"[Stone Imperial Russian Stout] is easily one of the best stouts I have ever had and, like many of Stone’s brews, I would have another and another."

"Your sniffer is going to need a vacation after smelling Ruination...Local 'hop-heads' have been waiting for a long time to see this one show up on tap. Their reward is a spicy ale with skyscraper-high flavors."

"Last month we asked you to name your favorite beers...the winner was a very respectable offering: Stone Brewing Company of San Diego."

"A distinctly British ale by way of San Diego, Stone Pale Ale is one of the main reasons Stone Brewing Co. has seen its production explode from 400 barrels in 1996 to 98,500 barrels last year. In fact, given the company's growth, it may be unfair to include the Stone folks in the America's Next Top Beer debate -- they may have already arrived."

"Sam Calagione, Bill Covaleski and Greg Koch have come together again to brew a special beer, the Saison du BUFF...Calagione suggested they brew a saison, which neither Dogfish Head nor Stone brew. Koch said he always wanted to brew a beer with sage. From there, they decided to go along with the sage and to add rosemary, thyme and parsley."

"The latest news from Stone Brewing makes you think you're hearing about two different breweries. In the span of a few weeks, they released 2010's Imperial Russian Stout...and followed it with [Saison du BUFF] a light, refreshing, herb-infused saison. It's like Black Sabbath opening for Simon and Garfunkel."

"Stone Brewing, which prides itself with not only thinking outside the box but challenging the very definition of the box concept, is moving ahead with a plan that could see it opening a new brewery in Europe."

Beer of the Month: Stone IPA, "I've been waiting a long time for the beers of the San Diego area's Stone Brewing Co. to come to Chicago, and now that they are finally here, I couldn't be hoppier...The Stone India Pale Ale is a benchmark for hop-a-licious West Coast-style IPAs."

"The title of Greg Koch's presentation was ‘The World According to Stone’ and it appears that the world according to Stone is a world that needs to change. Change is needed in form of increased commitment to the environment and to more sustainable business practices."

"The featured speaker, Stone Brewing CEO Greg Koch, used a bullhorn to broadcast his message to the crowd, exhorting the 'sinners' to repent for their environmentally unclean ways and proselytize the message of sustainability."

"The Green Chamber's mission to encourage green business practices was highlighted by a presentation given by Greg Koch, chief executive officer of Stone Brewing Co., on his company's sustainability efforts. Koch's presentation, and the event as a whole, strived to emphasize the benefits that sustainable operations can have on a business's bottom line."

"Stone is the country’s number one brewer. And they know it...Indeed, as an extreme brewer that amps up the hops and alcohol in most of its beers, Stone isn’t for beginners. But to serious hop-heads, this San Diego brewer deserves Beer Advocate’s distinction as best in class."

"Stone Brewing announced on their twitter feed this afternoon that Chicago is its fifth largest market this year after only one week of sales. Guess Chicago was worthy of the Arrogance."

"Well, pull up a barstool and see for yourself during “Stone Beer Week Chicago,” which kicks-off Thursday, April 1 and runs through Friday, April 9, at hotspots like Publican and Hopleaf. We caught up with Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing Co. to ask, “where does all this confidence come from?”

"Stone Brewing, which is located in Southern California and is already widely acknowledged as crafting some of the best beer in the country, is just now making some headway onto the fairways."

"Southern California beer-maker Stone Brewing bombards Chicago this week with a balls-to-the-wall rollout involving dozens of rare kegs, dinners with special beer pairings, and lots of chances to meet the people behind the company."

"One of the largest holes in Chicago’s beer landscape has been the absence of Stone Brewing Co.  As of today, however, that is the case no more, as the Escondito, Calif., brewery adds Illinois as its 35th state (and no, this is not an April Fools’ Day joke)."

"Interview: Stone Brewing's Greg Koch. Koch and I discussed the perils of dealing with Illinois beer distributors, the response of Stone's arrival from restaurants and bars, and other major plans for the brewery."

"Stone Week in Chicago More Like An All Out Assault: The Chicago area is two days away from the full throttle launch of Stone Brewing Co. in the market, and owner Greg Koch appears to be leaving no stone unturned (pun totally intended) in saturating the market with his beers."

"Starting tomorrow, the Cali craft beer colossus is finally distributing to Chi and's celebrating with a week of events and tastings at assorted spirits stores and brew-friendly joints all over the city..."

"California's Stone Brewing Company kicks off its arrival in Chicago this week with nine days of events. Beginning Thursday, bars across the city devote tap space to Stone beers, which include the company's seven year-round releases as well as specialties like Old Guardian Barley Wine and the Vertical Epic series."

"If you're unfamiliar with Stone, they're one of the most remarkable success stories of the American craft beer renaissance...The Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens is as beautiful a casual dining environment as I have ever seen connected to a brewery, or even winery..."

"Stone's kickoff week is unlike anything Chicago's seen before, with most of the city's top beer bars and liquor stores pouring Stone brews and hosting special events."

"Although local brewers don't expect to compete for marketshare with virtual monopoly held by multinational conglomerates, brewing exceptional beer has proved lucrative: Stone has grown, on average, 47 percent each year for the past 12 years."

"One of the finest Black IPA examples in the market, in my opinion, is Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (formerly Stone 11th Anniversary Ale)...If you like IPAs and you like brown ales, porters and stouts, you really must try this beer."

"This week, Chicago finally gets a taste of Stone’s swagger. Slow to enter the local market, the brewery is making up for lost time with a week of launch events April 1-8. We talked to Stone co-founder and CEO Greg Koch to find out what the fuss is about."

"Another brewery’s extreme beer is Stone’s status-quo. The Stone IPA knocks it out of the park and is a strong, hoppy, yet balanced and crisp IPA."

2010 Stone Old Guardian Review: "Pretty amazing, very balanced this year."

"Cheap, commercial beer pales in comparison to beer from Stone Brewing Co. With the menacing gargoyle logo and bold beer flavors, Stone is a favorite among beer enthusiasts."

"Stone Brewing Co. plans to start selling its craft beers, known for their bold flavors, in Chicago next month...'Chicago is a very competitive market, but they have a great reputation throughout the industry,' says Gabriel Magliaro, president of Chicago’s Half Acre Beer Co."

"There were three breweries on our wish list of those that deserve distribution in Illinois. We say 'were' because, starting April 1, Stone Brewing makes its official (legal) debut in the Chicago market."

Brewing Benevolence is a series of articles and interviews with breweries that are committed to more than just brewing beer in their communities. In this edition, I talked to Chris with Stone Brewing  in Escondido, California.

"If you like kick-ass beer, then you like Stone Brewing Co. The Escondido Calif.-based brewery has a rabid following in the craft beer world and direct ties to USC. Greg Koch, class of 1987, co-founded Stone in 1995 and has helped build it into a juggernaut."

2009 Local Hero Award Winner! "Founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, Stone operates with as much of a conscious as they do a palate. Their restaurant, the Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, is committed to local growers and artisan purveyors."

