• 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

Stone Brewing releases first beer in employee-inspired Stone Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier

April 23, 2014Keith Gribbins

Last year, the brew crew of Stone Brewing Co. participated in an intra-departmental competition dubbed the Stone Spotlight Series, in which teams of two competed for the opportunity to have a beer they devised brewed, packaged and distributed nationally. Stone wanted to “spotlight” the talented individuals that make up the Stone brewing team and encouraged them to explore what craft beer is truly about: ingenuity, creativity and … well, having fun.

Beginning today, the craft beer company is proud to unveil the inaugural prize-winning beer in the Stone Spotlight Series: Spröcketbier, a black rye Kölsch-style ale. Fans across the U.S. may purchase the limited-release beer in 22-ounce bottles and on draft at retailers, restaurants and bars in select markets nationwide.

Stone Quality Assurance Supervisor Rick Blankemeier and Production Warehouse Lead Robbie Chandler comprise the winning duo, Team Spröcket. Together, they gave birth to the champion beer recipe. Since both members of the brewing team regularly homebrew together, they used a previous recipe they had brewed for a rye Kölsch and added a Stone-like twist by adding more hops (naturally) and turned the traditionally golden beer dark by using black malt.

“We wanted to brew a low alcohol beer with lots of complex flavors and decided a Kölsch brewed with rye flakes and black malt would give us enough of a distinction to stand out in the competition,” explains Blankemeier in the press release. “Tasting it after it was brewed on the small batch brewing system, we recalled an old SNL skit called ‘Sprockets,’ which features Mike Myers as a West German expressionist. Robbie and I both felt our beer would be something the German character Dieter would enjoy and can imagine him saying it is ‘dark and easy to drink.’ Thus the beer got named, Spröcketbier.”

Despite its dark hue, the beer carries traditional Kölsch qualities — it’s light-bodied and refreshing, with relatively modest alcohol content. Typically a style that’s pale in appearance, Spröcketbier used carafa malt which lends the beer its onyx color and adds a subtle roast character. The use of a Kölsch yeast strain gives the beer an overall crisp flavor, while flaked rye malt adds complex spiciness. Late hop additions in the whirlpool also contribute slight citrus and spice aromatics to the beer. All of these traits make for a brew that’s unique, Stone-esque and definitely ahead of its time.

“Stone Co-founders Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, and I were very impressed with the beer submissions received from the 20 brewing teams,” said Stone Brewmaster Mitch Steele. “The beers were all fantastic and it was a very tough decision, but Spröcketbier had a little bit of that extra Stone character that the three of us were ultimately looking for.”

Spröcketbier is intended to be enjoyed fresh within 120 days from its bottling or kegging date. Blankemeier and Chandler ’s brainchild brew will be available in very limited quantities, but fans may look forward to enjoying future beer releases from the Stone Spotlight Series that showcase Stone’s brewing talent.

Enter Night Stone Brewing
Watch Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch kick back beers with Metallica’s Lars Ulrich, discussing Enter Night Pilsner
Stone Brewing opens taproom in Shanghai (enjoy some photos)
Stone Brewing Richmond will have to demo future bistro building (1937 Terminal Warehouse)
Enjoy this video of Stone Berlin’s first anniversary party, which you missed like a total buster

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. crsimp01 says

    April 23, 2014 at 4:46 pm

    Stone Brewing Co.’s first beer in employee’s Stone Spotlight Series http://t.co/H4GiJiuPWw via @craftbrewingbiz

    Log in to Reply
  2. cleveactbrew says

    April 23, 2014 at 4:38 pm

    RT @CraftBrewingBiz: Stone Brewing releases first beer in employee-inspired Stone Spotlight Series @StoneBrewing http://t.co/Un1A7dvFdB

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Latest News

  • Caius Farm Brewery opens in Branford, Conn.
  • Colorado’s Resolute Brewing shares its 2022 year in review (rebrands and invests in local malt)
  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
  • Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails

Sign up for our newsletter

unsubscribe from list

Most Popular Today

Recent Features

  • 4 steps to understanding the filtration process in craft beer
    March 20, 2023
  • newbelgium_2023_wildnectar-shopping-basket_family_IMG_2Beyond beer: Examples of craft breweries exploring canned cocktails
    March 16, 2023
  • brooklyn 35 featureBrooklyn Lager turns 35 and more beers to know this week
    March 14, 2023
  • Backwoods Brewing to open a 19-acre resort called Party Acres in the Columbia River gorge this May
    March 13, 2023
  • Distribution update: NYC’s Alewife Brewing now sells in eastern Pennsylvania + news from Maui, Urban South and more
    March 13, 2023
  • Years in planning: Flix Brewhouse will open a nine-screen luxury theater and brewery in Mansfield, Texas, this fall
    March 9, 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