Stone Brewing founded in Escondido (1996)
Greg Koch and Steve Wagner started Stone Brewing in Escondido, California, brewing aggressive West Coast IPAs that became the brand's signature. The company grew into one of the largest craft brewers in the country.
Stone built a national distribution network and multiple San Diego locations, including the Kettner taproom in 2013.
The brand's beer identity, built on bitter, hop-forward ales, anchors what the Kettner taproom still pours today.
The 1996 founding explains why a Stone-branded bar sits at 1202 Kettner and why its tap list is built around the brewery's core styles.