"Because I’m totally down with the slow-food trend, I was quick to RSVP when I caught wind of a 'fresh dinner' event happening at Stone Brewing Company in Escondido. Each ingredient from the menu was to be procured from a local farm on the same day as the meal."

"Next week's [Stone Imperial Russian Stout] tasting, a first for Stone in Texas, is another sign that Houstonians are open to alternatives to mass-marketed beers."

"Of course, though, the wit would be meaningless if the beer didn't back it up. Good news! It does. Arrogant Bastard features an avalanche of flavor..."

Ken Schmidt / Maui / Stone Kona Coffee, Macadamia, Coconut Porter named one of the Top 25 Beers of the Year!

"Since I’m a big fan of smoke flavors, I thought a chili that merged Stone Smoked Porter and  chipotle peppers would hit the spot. Borrowing heavily from Routson’s base recipe, here’s what I came up with."

"Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale may not have been the first black IPA out there, but I believe it was the first kick-ass version to be distributed widely. Where Stone goes stylistically, other brewers follow."

"That’s right, sometimes when I want a great drinking experience, I go out and get a selection of beers from Stone Brewing Co., located in Escondido, CA."

Stone is named "All-Time Top Brewer" for the second year in a row.

"Stone Brewing Co. Voted 'Best Beer' in our San Diego's Best Restaurants Survey 2010!"

"Stone Brewery is proving, yet again, that they are in the forefront of the craft beer industry.  The third installment of their ‘Women Only’ beer classes - held at the brewery – featured eight stouts and porters and about 40 beer loving women of all ages."

"Even the possibility of Stone opening up a new brewery is the best holiday present that beer has received this year. "

"European beer drinkers often contact Stone, Koch said, wondering where to find their ales. Brewing in Europe would mean that Stone beers sold in London or Rome, say, would taste fresh. Economic and environmental costs of shipping would also be cut."

"Southern California’s Stone Brewing Co., makers of Arrogant Bastard and a panoply of big beers, announced yesterday in a web video that they are considering opening a second brewery across the Atlantic."

"Stone is known for brawny beers with lots of hops and flavor, and the Ruination IPA fits the bill."

"If your girlfriend was to cheat on you with a beer, it would be from Stone Brewing Co. It would send you the pictures and it would laugh at you to your face when it saw you in public."

"Stone Brewing Co. of San Diego is where my heart truly lays. It rises to the top of the suds in the world of my favorite beers."

"[Stone] Vertical Epic is a grand experience that lives up to its name."

"Translated using Stone’s notoriously unapologetic vernacular, the objective of the class was to convert fizzy yellow beer drinkers to the ranks of “worthy” craft brew fans."

"Stone Vertical Epic 09.09.09, the lastest in a series of special release beers from Stone Brewing Co., is designed to spend a couple of years in your beer cellar."

"Congrats, San Diego. You're the new beer capital of the U.S. (as far as Men's Journal is concerned). This calls for a party: San Diego Beer Week.

Kicking off Nov. 6, the 10-day countywide celebration makes for a timely opportunity to present our ongoing series of videos profiling local breweries."

"Since quietly opening the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in November 2006, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner have reinvented casual dining in the same bold manner they did beer."

"Why just fantasize about sipping fresh Kona coffee while cutting open a ripe coconut to munch on when you can do all the above in one amazing new beer?"

"...Greg Koch is one of the superheros of the American craft beer industry, and in that role he recently struck a resounding blow for truth and justice by proving once and for all that beer has more breadth, depth and character in food pairings than Johnny-one-note wine"

"Maybe it's (my favorite beer) because I can identify so well with its name, but more likely it's the fact that Arrogant Bastard Ale is just one tasty beer. It is rich and complex, yet it delivers its pallet-punching flavor in a deviously unassuming way."

"Stone has built its reputation by screwing with people's heads, and their newest [BrewDog/Cambridge/Stone Juxtaposition Black Pilsner] beer continues that tradition."

"So, how good is Aloha Plenty? Good enough to justify the high prices (we paid $6.99 for 12 ounces) and the hype? Oh, yes. This is the liquid equivalent of moonrise over Diamond Head."

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens sets the bar high for local brewpubs...In addition to taking a brewery tour and tasting outstanding beers, patrons can enjoy a delectable menu of organic, local food. Stone Brewing World Bistro proudly adheres to the highest standards of sustainable, fresh food items.

Part of my generosity with my rating of “OAKED Arrogant Bastard” (four stars rather than three) has simply to do with the ale being arrogant enough to live up to its own name.

The readers of Beer Advocate magazine, the bible of American beer geeks, named Stone Brewing Co. the “All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth.” Louisiana, however, was one corner of the globe where you couldn’t buy a glass of hoppy, full-flavored Stone beer. All that changes next week when the California brewery storms into the city with three days of parties.

"Once again Stone Brewing Company knocks it out of the park with another world class addition to the Vertical Epic series."

Stone Levitation Ale Named "Best Ale":

It has a deep amber body, roasted malt flavors reminiscent of the finest English ales, and the sturdy dose of hops you'd expect from a leader of the West Coast's "extreme beer" movement. The result is the tastiest session ale we've had this year.

San Diego Named "Best Beer Town in the US":

“San Diego isn’t just surfing and LaDanian Tomlinson anymore—it’s the new beer capital of the U.S. Stone (maker of our number one ale) exemplifies the local approach, with aggressively hopped but completely drinkable brews."

"[Ken Schmidt/Maui/Stone Kona Coffee, Macadamia, Coconut Porter] demonstrates what amazing things can happen when craft brewers work together."

WW: What should people know about your brewery?
GK: Everything. We don't bother engaging in activities that aren't worth knowing about. Between our range of beer styles, our award-winning architecture, our acre of gardens, the fact that our brewery tour is one of the top tourist destinations in our region, our eclectic organic and free-range menu at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, our blogging and online videos (including the IAmACraftBrewer.com vids), the 32 beers on tap at our restaurant, our wide array of special events, the large set of solar panels on the roof of our brewery, our charitable activities, or our incredible team of fascinatingly diverse employees, it's hard to pick any one thing. We are that good.

"Extraordinary growth has become ordinary for Stone Brewing Co. The 13-year-old company keeps outgrowing its surroundings like a teenager outgrowing his clothes."

"...when asked the reason behind Stone's recent expansion, marked by the purchase of a $6.2 million, 60,000-square-foot warehouse for distribution, [Greg Koch] said it was because sales of craft brews, including his, are increasing while sales of mainstream beers are declining."

"[Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale is] a very luxurious beer, that gets even better as it warms up...this beer just might be destined for greatness with a bit of age on it."

"For the Las Vegas show, the Top Chef production crew came back for more Stone beer. The well-regarded brewery never pays for product placement, but given its Southern California location it has many fans in Hollywood. Stone beer has been featured in shows such as Weeds, West Wing and the movie Old School."

