With more than 130 breweries within its borders, San Diego County has become a hub of craft brewing. Yet one of its oldest craft breweries remains one of its brightest stars, with die-hard fans the world over.
Stone Brewing was founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, two music industry guys who discovered they shared a mutual obsession with craft brewing. The duo’s bold, hop-centric Stone IPA immediately struck a chord with beer lovers, and the brewery has been expanding ever since.
After outgrowing its original San Marcos space, Stone moved to a 57,000-square-foot facility in Escondido. Over the years, the brewery has racked up too many awards and accolades to name, landing the top spot on BeerAdvocate’s list of “All-Time Top Brewers.”
Stone’s Escondido brewing complex is also home to Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, once named by RateBeer Best as “The Best Place for Beer in the United States." With its lush organic gardens, waterfalls, and cozy Adirondack chairs, the expansive outdoor patio is a great place to kick back and sample as many as a dozen Stone brews. Bring the kids, even, who can dabble their fingers in sparkling fountains and join you for a game of cornhole. After dark, fire pits warm the scene.
In addition to its tasting outposts throughout San Diego County—including the bistro at Liberty Station—Stone also has a facility in Pasadena and another in Berlin, Germany.