(Escondido,CA) – Watch a very candid video featuring Stone Brewing Founder Greg Koch on why Stone hasn’t chosen to sell out to big beer. Whether you agree with Greg or not, we’d like to hear your thoughts in our comment section below.
Well laying off 65 employees , most being 10 plus year employees IS A BIG BEER MOVE , Greg is passionate , but hiring a new coo so he could spend his time in Germany with the new brewery is a move that big beer does , the new coo doesn’t even have a background in the craft beer industry, when you lay off your entire staff that’s been with you for 10 years or more your basically telling the industry and your other employees that theirs no growth with Stone brewing company
I agree with @Lyne Noella. He really put himself out there by making this speech. If he were to sell out now he would look like a giant Jackass.
Also while I don’t blame to people who are selling out to big beer I’m also not going to support them any longer. Mostly due to my belief that at some point in time big beer will intervene and attempt to make their processes more efficient and less costly and in the end ruin great beer.
I always enjoy listening to a guy like Greg Koch speak. He is a guy who stands by his company with great pride. We should never judge a company if they choose to sell out to big beer. That’s their right to and might be best for them. What we should talk freely about is company’s like Stone and a guy like Greg who choose not to sell to the highest bidder. Stone is a very successful company with many wonderful employees.
Greg would have you believe he is the Bernie Sanders of beer. His opening statement about having 4000+ breweries in the late 1800s down to 42 in 1979 being because of “big beer” is true in that we would’ve had less without them. The reason those 4000+ died off was not because big beer killed the little guys, it’s because of this little thing called prohibition, the big Brewers were the only ones that could survive that horrible policy by switching industries and staying afloat until the 21st amendment was ratified. His speech was eloquent, but lacked facts or substance. I like a lot of what stone does but they flood the market with a lot of sub par beers as well. This was an obvious shot at the other craft guys who have partnered with the big guys to help themselves expand and reach a broader market. Stone is growing very fast and now competing nationally and globally with these big guys and this “true to our culture” piece was an obvious attempt to disparage competition.
This seriously gave me goosebumps. You don’t often hear a person who is willing to put value, real value, ahead of price. I’ve been a fan of Stone for years, since my older brother introduced me to them. I was a huge fan of their beer before watching this, and if possible, I’m an even bigger fan now. I’d love to one day have the opportunity to shake his hand and possibly share a Ruination.
Keep pursuing your passion, Mr. Koch. We thank you all the more for it.
Someone once said that if you can make a living doing what you love you’ll never work another day in your life. While that speaks more to the passion behind the work rather than the work itself, I believe it also says something about how long you do it. If you love what you do, it’s not about the moneyand you will probably continue beyond the normal retirement age. Here’s to your passion Greg.
You sell out and you lose your culture. If you sell out, you are now under culture of a new culture. AB’s culture is different from Stone in that they care about making money and what people want. Stone focuses on beer and what they can create and then let the people decide. In a way, they only care about the beer. AB takes consumers as suckers, but Stone loves their people because the people love their beer.
I live in India where we’ve just seen the Birth of the Craft Beer movement and it is barely 8 years old. Greg Koch visited India in December and I got to meet him in person. He’s invested personally in a Craft brewpub that really resonates all of these values. I have nothing but respect for Stone Brewing. I remember having the Arrogant Bastard Ale in Tucson, AZ in the late 90’s and it is still a great Beer – they are still true to Craft. Cheers Stone Brewing!
I wish I could adopt Greg as my son. He has said all that I believe in. I am just getting started in the craft industry and very proud to be a part of a movement with such great character. Greg is correct in saying that it isn’t about the money, as important as that is to survive and grow. It is more about brewing local and thriving in our communities. Making a fair profit and a good living is important but not at the cost of selling out on our dreams.
I wish more people had this mind set. It’s all about being true to yourself and devoting your energy to creating a quality product. If you do that the dollar will come, it will take hard work and determination, but it will come. There is a whole group of us out there that respect the hell out of you and what your doing Greg.
For the Love of Beer
Enjoy The Fruits Of Your Labor, Brew Beer
Sjporr
If a brewery continues to grow( like Stone) and still makes great beer and doesn’t cut corners( like Stone), they make enough money that they don’t have to sell out. You can make a very comfortable living and keep your passion , instead of being greedy
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December 31, 2016 @ 11:55 pm
Well laying off 65 employees , most being 10 plus year employees IS A BIG BEER MOVE , Greg is passionate , but hiring a new coo so he could spend his time in Germany with the new brewery is a move that big beer does , the new coo doesn’t even have a background in the craft beer industry, when you lay off your entire staff that’s been with you for 10 years or more your basically telling the industry and your other employees that theirs no growth with Stone brewing company
December 31, 2016 @ 1:10 pm
He just explained what craft beer is all about. Well done!