"[With Stone 09.09.09 Vertical Epic Ale] Stone Brewing Company continues to demonstrate that they are masters of complex beers and tastes..."

"All in all, [Stone 13th Anniversary Celebration and Invitational Beer Festival] was a refreshing look at the beverage industry-a business usually full of big corporations with bitter rivalries battling for market control. Not here. Not these guys."

"The guys at Stone brewing know how to throw a birthday party. And perhaps even better, they know how to get other brewers to bring their newest and best brews to the party."

"Stone Brewing Co. keeps powering its way through the recession with more growth."

"This year's Stone 13th Anniversary Ale...is double dry-hopped, giving it a slap-your-mama hop bitterness."

"Now [Stone] is turning 13. Unlike many of us, who ushered in that awkward age with cracking vocal cords and hair sprouting in funny places, Stone is marking its adolescence gracefully with the limited release of an exceptional beer."

"Hops make a potent statement here...but the malts hold their own. 13th is big, balanced and beautiful."

"My brother always said character was what made someone into a legend...that phrase could easily be applied to Stone."

"You gotta love the California-based Stone Brewing Company. They're out of control, push the envelope, crazy-ass dudes...and they make some of the finest ales on the planet."

"...if you are a hophead like me, you'll absolutely love [Stone 13th Anniversary Ale]. This has to be one of the tastiest hop driven beers that I've ever had."

"First off, there's Stone's logo: It's a bad-ass-looking gargoyle sporting a sinister underbite and usually holding a mug of beer-and it would make for a hell of a tattoo. Secondly, and more importantly, Stone makes EXTREME brews for extreme beer fans."

"I give [Arrogant Bastard Ale] extra credit for hooking me on Stone."

"Thousands of pages of print media have been dedicated to the craft beer experience over the past two decades, but few of them have come close to capturing the true spirit of the American craft brewing industry like ['I Am A Craft Brewer']..."

"Of all the breweries in San Diego, it's safe to say that Stone has gained the most national recognition-not just for their roster of distinguished beers, but also for their approach to the business."

"[Stone 13th Anniversary Ale is] a big, powerful beer but surprisingly balanced...Even the label is sexy. Really, everything about this brew is sexy."

"On July 19, Stone Brewing is hosting its third annual Sour Fest in Escondido. Newly installed beverage coordinator Bill Sysak has visited Belgium 30 times and promises the selection will be 'decadent, more extreme' than previous years, with close to 50 kegs, plus plenty of bottled lambics."

"'As more and more craft breweries have opened around the country, brewers have continued to make great craft brews as they refine and improve the craft,' says Greg Koch, president and co-founder of Stone Brewing Co. of North County San Diego, Calif. 'And just like rock 'n' roll, the craft beer industry has grown up and matured by introducing new sub-genres.'"

"Stone Brewing, the godfather of San Diego's burgeoning scene, turns 13 this year. To commemorate the occasion, head brewer Mitch Steele created Stone 13th Anniversary Ale, a dry-hopped Imperial Red Ale."

"I could go on for hours about how great [Stone 13th Anniversary Ale] is. I have been doing that for the 6 years that I have been writing this column about every other Stone special release..."

"Over the past ten to fifteen years a lot of brewers have released “Anniversary” brews. Some are uninspiring, simply a hopped up version of their regular offerings. Others simply add a random ingredient in an attempt to be funky or unique. There are other brewers that celebrate their Anniversaries by giving us the consumer and their fans a beer unique to that year. No one does this better that Stone Brewing Company."

"Stone 13th Anniversary Ale is a perfect example of Stone Brewing Co. producing a high quality hopped ale...[and] demonstrates yet again how they are the masters of well-hopped beers."

"The point of Wagner's love-them-or-hate-them beers (Stone is now sold in 31 states, so it's mostly the former) isn't to get the drinker intoxicated, but to create complex layers of flavor through long, robust fermentations with a rich mix of grains and huge amounts of resiny, fresh, green hops."

"The many facces of Greg Koch were on dispay during his keynote address at the recent Craft Brewers Conference in Boston, MA. In a bravura performance, the brash Stone Brewing Co. co-founder expounded, sang, and twittered for nearly an hour. 'It was the best speech I have ever seen,' said Harry Schumacher, publisher of Beer Business Daily."

"(2009 Stone Imperial Russian Stout) is one exceptional bold beer. When poured, it has a very strong aroma, which has an almost smoked/burned espresso flavor. It's a very pleasant smell..."

"The savory flavors of the oily salmon and seasoned lentils go nicely with the robust and full-flavored (Stone) pale ale. A distinctive hop spiciness allows the beer to complement and cut through some of the heavier flavors."

"(Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine) is another wonderful accomplishment from the people at Stone Brewing Co. Although it is quite hoppy, the maltiness is a strong supporting character that blends perfectly with the hops."

"Values are as important as barley and hops to the flavor of Stone Brewing Co. While accomplishing growth of up to 47 percent per year, the company has been careful to hold on to its character."

"They won't admit it, but Stone Brewing Co. is quickly becoming one of the most well-known Microbreweries in the United States...Stone isn't trying to cater to the masses. This is obvious by reading the back of the Arrogant Bastard Ale bottle."

"The abundance and thickness of flavor (in OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale) is what is most apparent, but the alcohol gives it that little extra bite that gives you that perfect beer face, like Burt Reynolds scaling the Rockies with a pipe in mouth kind of face."

"While many small company-CEOs dream of expanding across the nation, Stone Brewing Co.'s Greg Koch, wants the opposite...Koch told students at CSU San Marcos' 'In the Executive's Chair' class he'd rather sell more beer in five states than get spread out across the nation."

"Is Escondido's Stone Brewing the world's best Brewery? Yes say the readers of BeerAdvocate magazine..."

"Values are as important as barley and hops to the flavor of Stone Brewing Co. While accomplishing growth of up to 47 percent per year, the company has been careful to hold on to its character."

"Stone Brewing named by BeerAdvocate Magazine as the ‘All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth. The most popular and highest-rated brewery...ever.'"

"As a craft beer fan, I often ask a similar question of my beers: 'Why were you not made by Stone Brewing?' "

"These days, Escondido's Stone Brewing Co. is not just brewing beer. It's also simmering a stew of industrial-strength bugs, in tanks far removed from the barley and hops, to treat sewage. The brewery is taking a detour from its traditional operations and will soon begin treating its own wastewater...."

"America's Top Breweries: Stone Brewing is the southern California outfit responsible for beers like the Arrogant Bastard Ale and the Imperial Russian Stout." Click Here For Full Story

"There may be a budding food crisis afoot in the land, but at least there's still beer—and a growing amount of small-batch "craft" beer, according to the U.S. Brewer's Association, the trade association for America's favorite foamy beverage. The food crunch has hit the beer business; rising costs have made quality ingredients harder to come by. And last spring Oregon Reps. Peter DeFazio and Greg Walden founded the first ever House Small Brewers Caucus, a bipartisan group dedicated to keeping watch over the interests of the microbrewery industry on Capitol Hill."

