• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • About Craft Brewing Business

Craft Brewing Business

Professional Insight, Unfiltered

Craft Brewing Business Craft Brewing Business
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment & Systems
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • News
  • Business & Marketing
  • Ingredients & Supplies
  • Packaging & Distribution
  • Equipment
  • Webinars & White Papers
  • COVID-19

Employee killed at Stone Brewing Co. over the weekend

August 27, 2013Keith Gribbins

Stone Brewing Top Ale America
The accident is being investigated by OSHA and other officials, but Stone Brewing indicated its World Bistro & Gardens — Escondido facility will remain open along with its Stone Company Store.

Last weekend, Saturday evening, reports of an alleged forklift accident at Stone Brewing Co. resulted in the death of a Stone Brewing employee (Matthew Courtright). News reports indicate that the forklift overturned and pinned the 27-year-old brewer, resulting in major injuries. Stone Brewing released the following statement:

It is with a very heavy heart that we communicate a tragedy involving one of our valued friends and Team Stone colleagues. We are deeply saddened that one of our own passed away from complications resulting from a forklift accident at our Escondido brewery on Saturday, August 24. Our deepest condolences go out to the team member’s family. Out of respect for the team member’s loved ones, we are not releasing the individual’s name at this time.

We have launched an investigation and are working with authorities to determine the cause of the accident. In the interim, we have closed down brewing operations as well as tours of the brewery today (Sunday, August 25) and anticipate resuming all operations tomorrow (Monday, August 26).

Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens — Escondido will remain open as will Stone Company Store — Escondido. People expecting to take a tour of the brewery today will be offered a guided beer tasting at the bar located inside Stone Company Store. We will refrain from commenting further until additional details and information is acquired and the investigation into this incident is complete. Thank you for the outpouring of support we have already received. Our sympathy is with the family and everyone affected by this tragedy.

Greg Koch
CEO & Co-founder

Steve Wagner
President & Co-founder

Yesterday, Stone Brewing observed 24 hours of silence on social media in Courtright’s name.

We had recently posted an article that reported from 2009 through 2012, at least four people died in craft brewery accidents in the United States, compared with two deaths at Big Beer breweries. This is all according to a Reuters analysis of federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration data and local media reports. There were also nearly four times as many safety violations at craft breweries in recent years than at large breweries. Safety will always be a challenge for growing businesses, and we’ll definitely be focusing on more safety issues in the near future.

Till then, our hearts and thoughts go out to the Stone Brewing family.

CBC-2021
The “Class of ’96” is hosting a big bash at CBC 2021
Contactless beer and food commerce platform GoTab is helping breweries boost safety, speed and profit
Love these four new labels from Stone Brewing’s Guest Artist IPA Mixed Pack
Watch Mcbiff bring his awesomely retro Mid-Century Modern art to Stone Brewing’s Tiki Escape summer mix pack

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Cheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
  • Watch famed gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman discuss his Flying Dog beer labels
  • The all-new Papago Brewing taproom opens Friday
  • Michigan’s Dog Star Hops wins Chinook Cup for second year in a row

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • Arizona Wilderness BrewingCheers to 10 Years: We should all strive to be Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co.
    February 2, 2023
  • Watch famed gonzo illustrator Ralph Steadman discuss his Flying Dog beer labels
    February 2, 2023
  • Michigan’s Dog Star Hops wins Chinook Cup for second year in a row
    February 1, 2023
  • fort point both-ciders-3Fort Point Beer debuts cider line, explains why ciders instead of seltzers
    January 31, 2023
  • Watch a drone release insects over hop yards for sustainable pest control in this Yakima Chief Hops video series
    January 30, 2023
  • Distro update: Connecticut’s Two Roads Brewing goes to Colorado + news from Surreal, New Sarum and more
    January 30, 2023

Footer

  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • About Craft Brewing Business
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise on Craft Brewing Business
  • Media Kit Download
  • Privacy and Terms

© 2023 · CBB Media LLC