BEER WITH A SOCIALIST: "Farewell Stone Brewing Berlin: Too Big, Too Bold, Too Soon."

BrewDog is taking over Stone's ambitious brewing operation in Berlin, Germany.

BrewDog's new brewery in Berlin

We are delighted to announce that we have completed a deal to acquire an amazing brewery & tap room in Berlin from our good friends at Stone Brewing. We will officially take ownership of our new brewery on May 1st. The brewery we have acquired is in the Mariendorf neighbourhood of Berlin was originally opened in 2016 in a beautiful and historic gasworks building which dates to 1901.

We get the keys to our new European home on May 1st. After a certain time for evaluation we will be closed for a little bit as we turn the building into a BrewDog space, similar to the vibe we have created at our Columbus brewery. Once we reopen, we are looking forward to holding a huge opening party, as well as hosting an epic European AGM for our Equity Punks there later in 2019 and also making Berlin the next destination for BrewDog Airlines ...

I've never been a fan of BrewDog; not an enemy, either. Stone's a different story, and I retain a soft spot in my three-sizes-too-small heart for the San Diego brewery. I'll never forget Stone founder Greg Koch's visit to the Public House in August of 2007. There's a photo somewhere, but no matter.

Here's Greg, explaining the Berlin experience.

Farewell Stone Brewing Berlin: Too Big, Too Bold, Too Soon

My heart is broken. It’ll mend, but I’m gonna let it be broke for a bit.

I love Berlin. And when you love something, it’s bound to frustrate you at times. Times like right about now.

Today we announce we are transferring the ownership of the Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Berlin facility to our friends at Brewdog. Brewdog has agreed to adopt what we’ve built, and they will make it their own.

Since that day I first walked onto the historic gasworks property at the beginning of the decade, we accomplished some great things in Berlin. And we struggled greatly ...