"Craft industry's budding mecca welcomes annual conference. Many industry leaders flew in early to tour an area they say could become to craft beer fans what Napa Valley is to wine afficionados."

"There's something about eating food that was grown in a way that enriches rather than depletes the soil, that hasn't been sprayed with chemicals to keep it "fresh" for months, and that hasn't been trucked across the country or flown across the world, that feels good as well as tastes good. Greg Koch, co-owner of Escondido's Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, feels the same way."

"The Brewers Association, a Denver-based industry group, estimates that global demand for hops exceeds supply by 10 percent to 15 percent. Add poor harvests, the loss of arable land to development, and farmers increasingly turning to corn instead of barley and hops – thank you, ethanol! – and you have Beercalypse Now."

"Greg Koch brews and sells beer. He doesn't advertise though--and he doesn't care if you don't like his beer. He knows that only 3 percent of the world likes specialty beer, and he wants that 3 percent to enjoy his brews at Stone Brewing Co."

Brewers in North San Diego County and Southwest Riverside County say hops ---- the ingredient that gives beer its biting zing and heady aroma ---- is in short supply. Across the world, breweries are scrambling to secure supplies. In some cases, they're coming up short. "The impact is dramatic," said Greg Koch, chief executive of craft brewer Stone Brewing, based in Escondido. "It's going to affect pricing. It affects our ability to do special projects and other things that we had in mind," said Koch

"Savvy malt-and-hop establishments have been opening across the county at a rapid clip. Each has its own personality and offerings; all bolster San Diego's position as a rising star among American cities on the beer Tourism circuit."

"Stone Brewing Co., maker of challenging beers with a high hoppy kick, plans to install a $3.2 million photovoltaic system in its brewery/restaurant."

"To be sure, the maiden meeting of the Book and Beer Club, hosted by the Stone Brewing Co., had a heady buzz to it. The subject of the adult palaver, however, was at times gut-wrenching, at least for this haphazard diner."

"AS CEO AND COFOUNDER of Stone Brewing Company in Escondido, throwing back cold ones is all in a day's work for Koch (pronounced "cook"). Okay, so maybe there's more than a pinch of vision, ambition and work ethic involved; you don't build one of the most successful brewery operations in the country by hosting all-day, company-wide burp contests."

"In the beer world, at least among those willing to pay a premium for their brew, Stone's creations are famous. Although the company has never advertised, its fame has spread. Its beers have been ranked among the best in the country, and even the world. Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens officially, but very quietly, opened two months ago."

"Stone Brewing Company celebrates 10 years"

"Stone Brewing in Escondido, one of the top brewers in the world."

"Beer lovers have taken notice; the website RateBeer.com ranked the brewery's Stone Imperial Russian Stout as number seven on the list of best beers in the world this year."

[Stone Imperial Russian Stout] is a 5 star brew. Bravo, gentlemen!

"Arrogant Bastards: Stone Brewery Brewest The Best Beer In The World...And They Know It"

"Stone Brewing Co. has finished its move from San Marcos into its new and larger location in Escondido, but the work is far from over."

"If you...name your beer "Arrogant Bastard Ale" you better live up to the name. Fortunately this beer from the Stone Brewing Company in California does."

With its tagline of "You're not worthy," [Arrogant Bastard Ale] has been taking the country by storm under the reins of this fast-growing brewery.

"Known for its full-bodied brews and in-your-face marketing, Stone has gone from a small upstart brewery that bled red ink in its early years to a powerhouse in the craft-brewing business."

"Not for the faint of heart, [Stone's] bold brews have a strong and fast-growing fan base"

Stone will kick off a three-day charity fundraiser, asking its fans to help build a 14-foot-high stone wall that will run through the new restaurant and beer garden

"A few well-known folks were looking and feeling blue yesterday, but actually were quite happy, and so were three charitable organizations."

"Stone plans $10 million brewery in Escondido."

"Stone Brewing thrives after rocky start"

"Even in the snootiest beer circles, San Diego is becoming known for its inventive beer culture...."

The internet's largest beer-rating website "RateBeer.com" again names Stone Brewing "America's Best Brewer" for the FOURTH time running!

Stone Brewing makes the INC 500 list of America's fastest growing companies for the second year in a row.

"Cheers For The Bitter Brew"

"This Ale's An Arrogant Bastard"

The internet's largest beer-rating website "RateBeer.com" again names Stone Brewing "America's Best Brewer" for the third time running!

Hoptomology -- "The book takes you through history of the brewery and the people that made it possible. It chronicles all the special release beers and collaboration brews it has done. It also give us a scaled down recipes of their famous ales for us to try at home. Replete with food parings and recipes from the Stone World Bistro and Gardens, (which of course, all include beer!) this is a beautiful book and another great addition to your brewing library."

Best Craft Beer -- "I have never had a beer from The Alchemist, unfortunately, but knowing well the character of other brews by Ninkasi and Stone, I wouldn’t expect a black (okay, brown) IPA from them that would be anything less intense than this. I am not a big fan of the 'Black IPA', 'Cascadian Dark Ale' or 'Very very very dark brown IPA', but this one certainly stood out for me."

San Diego Magazine -- "Local hopheads are bound to love this brew, but anyone can get behind a beer created to raise money for hurricane victims. Proceeds from the sale of this beer go to a charitable organization established to help victims of Hurricane Irene, a scourge that decimated numerous structures and lives in Vermont, including the The Alchemist Pub and Brewery, an avant garde operation whose head brewer, John Kimmich, contributed his talents to this collaborative quaff."

World Of Beer -- "if there is a brewery that more consistently releases hop-forward beers with balance, I don’t know of it, and besides, as illustrated by several of their releases in 2011, notably the Elysian-Stone-Bruery collaboration pumpkin beer, La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado, this is also a brewery that can quite comfortable handle subtlety.

Add in the consistently convivial atmosphere of their World Bistro and Gardens,  their remarkably frequent, and frequently remarkable, collaboration beers, and their aggressive attitude towards growth, and you have what I consider a worthy winner of the 2011 title."

San Diego Beer Blog -- "Pouring The Alchemist / Ninkasi / Stone More Brown Than Black IPA it looked like any other brown ale. But upon first whiff it was obvious this was no regular brown ale. Maybe it was the huge disconnect between what I expected based on the color and what my senses detected, but this was one of the best smelling beers I’ve come across. Huge piney hops. When people call a beer 'dank' this is what they mean."

BrewChief.com -- "As a beer enthusiast, I feel enriched by my visit to the majestic Stone Brewing Co. It has been on my short list of brew related landmarks to visit and I couldn't be happier with the experience. If there were such things as the ''7 Wonders of the Brewing World'', this would definitely be one of them. If you are a true fan of craft beer, it's damn near a religious experience. Do yourself a favor and add it to your brewing bucket list."

