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Stone Brewing taproom at 1202 Kettner holds active California liquor license

Stone Brewing taproom at 1202 Kettner holds active California liquor license

Rule Changes San Diego, CA local

State ABC records show an on-sale general license effective August 18, 2026, for the downtown San Diego bar

August 18th, 2026: Type 01 license active at Kettner

Overview

Updated 50 minutes ago

Stone Brewing's downtown San Diego taproom, steps from the Santa Fe Depot, holds an active state liquor license as of August 18, 2026. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) lists an on-sale general license — type 01 — for Stone Company Store at 1202 Kettner Boulevard.

A type 01 license authorizes on-premises sale of beer, wine, and spirits, the standard permit for a standing bar. The record is one approval, not a full clearance; it shows the permit is active but says nothing about other licenses or inspections the location may still need.

Why it matters

The type 01 license lets Stone's downtown bar keep pouring beer, wine, and spirits legally next to the Santa Fe Depot.

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Key Indicators

1
Active type 01 ABC license
On-sale general license for beer, wine, and spirits consumed on the premises.
20
Beers on tap at a reviewer's visit
Tap list featured year-round beers, special releases, and archived vintages.
6
Stone locations in San Diego County
The Kettner taproom is the smallest, focused on merchandise and to-go beer.

Voices

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

January 1996 August 2026

5 events Latest: August 18th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Type 01 license active at Kettner

    Latest Licensing

    California ABC records show an active on-sale general license for Stone Company Store at 1202 Kettner Blvd.

  2. Sapporo buys Stone

    Acquisition

    Japanese brewer Sapporo completes its purchase of Stone Brewing.

  3. Company Store rebranded

    Rebrand

    Stone renames its Company Store locations to Tap Rooms across its footprint.

  4. Kettner taproom opens

    Opening

    Stone opens a small tasting room and retail store in the historic McClintock Warehouse near the Santa Fe Depot.

  5. Stone Brewing founded

    Founding

    Greg Koch and Steve Wagner start the brewery in Escondido, California.

Scenarios

1

Stone sells Kettner taproom to a new operator

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: San Diego Union-Tribune beer coverage and California ABC license records

If Stone trims its San Diego footprint, the Kettner taproom could pass to a new owner who keeps it running under a transferred license. The ABC type 01 record would reflect the transfer to the buyer.

2

Stone keeps running the Kettner taproom

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Stone Brewing's stated plans to keep core San Diego locations

Stone continues operating the downtown taproom under the current license into 2027 with the brand and operator unchanged. The venue stays listed with its regular hours on Stone's site and Untappd.

3

Kettner taproom closes permanently

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Trade coverage of pressure on the wider craft beer industry

The downtown bar could shut if Stone pulls back from its San Diego outposts. Closure would appear in ABC records as the type 01 license being surrendered, canceled, or transferred away without a new operator.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1996

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.

Then

Stone built a national distribution network and multiple San Diego locations, including the Kettner taproom in 2013.

Now

The brand's beer identity, built on bitter, hop-forward ales, anchors what the Kettner taproom still pours today.

Why this matters now

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.

2022

Sapporo acquires Stone Brewing (2022)

Sapporo, Japan's oldest brewery, bought Stone Brewing for an undisclosed sum, folding the California craft brewer into its international portfolio. Greg Koch stepped back from the CEO role.

Then

Stone's operations continued under Sapporo ownership with existing taprooms intact.

Now

The change in control positioned the Kettner taproom under a new corporate parent, relevant to any future license transfers or closures.

Why this matters now

The 2022 acquisition set up the ownership structure behind the license active at 1202 Kettner in August 2026.

Sources

(5)