Stone Brewing was acquired by Firestone Walker and Duvel USA from Sapporo USA in April 2026. The acquisition included Stone Brewing’s wholesale business, Stone beer brand rights and four Stone Brewing locations in Southern California.
Like Stone Brewing, Firestone Walker was founded in 1996 and is widely regarded as one of California’s leading craft brewers. Firestone Walker will play a central role in supporting Stone Brewing’s future. The two West Coast breweries together represent a powerful expression of California’s craft heritage.
Stone Brewing is going strong in San Diego and Southern California. The Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station remains a centerpiece, and three additional taproom locations in San Diego, Oceanside and Pasadena continue to thrive. Stone also has a Tap Room location at the San Diego International Airport in Terminal 2.
Stone’s beers are now brewed in San Diego, Paso Robles and Kansas City. The majority of production has shifted to Firestone Walker’s Paso Robles brewery and Duvel USA’s Boulevard brewery in Kansas City. Additionally, the innovation brewery at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens - Liberty Station will continue to brew and release Stone favorites under longtime Stone Head Brewer Kris Ketcham.
Stone Beers remain available across San Diego and nationwide. San Diego-brewed beers will continue to be released and available in Southern California. San Diego and Southern California will continue to be Stone’s biggest market.
Stone Brewing under Firestone Walker and Duvel USA did not announce any layoffs or closures. In fact, Stone Brewing under Firestone Walker and Duvel USA has onboarded 200+ Stone team members and is seeking to fill additional positions across the brewery.
The confusion stems from Sapporo USA issuing a WARN notice on August 21 that erroneously included Stone Brewing brand imagery and language. Sapporo USA took responsibility for the error and later corrected the notice. However, by that time, the headlines had been written.
In that initial WARN notice, Sapporo USA announced layoffs of Sapporo USA employees at the Sapporo USA-owned location in Escondido. Questions about Sapporo USA’s plans for their employees and properties should be directed to CEO Zach Keeling at Zach.Keeling@sapporousa.com.
They are two completely separate entities. Sapporo USA is the former owner of Stone Brewing. As of April 2026, Stone Brewing is owned and operated by Firestone Walker and Duvel USA. Any actions taken by Sapporo USA at its Escondido properties should not be attributed to “Stone Brewing,” as Sapporo USA’s decisions, actions and properties should not be confused with those of Firestone Walker and/or Duvel USA.
As part of the acquisition agreement, the Stone Brewing name was licensed back to Sapporo USA for their Escondido location (including Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido) as part of a wind-down plan that will conclude in November 2026. The Escondido brewery location is fully owned and operated by Sapporo USA.
Stone Brewing has no affiliation with the Quarry restaurant project. Stone Brewing founder Greg Koch and co-founder Steve Wagner recently announced plans to open Quarry at the Escondido location later this year. Koch sold Stone Brewing to Sapporo USA in 2022 and Stone Brewing is now owned by Firestone Walker and Duvel USA. Greg and Steve remain highly regarded in the Stone Brewing family and this next iteration of the Escondido restaurant will no doubt be a success.