Examiner.com -- "The overall impression is chilie-infused Belgian IPA, and the drinkability is perhaps even greater than a regular example of said style. This isn't the first time I've enjoyed a chile beer this good, but it is the first commercial example and it's probably a good thing that Stone decided to insert this in the Vertical Epic line-up so near to the end, as this is a beer best enjoyed fresh. A touch of age might show a more muted spiciness and perhaps a more balanced earthy character from the malt and hops, but there is no reason not to enjoy this bad boy right here and now."

Bobby Likes Beer -- "Greg Koch is a legend who has accomplished more in his fifteen years of business than most craft beer evangelists can hope to in a lifetime. His outspoken insight and larger-than-life antics make Greg one of the biggest personalities in craft beer today. Even if you don’t know who Greg is, I’m sure you’ve had one of his beers. Stone Brewing Co. has practically defined the American approach towards our beloved beverage with their witty beer names, arrogant attitude and consistently top-notch and ground-breaking products. With the release of the new book The Craft of Stone Brewing Co., Koch and co-founder Steve Wagner give us fans of fermentation unabashed insight into their world by sharing their story, complete with detailed tales of how the business came to be, their uncompromising product line and even how-to’s about cellaring bottles, cooking with beer and taking your first steps into the world of homebrew."

CraftBeer.com -- "Thanksgiving marks the ultimate feast in many American households, and it's no secret that I'm rather fond of feasts. And what better accompaniment to a fine meal than a fine beverage, I say! Beer—being the most versatile of all beverages to pair with food in my opinion—allows for a veritable cornucopia of pairing options, making it perfect for any Thanksgiving celebration."

BrewedForThought.com -- "With Double Bastard Ale, you’re greeted by a beer that lives up to the name. The flavors and aromas are intense with hops, figs, cherry and an almost woody character emerging. The finish is sharp, loaded with hops and alcohol, testing you with each drink. While fresh, Double Bastard Ale can be intimidating and make drinkers question whether they are worthy or not, but give this beer some time and the true beauty of double bastard is revealed in rich fruit flavors, complex layers of malt and an alluring aroma."

TheBrewBros.com -- "Greg’s writ­ing style kept me engaged and want­ing to read more. [...] Over­all, this book was worth every penny. It was loaded with enter­tain­ing and infor­ma­tive mate­r­ial pre­sented in an engag­ing manor. Thank you to Stone and to all the authors for another great book to add to the craft beer drinker’s library."

TomBedell.com -- "Stone has nailed it again. The [Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale] is a reddish amber ale with all sorts of intriguing and appealing aromatics swirling together–banana esters from the Flanders Golden ale yeast, touches of clove, cedar, cinnamon, and a suggestion of chile peeking through. At a hefty 9.4% ABV, the beer has plenty of sweet malt character at work as well, and the interplay of all the varied elements add up to a complex, compelling, and quite delicious beer."

OCWeekly -- "This Thursday, Nov. 17, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, along with the book's co-author, Randy Clemens (who penned The Sriracha Cookbook), will be making a stop at the Bruery Provisions to sign copies of the new release and share some rare Stone beers. The event is from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and Koch will be speaking. This is a rare OC appearance by a rock star of the craft-beer kingdom!"

Beer Nut -- "Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale is a Belgian-influenced ale that uses both mild green chili peppers and cinnamon. Everything was so balanced in this beer, the pepper flavor was hidden. However, with this beer, I could definitely feel a burn in the back of my throat. Not a lot, but definitely noticeable. It did not take away from how much I liked this beer. It was my favorite of all the Vertical Epics I have tasted (04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10)."

ChitownOnTap.com -- "Greg Koch, co-founder and CEO of Stone Brewing Co., is one of craft beer's most vocal and opinionated advocates. He's passionate about ethical business practices, environmental sustainability, collaboration with other craft brewers, and bold, flavorful beers. If you haven't seen his 2009 keynote at the Craft Brewers Convention, it's a great introduction to his thinking on his business and the craft beer community. Koch just finished schlepping across the country to encourage the masses to stop drinking "fizzy yellow beer" and promote his new book, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co. I sat down with him while he was in Chicago to talk about pay-to-play tactics in Chicago and the ethical dilemmas we face drinking craft beer here. Koch offered some pointed words about Goose Island, a story about pay-to-play in action, a status update on his plans for a brewery in Europe, and even some philosophical musings about how to live a righteous life in an oh-so-wrong world."

Boston.com -- "This is not the kind of pumpkin beer you may be used to, the kind with cinnamon, nutmeg, and an overbearing sweetness. The aesthetic here is one of subtlety. The body is medium, the carbonation is moderate, and the hop character is reasonable. The alcohol content is low (for these brewers, anyway) at 5 percent by volume. In the age of imperial pumpkin, La Citrueille Celeste de Citracado is a surprisingly delicate and sophisticated twist on the style."

Brewbound.com -- "The problem with most craft beer we try isn’t that it’s not ‘full flavored’ or that it’s not drinkable. The problem is that there simply is too much of the same beer in the marketplace. But every once in a while, a beer comes along that makes us want to keep sampling new brew after new brew. A big thank you to Stone Brewing, The Bruery and Elysian for getting together to create a ‘pumpkin beer’ that not only is the most unique 'pumpkin beer' we have tried to date, but also quite possibly the most unique beer we have ever put to our lips."

2beerguys -- "How do you inspire a room full of craft beer fans and entrepreneurs who are already brimming with enthusiasm and a highly-concentrated drive to succeed? Just let Greg Koch talk about what he does. Last night, Stone Brewing’s co-founder and CEO, Greg Koch, did just that as he stopped by MassChallenge to discuss the rise of Stone and his new book The Craft of Stone Brewing Co. [...] If you love beer and/or entrepreneurialism, you owe it to yourself to listen to Greg. He is an inspiring leader who tells it like it is, makes no excuses for what he does, and lays out his path to success simply and succinctly."

TheKitchn.com -- "From the peek behind the scenes at Stone Brewing Co. to the beer-centric bistro recipes to the advice from the brewers on how to make their beers, this book is a treasure trove for beer lovers. I, for one, can't wait to get in the kitchen and get brewing!"

DigBoston.com -- "Stone is one of the loudest breweries in the country, thanks to fire-and-brimstone craft beer preacher, Greg Koch, who co-founded Stone Brewing with Steve Wagner in 1996. In the 15 years since then, Stone has established itself as one of the best American breweries and has accrued a following of dedicated Stone fans. Their new book, The Craft of Stone Brewing Co., by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner with Randy Clemens, gives these fans what they want: a comprehensive guide to everything Stone."

Though we're no longer technically a microbrewery (since we brew well in excess of 15,000 bbls of beer), we're happy and honored to accept the Readers' Choice Award for Best Microbrewery from San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles magazine!

Esquire.com -- "Stone Brewing Co. helped put Black IPAs on the map with its Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, first released in 2007 for the brewery's eleventh anniversary (it became a year-round offering in 2009). Stone's latest dark-hoppy effort, released in August for its fifteenth birthday, is an imperial Black IPA brewed with Nelson Sauvin hops, a variety native to New Zealand that imparts juicy-tart gooseberry notes."

