Escondido, California-based Stone Brewing expanded its East Coast operations this week, increasing annual capacity at its Richmond, Virginia, facility from 150,000 barrels to 200,000 barrels.
The company has invested $2.7 million in the project, installing four new 1,000 barrel tanks that will help it increase production of Stone beer and hard seltzer for distribution east of the Rockies and internationally. A 10-barrel pilot system is also being installed to produce Richmond-exclusive offerings starting in May.
“Richmond is home to Stone and continues to support our growth in a really meaningful way,” CEO Maria Stippsaid in a press release. “We’ll continue to invest in our facility, the community and our talented team.”
Stone first announced the planned expansion in August 2021. At the time, chief operating officer Sean Monahan told Richmond Times-Dispatch the facility had room for 40 more tanks for future expansion.
While Stone does not do any third-party or contract brewing in Richmond, Monahan told Brewbound via email that “the additional capacity will provide us flexibility to consider.”
Stone opened the Richmond distribution center and brewery in 2016, two years after announcing the $74 million project. This year, the brewery added a “Live Buena” food trailer to the location, to serve San Diego-inspired food alongside Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime lager and Buenavida Hard Seltzer.
In 2015, the company announced plans for a Richmond World Bistro & Gardens at the Intermediate Terminal building, supported in part by $8 million in bonds from the city, according to Richmond BizSense. However, in 2018, Stone sought approval to demolish the building due to structural issues and eventually abandoned the project. Last year, Stipp told Richmond BizSense the company “still remain[s] committed to bringing a Stone food experience to Richmond,” and continues to discuss options with the city, with a focus on still using the Intermediate Terminal location.
Stipp told Brewbound the company is refocusing on its core beers in 2022, led by its Buena brand family. Stone launched the brand family nationally with Stone Buenaveza Salt & Lime Lager in August 2020. Since then, the Mexican-style lager has grown to be Stone’s third-largest brand in overall sales, and No. 1 draft brand, as of November. Monahan said the growth of Buenaveza Salt & Lime lager “is a major contributor” to the capacity investment.
In April 2021, the brewery added Buenavida Hard Seltzer in four flavors — Mango, Black Cherry, Mandarin, and Watermelon Lime — packaged in glass bottles and distributed solely in Southern California. Stone rolled out Buenavida nationwide in January.
Although Stone has begun direct-to-consumer shipments to Ohio and Washington, D.C., the company said those orders will continue to ship from its Escondido production facility.