Firestone Walker to acquire Stone Brewing brand
Deal includes hospitality locations across California
– Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Duvel Moortgat USA announced they have signed a definitive agreement with Stone Brewing, a subsidiary of Sapporo USA, to acquire the Stone Brewing brand and select hospitality locations.
The acquisition includes four hospitality locations: Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens at Liberty Station in San Diego, and tap rooms in San Diego’s Little Italy, Oceanside, and Pasadena. The Liberty Station location will continue operating as a hospitality destination and active brewing facility.
Firestone Walker will serve as Stone’s West Coast home, supporting the brand’s operations and future development. Duvel USA will assume distribution responsibilities east of the Rocky Mountains, while Firestone Walker will focus on California, the western United States, Texas, and national accounts.
Production of Stone Brewing products will transition to Firestone Walker’s brewery in Paso Robles and Duvel USA’s Boulevard brewery in Kansas City, Missouri. During the transition, Sapporo USA will continue production at its Escondido, California, and Richmond, Virginia, facilities.
Sapporo Holdings stated the sale reflects a shift toward focusing on its core alcohol beverage business and continued growth of its Sapporo brand in the United States.
Following the transaction, the Richmond brewery will serve as Sapporo USA’s primary U.S. production hub for the Sapporo brand. The Escondido brewery and bistro will continue operating during the transition as the company evaluates long-term options.
The companies stated they expect to offer positions to a number of Stone Brewing employees across hospitality, sales, and marketing, with production roles to be assessed as operations transition.
The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, subject to customary closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