Today's Dietician -- "The gastropub movement is thriving in this city known for its spectacular beers; it’s a shame to visit San Diego without stopping at one of its cool, hip pubs, where sometimes the food even lives up to the beer. Escondido’s Stone Brewing, world famous for its focus on great craft beer, offers the dining establishment and gardens Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens, with a boutique hotel coming soon.

Take a stroll through the gardens, sample intriguing menu items, such as The Soft & Stinky Cheese Plate or 3 BBQ Duck Taco, and don’t forget to taste one of Stone’s legendary draft beers—from [Stone] Smoked Porter to [Stone Imperial] Russian Stout."

RecipeRelay.com -- "You may be thinking, what do beer and hot sauce have to do with each other?  Well, the peeps at Stone have crafted several sauces with some of their most popular brews as flavor enhancers. I recently visited the brewery and tasted a few of their craft brews, one of which was their OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale, it is dynamic in flavor and unlike anything I have tasted before. On the brewery’s site it is described as an aggressive beer.  Followed by “You probably won’t like it”- but you will! So when I hit the store for my hot sauce options and came across OAKED Arrogant Bastard Chipotle Hot Sauce I stopped dead in my tracks, no questions asked."

North County Times -- "Founded less than a year ago, Vista-based Iron Fist Brewing Co. has already snagged a distribution contract with the patron saint of San Diego County's craft brewers, Escondido-based Stone Brewing Co. Greg Koch, Stone's CEO, said the company came to his attention after hearing the buzz among local craft beer aficionados."

San Diego Union-Tribune -- "Some of San Diego’s more well known eateries, breweries and shops, from Phil’s B.B.Q and Stone Brewing Company to the La Jolla bookseller, Warwick’s, will be showing up at Lindbergh Field within the next few years, thanks to action taken Thursday by the county’s airport board."

LA Weekly -- "Stone Brewing took craft beer to a whole new level that turned into what is now a revolution. This was the signature pale that won over whole new legions of fans. More robust than previous pales, founder Greg Koch took the complexity in a pale to higher plane."

San Diego Union-Tribune -- "Following the lead of airports across the country, San Diego is overhauling the concessions program in its terminals to not only cater to passengers with a more refined palate, but to also showcase the local dining scene. Among the local businesses participating in food and beverage packages endorsed by airport staff are Phil’s Barbecue, Stone Brewing Company, Saffron, Bankers Hill Bar and Restaurant and Pannikin Coffee."

Philly.com -- "Beer drinkers frequently refer to Belgian beer as if it has a distinct, recognizable flavor. What they're tasting, I think, is mainly the yeast - possibly the least understood of beer's main ingredients. To understand the impact of yeast, first taste Stone IPA. Now pour a glass of the California brewery's [Stone] Cali-Belgique [IPA]. The latter is essentially identical to the former, except that it is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain."

WineEnthusiast -- "This collaboration is a fantastic example of the style, the dark brown pour loaded with enticing notes of caramel malt, earthy peat, brown sugar and some red plum-skin nuances. Balanced and drinkable despite the higher alcohol, which only truly makes itself known on the slightly warming peppery finish. The hops give a good lift to the mouthfeel and a slight dryness to the close." 90 pts. Excellent; highly recommended.

Wall Street Journal -- "Stone Pale Ale: This pale has the citrusy flower notes to satisfy any hophead, but a slightly richer backbone to balance them out. Drink it all afternoon, especially with lighter grill fare in need of a kick, such as fish or tofu."

Los Angeles Business Journal -- "For a third year in a row, California dominated OpenTable’s list of the country’s top outdoor dining spots, with most of those listed in the state located in Southern California. San Diego County [had] three winners: George's Ocean Terrace in La Jolla, Poseidon in Del Mar and Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido."

Chicago Sun-Times -- "David Blonsky, chef at the recently opened Public House, [...] reaches for California-based Stone Brewing Company’s Arrogant Bastard Ale, a strong brew with sweeter hoppy notes, for sauces that accompany his lineup of smoked meats, including Kobe beef and pork brisket, pork shoulder, wings and bone-in chicken."

AppellationBeer.com -- "[T]here's a backlash against Stone by some folks on the beer site forums - the beer's too pedestrian, too gateway, too behind the times, no longer as good since they opened the larger brewery, too reliant on marketing, only as popular as it is because the company bullies others. 'Huh,' I said, being unable to imagine a world where Arrogant Bastard would be deemed 'pedestrian' or a 'gateway' brew. And bought a bottle or three, and it was as good as it ever was.

And now I buy a bottle or two a week, and often it's the only beer I drink in a given week. And I've learned a couple of things. One is that, for me, here's a case where the beer's former rarity didn't make it taste better. It's really good, and more often than not, it's what I want to drink when I want beer."

"Stone Old Guardian (which is released every February and ages well) pours a cloudy amber and is at once woody, sweet, and citrusy, with more carbonation and more hops than in a traditional barleywine."

"Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens’ Alex Carballo and Jason Seibert created an awe-inspiringly broad array of house-cured meats, pâtés and tender roasted squab served with duck liver mousse atop a crispy walnut-flecked waffle."

"The Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido makes an impressive array of craft beers, which are a joy to consume with tasty, albeit pricey, food prepared at the handsome Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens."

Stone IPA listed as one of the "Best in the West"!

Stone named one of America's Top 10 Brewery Tours!

"Stone from San Diego has a dynamite smoked porter...Ultra-smooth texture with almost no astringency."

"'As you go through the journey of beer education and appreciation, hops and big hoppy character are something most people eventually gravitate toward,' said Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, Calif., a pioneer of the style."

"India Pale Ales...One to Try: Stone Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale."

"As you go through the journey of beer education and appreciation, hops and big hoppy character are something most people eventually gravitate toward," said Greg Koch, CEO of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, Calif., a pioneer of the style.

"Sublimely Self-Righteous won third place in the category at the festival, and it's been around since 2007—long before most of the ones coming out of Northwestern breweries."

"Stone Brewing Company's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale is widely considered the benchmark of the style. It exhibits both resinous pine and grapefruity hop flavors up front with underlying elements of chocolate, coffee, and a complex earthiness from the dark malts."

"Easily the most popular and successful brewery in San Diego County, Escondido’s Stone Brewing Co., which had been going through a multi-year medal drought, came back in a respectable way, earning not one, but two medals [at the GABF.]"

"And at Stone Brewing World Bistro and Gardens outside San Diego, a completely original meatless menu is offered on Mondays, said general manager Frank Busic."

"Stone Brewing Company of Escondido, California, won the Favorite Beer award with its 'Arrogant Bastard Ale.'"

"Black IPAs were tinting hopheads’ glasses even before Stone Brewing Co. popularized the style last year with its Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale (originally brewed in 2007 as Stone’s 11th anniversary ale)."

"Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale from Stone Brewing in Escondido, Calif., strikes a beautiful balance between the bittersweet chocolate flavors of the malt and the resiny hops."

"Stone has made its reputation on big-personality beers, so it’s no surprise that its lower-alcohol offering still packs plenty of flavor. This dark-copper brew offers loads of floral hops and a bitter-orange finish."

"Stone Brewing's Levitation Ale is the perfect summer beer for hop lovers. Levitation Ale has all the hoppiness of an American India Pale Ale, but at 4.4% alcohol by volume it is significantly less alcoholic."

"Escondido-based Stone Brewing Co. offered a tongue-in-cheek videotaped public apology last week when it learned that the mustards packaged under its name by an outside contractor did not contain its signature product--Stone beer."

"Stone brews Arrogant Bastard, Ruination and other 'angry' beers, and their huge tap list, along with their beautiful rock garden, has to be seen to be believed. It's a top-notch place..."

"Greg Koch, founder of Stone Brewing in San Diego and a voraciously vocal proponent of American craft beer, said: 'These are unprecedented times for American beer. No other nation can rival America in terms of diversity and creative passion.'"

“'We have some of the top breweries in the country here right now, if not in the world,'” [said Summer] Nixon [Co-Founder of Brew Hop.] 'Stone Brewing Company is world-renowned...'"

“Classic,” I mumble. “Prophets in their own town. Never appreciated.”...“Darned right,” says Mark. He’s the airline pilot to my left, sipping a Stone Levitation, the “best beer I’ve had all night.”

"'The 5 Best Beers for Taco Night' Stone Pale Ale: This California ale has an aggressively hoppy flavor balanced by lightly toasted malts, which bring out the caramelized flavors of grilled meats."

"Experimentation plays a key role in the beer industry, says Greg Koch, CEO of Escondido's Stone Brewing Co., one of the nation's largest craft beer producers. 'It's definitely an attention-grabber,' Koch says about the high alcohol level. 'But it demonstrates what's possible in the world of beer. We like anything that shows people the diversity in beer.'"

"Owner Brian Huskey recommends pairing Stone Smoked Porter with baby-back ribs. Dark and smoky, with a hint of chocolate, this will enhance the flavor of the rub, he said."

"'The Best Beer For Your Bowl.' If you like strong beer, try Stone Double Bastard Ale. The caramel flavor dances well with chili ingredients"

"Spend the day indulging in two of Escondido’s finest attractions. A long day of walking and sightseeing at the Wild Animal Park is best topped off with a dinner at the relaxing and refreshing Stone Brewery."

Stone Imperial Russian Stout and Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine both named 50 Beers To Try Now!

"The event's main speaker, Greg Koch, Stone Brewing Co.'s CEO, advocated profitable environmentalism with histrionic flair. Escondido-based Stone is the poster child for successful melding of green (environmental) with green (cash)."

"It makes sense that local beer enthusiasts would recognize the potential to grab a slice of the market, said Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido. 'As things hit a certain critical mass it makes business models viable. Tap Hunter wouldn't be a viable website that anybody would care about if there were two places in San Diego that had anything interesting on tap,' Koch said."

"Neither Stone Brewing nor their distributor expected the reaction of their beer reaching Chicago that they eventually received. Stone head brewer Mitch Steele said that when he left California to come to the conference, 'the brewery is pretty much empty [of beer.]'"

"The first Black IPA I had that blew me away was Stone Brewing Company's Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale...'A really well-done Black IPA is incredibly tasty and delicious,' Greg Koch, CEO and co-founder of Stone Brewing Company, tells me. 'It's a compelling beer.'"

"Stone Brewing founder and CEO Greg Koch is coming to town and as a result you can taste the largest number of Stone taps ever sipped outside of California."

"When a craft brewer has the balls to name a beer Arrogant Bastard, he better bring it. California’s Stone Brewing has no trouble delivering the goods..."

"The California brewers best known for Arrogant Bastard Ale are starting to distribute in Chicago, and they’re celebrating with a full week of appearances by brewmaster Steve Wagner and CEO Greg Koch."

"Stone Brewing Co. of Escondido [won a SANDEE Award] for its commitment to the environment and sustainability, including a solar-power system that provides 30 percent to 40 percent of its electricity."

"Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, Calif., is joining forces with two of the East Coast’s most innovative craft brewers, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and Victory Brewing Co., to make Saison du BUFF, an ale spiced with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme."

"Well, the head of the WTO did stop by the Stone World Bistro & Gardens last Wednesday. The head of the World Toilet Organization, that is. I know what you're thinking. There's a World Toilet Organization? Apparently, there is."

"Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido may brew the best-known [beers designed for aging], a series of annual beers called Vertical Epic, with each new release coming one year, one month and one day after the last. The full flight is meant to be experienced, according to the brewers, in one sitting on Dec. 12, 2012."

"Having someone like Greg Koch of Stone Brewing Co. coming all the way out here from California to be the keynote speaker is fantastic," says Tenny. "He's just about the biggest rock star in the craft brewing scene."

Nearly Perfect: Stone Smoked Porter. "This mouth-filling porter has a lovely balance of creamy malt and fruity hops. Don't be afraid of the smoke: this has just a hint of roasty flavor to balance generous coffee, cream, and sweet caramel notes, and it finishes very dry."

"A word to the wise," said Greg Koch, whose Stone Brewery in California produces the very cellarable Vertical Epic series. "The best way to ensure a beer for long-term aging is to keep it cool or cold. Period."

"Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido is recognized as one of the best breweries in the nation..."

"Smoky, heavy, and earthy both in smell and taste, Stone Imperial Russian Stout's flavor is characterized with hints of roast coffee beans, dark fruits, molasses, and brown sugar."

"According to Professor Greg Koch of Stone Brewing, [bashah] might just be the world’s first ever commercially brewed Black Belgian Double IPA."

"Stone Brewing Co.'s...Vertical Epic line of bottled beers was really one of first brewery-based initiatives that tried to educate consumers about [aging beers.]"

"We now have beer from some of the best in the business, including Ska, Deschutes, Oskar Blues, Boulevard and the full line from Stone Brewing Co.”

"California's Stone Brewing Co., noted for its highly rated Russian imperial stout and a strong ale called Arrogant Bastard, has been on Missouri drinkers' wish list for more than a year."

"Stone Brewing of California, may be dipping its toes into the European market."

"Stone Brewing Co. also had multiple collaborations with various companies and it turns out home brewers have been doing the same and will continue to do so into 2010."

"With an elegant restaurant, hospitality room and bar and a beautifully landscaped outdoor area that often hosts movie nights and other events, Stone is, as our bartender put it, “beer mecca.” The grounds rival any winery in Napa Valley."

"...locally produced wine and beer is the fifth hottest trend on restaurant menus in 2010"

"Arrogant Bastard Ale...my favorite beer."