I Hope I Can Have As much Integrity | A pint for Dionysus
March 16, 2016 @ 12:07 pm
[…] watched the founder of Stone Brewing talk about his business and decisions not to sell his […]
March 15, 2016 @ 5:37 am
I agree with @Lyne Noella. He really put himself out there by making this speech. If he were to sell out now he would look like a giant Jackass.
Also while I don’t blame to people who are selling out to big beer I’m also not going to support them any longer. Mostly due to my belief that at some point in time big beer will intervene and attempt to make their processes more efficient and less costly and in the end ruin great beer.
March 10, 2016 @ 1:08 pm
I always enjoy listening to a guy like Greg Koch speak. He is a guy who stands by his company with great pride. We should never judge a company if they choose to sell out to big beer. That’s their right to and might be best for them. What we should talk freely about is company’s like Stone and a guy like Greg who choose not to sell to the highest bidder. Stone is a very successful company with many wonderful employees.
March 9, 2016 @ 5:23 am
Greg would have you believe he is the Bernie Sanders of beer. His opening statement about having 4000+ breweries in the late 1800s down to 42 in 1979 being because of “big beer” is true in that we would’ve had less without them. The reason those 4000+ died off was not because big beer killed the little guys, it’s because of this little thing called prohibition, the big Brewers were the only ones that could survive that horrible policy by switching industries and staying afloat until the 21st amendment was ratified. His speech was eloquent, but lacked facts or substance. I like a lot of what stone does but they flood the market with a lot of sub par beers as well. This was an obvious shot at the other craft guys who have partnered with the big guys to help themselves expand and reach a broader market. Stone is growing very fast and now competing nationally and globally with these big guys and this “true to our culture” piece was an obvious attempt to disparage competition.
March 8, 2016 @ 4:07 pm
There’s a lot to be said for hookers and blow!
March 8, 2016 @ 5:58 am
This seriously gave me goosebumps. You don’t often hear a person who is willing to put value, real value, ahead of price. I’ve been a fan of Stone for years, since my older brother introduced me to them. I was a huge fan of their beer before watching this, and if possible, I’m an even bigger fan now. I’d love to one day have the opportunity to shake his hand and possibly share a Ruination.
Keep pursuing your passion, Mr. Koch. We thank you all the more for it.
Cheers.
March 7, 2016 @ 5:46 pm
Someone once said that if you can make a living doing what you love you’ll never work another day in your life. While that speaks more to the passion behind the work rather than the work itself, I believe it also says something about how long you do it. If you love what you do, it’s not about the moneyand you will probably continue beyond the normal retirement age. Here’s to your passion Greg.
March 7, 2016 @ 2:26 pm
Pigs get fat, Hogs get slaughtered
March 7, 2016 @ 12:06 pm
You sell out and you lose your culture. If you sell out, you are now under culture of a new culture. AB’s culture is different from Stone in that they care about making money and what people want. Stone focuses on beer and what they can create and then let the people decide. In a way, they only care about the beer. AB takes consumers as suckers, but Stone loves their people because the people love their beer.
March 7, 2016 @ 11:43 am
I live in India where we’ve just seen the Birth of the Craft Beer movement and it is barely 8 years old. Greg Koch visited India in December and I got to meet him in person. He’s invested personally in a Craft brewpub that really resonates all of these values. I have nothing but respect for Stone Brewing. I remember having the Arrogant Bastard Ale in Tucson, AZ in the late 90’s and it is still a great Beer – they are still true to Craft. Cheers Stone Brewing!
March 7, 2016 @ 10:56 am
I wish I could adopt Greg as my son. He has said all that I believe in. I am just getting started in the craft industry and very proud to be a part of a movement with such great character. Greg is correct in saying that it isn’t about the money, as important as that is to survive and grow. It is more about brewing local and thriving in our communities. Making a fair profit and a good living is important but not at the cost of selling out on our dreams.
March 5, 2016 @ 11:55 am
Well, he can’t sell out after making that speech!
March 5, 2016 @ 5:56 am
I wish more people had this mind set. It’s all about being true to yourself and devoting your energy to creating a quality product. If you do that the dollar will come, it will take hard work and determination, but it will come. There is a whole group of us out there that respect the hell out of you and what your doing Greg.
For the Love of Beer
Enjoy The Fruits Of Your Labor, Brew Beer
Sjporr
March 4, 2016 @ 2:13 pm
Gotta respect the guy. I hope Stone never sells out.
March 4, 2016 @ 12:14 pm
If a brewery continues to grow( like Stone) and still makes great beer and doesn’t cut corners( like Stone), they make enough money that they don’t have to sell out. You can make a very comfortable living and keep your passion , instead of being greedy