Stone Brewing opens taproom in Shanghai (enjoy some photos)

With wind in its sails, Stone Brewing Co. marked an expansion milestone for U.S. craft beer this week. America’s eighth largest craft brewery opened three first-class craft beer destinations on three continents over three consecutive months. This trifecta of expansion around the globe celebrates the continued rise and appreciation for craft beer in far-flung markets. With pints held high, Stone Brewing proudly announced the opening of Stone Brewing Tap Room — Shanghai, which was preceded by Stone Brewing — Napa and the Berlin city center Stone Brewing Tap Room — Prenzlauer Berg.

“The promise of expansion seems to be an all-too-familiar excuse for selling out in craft beer, but we prefer to be the embodiment of the alternative,” explained Stone Brewing CEO Dominic Engels. “Our independence is what guarantees authentic experiences for our fans. It allows us to be nimble, creative and bold. By pioneering new geographies we’re leading the charge for independent craft beer, and the sheer act of doing so is fueling our creativity and passion. We’re thoughtful in our growth, we’re focused in our execution, and you definitely haven’t seen the last of us.”

Stone Brewing Tap Room — Shanghai

The auspicious opening of Stone Brewing Tap Room — Shanghai this week marks the first tap room opening by an independent American craft brewery in China. To deliver a world-class beer experience, Stone Brewing painstakingly designed the first uninterrupted cold chain delivery of U.S. craft beer to China last year and continues its tally of firsts with the installation of a “flux capacitor tap system” at the newly opened tap room. A first in Asia, this special manifold system is a principal example of elevating the craft beer experience and allows for custom calibration of carbon dioxide and nitrogen mixes for each and every of the restaurant’s 30 beers on tap.

Stone’s meticulous approach to each beer’s delivery is indisputably matched by the environment surrounding it. Stone’s 3,200 sq-ft bar and restaurant offers seating for 90 indoors and 28 in the additional 1,000 sq-ft gardens. Floor to ceiling custom rollup doors open the tap room to the outdoors on two sides. The interior incorporates reclaimed wood, concrete, steel and vintage furnishing, a main bar and an oversized fireplace lounge. The Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens food philosophy translates to Stone’s first Asia project, incorporating artisanal products with a focus on environmental responsibility and high-quality ingredients.

“Stone Brewing Tap Room — Shanghai is everything we set out to achieve, as it has the craft beer heart and soul we intended,” expressed Stone Brewing Executive Chairman and Cofounder Greg Koch. “We’ve curated a selection of craft beers rivaled by none and designed an impeccable experience for enjoying them. This isn’t just about Stone beers either. It’s about global craft beer. These are destinations for those interested in craft to explore new things and experience the world’s very best just as they were intended to be enjoyed. We hope to inspire a more profound understanding of craft beer, raise the bar in appreciation for America’s craft brewers and, at the very least, bring our fans together over a pint of the good stuff.”

With the addition of these three new locations, Stone’s unique venues now total 11 in number. Like-minded in approach, each exists to elevate the craft beer experience while creating an environment that fosters togetherness and affinity for the art of craft. The spirit and philosophy of Stone guides every project, but each is exclusive to its own surroundings, building’s character and local community.