"Escondido-based Stone Brewing Co. recently designed beer lists for BICE, the new Italian restaurant in the Gaslamp Quarter; the dining room at the Madera Bolf & Country Club in the Central Valley; and the Charlie Palmer restaurant chain."

"...Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, hosted the third annual Stone Sour Fest on July 19. More than 600 guests attended to taste the 90 beers..."

"Beer Clothing Co...will feature apparel, gear and accessories from a number of craft breweries from around the United States."

Pecan Pie's Best Pair: Stone Smoked Porter. "You might think a smoky beer belongs with grilled meat, but it's great with pecan pie (and not bad with pumpkin either."

"Ruination IPA is delicious to drink, but good luck appreciating other flavors afterwards. Allow this Double IPA to ruin your palate for anything else that claims to be 'beer'"

"'We should do a pub crawl,' my wife suggested -- after we learned that our flight from Denver International Airport was delayed two hours. My wife has come up with some great ideas over the years, but this was one of her best."

"It’s called 'San Diego Beer Week,' but this countywide celebration is actually a super-sized 10 days."

"Bradley Boyle, owner of Salt Gastro pub in Stanhope, N.J., said he has seen his customers pairing higher-end beer with the food instead of wine."

"...try out the Stone Smoked Porter. The brewers there have an ego, and it's rightly deserved."

"Stone Brewing Co. of San Diego makes some of the best and hoppiest beer on the planet."

"The Vertical Epic is an annual limited release ale intended to age for approximately ten years. That is when Stone estimates that it will reach its peak. (Stone has been doing this since 2002, and you can track their check-in tastings on each of the beers.)"

"The results are in: Beer is better than wine. At least that’s how the voting went at the third annual Beer vs. Wine dinner held recently at Rancho Bernardo Inn."

...with powerhouse craft brewer Stone Brewing Co. just 30 minutes outside the city limits, America's Finest City (seriously -- that's actually their nickname) has a lot of pull with the brewing community."

"Levitation is a milder version of American pale or amber ale, and its lower bittering and ABV make it very sessionable. Stone has impeccable craft brewing credentials, and its Levitation shows it."

"Arrogant Bastard is the point of no return. Maybe it’s the beer’s bad-boy demeanor, or maybe it’s the West Coast hop action, but we see this American strong ale everywhere and, despite its attitude, people love it. So do we."

"'All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth.' This was the title recently bestowed by BeerAdvocate Magazine upon Stone Brewing Company - an irreverent San Diego brewery with big dreams. Stone is just one of over 30 craft breweries in this city that is fast becoming the Napa of beer."

"Finally, from October 20-22, the Avenue Pub celebrates the local arrival of California-made Stone beer with a non-stop 72-hour party.'This is the biggest beer thing that has happened in the state of Louisiana,' said bar owner Polly Watts, 'so long term it will change the face of craft beer in the city.'"

"San Diego's rise to hop-and-malt prominence began 20 years ago, with the founding of the area's oldest surviving brewery, Karl Strauss. Later arrivals, notably Stone and AleSmith, cultivated an anything-goes attitude that reflects the freewheeling Southern California culture."

Stone Brewing Co. places 19th on San Diego Business Journal's 2009 list of Fastest Growing Privately Held Companies

"I want my burger juicy in the middle and charred on the outside, and I want a Stone Smoked Porter to go with it. Its bittersweet chocolate flavors give it a hefty body, while a dose of smoked malt puts grill marks on your pint glass."

"In the United States, we can satisfy ourselves with luscious, full-flavored American-style IPAs that are close to the original. Spiced with ample amounts of aromatic hops, American IPA from the likes of Stone Brewing and Dogfish Head is now one of the most popular styles you'll find in the craft-beer aisle."

"Dark beer lovers will be pleased to find Stone's Imperial Russian Stout; but watch out if you've never tried it before. It makes Guinness look like Bud Light and double espresso taste like a vanilla Frappucino."

"Of all the beers guzzled--I mean, sampled--for this tasting, the hands-down favorite was Stone Brewing Co.'s Arrogant Bastard Ale. 'Luscious' describes it quite nicely, bursting with nutty, toffee-like aromas and a complex array of flavors..."

"'Twitter isn't a promotional gimmick or a sneaky way to conduct marketing research,' says Matthew Steele, who operates the @StoneBrewingCo Twitter account. 'It's a way to talk to our fans and connect personally.'"

"Asked if they (BrewDog) were inspired by any UK beers, Martin plainly says 'no'; rather it was the potent, complex beers of Belgium and experimental US microbreweries like Dogfish Head and Stone Brewery in California which provided their role models."

"On July 19, Stone Brewing is hosting its third annual Sour Fest in Escondido. Newly installed beverage coordinator Bill Sysak has visited Belgium 30 times and promises the selection will be 'decadent, more extreme' than previous years, with close to 50 kegs, plus plenty of bottled lambics."

"An increasing number of bar and restaurant owners will go out of their way to support smaller brewers...[and] small brewers reward that loyalty. Stone Brewing CEO Greg Koch, for instance, personally delivered a keg of vanilla porter to the Downtown bistro Neighborhood on Friday afternoon..."

"Winding down the walkway to Stone Brewery's eatery in Escondido, you may feel as if you're entering Batman's lair. With firelight bouncing off the large stone tables and a glass wall displaying towers of fermenting hops, the site is both impressive and inviting."

"Stone Brewing Co. in San Diego, CA, is the brainchild of OAKED Arrogant Bastard Ale...consumers are lining up to buy this beer."

"'As more and more craft breweries have opened around the country, brewers have continued to make great craft brews as they refine and improve the craft,' says Greg Koch, president and co-founder of Stone Brewing Co. of North County San Diego, Calif. 'And just like rock 'n' roll, the craft beer industry has grown up and matured by introducing new sub-genres.'"

"Many thanks to both Stone Brewery and Pal Joey?s for helping make SpringFest the terrific community event that it is."

"It just seemed like everything Stone released in 2008 was exactly what I wanted."

"I've always enjoyed a good soup. By far the most stunning soup I've found to date is the Garlic Cheddar & Stone Ruination IPA Soup at the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido".

"[Brewers] are facing soaring costs and a shortage in hops, the plant used to give beer its bitterness, aroma and flavor. At Stone Brewing Co., considered one of the industry leaders in creating hoppy beers, the 15-20% price hike instituted earlier this year was the "biggest single price increase we had to take" in the company's 12-year history, said owner Greg Koch."

"Stone IPA takes the edge off a tough day."

"[Stone] has more than a dozen or so videos posted on YouTube featuring various behind-the-scenes tours of their operation led by CEO Greg Koch. It’s an engaging way to connect with the story of the brewery and thus, get interested in their beers."

Every elementary school kid learns that necessity is the mother of invention. Never was there a truer statement when talking about a particular style of beer called India Pale Ale. One particular innovation stands head and shoulders above the rest in world history, one that solved the problem of how to get beer to English soldiers in the newly colonized country of India.

"They will go blue to raise some green"