Stone Distributing Co. to Aid California’s Fire Victims through Collective Independent Craft Beer Effort

More craft beer fire relief news…this time from Stone Brewing in Escondido, CA:

ESCONDIDO, CA  (October 13, 2017) – Stone Brewing’s distributing division, Stone Distributing Co., will donate a portion of its sales throughout the month of October to benefit those affected by the devastation of the Northern California fires. Donations will be made to Direct Relief providing emergency assistance to California’s Office of Emergency Services, the Napa County Public Health Department and more than 40 health centers and clinics in the affected region.  
Stone Distributing Co. is responsible for the distribution of independent craft and specialty beers throughout all of Southern California. Alongside the self-distribution of Stone Brewing beers, the company also proudly represents 38 craft and specialty beers from California, across the US and the world. These include Sonoma County’s Bear Republic Brewing and Russian River Brewing Company, since 2001 and 2005, respectively.

“We have spoken with Richard Norgrove Sr. and Jr. of Bear Republic, and Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo of Russian River and verified that they are personally OK and that their businesses are safe,” said Dominic Engels, Stone Brewing CEO. “However, they have many employees, colleagues, friends, family and neighbors who have been dramatically affected in this historically tragic set of Northern California wildfires. We cannot sit idle with such devastation at hand.”
The thoughts of many Southern Californians this week are with their Northern California brothers and sisters, especially at Stone Brewing, where the team is anticipating the opening of its Napa brewery this December. With a tragedy of such huge proportion, Stone is taking immediate action.

For the month of October (retroactive to October 1):

• For every case of Bear Republic and Russian River beer sold by Stone Distributing Co., the company will donate $0.25. 
• Stone will further donate $0.25 for every case of Stone Brewing beer sold in Southern California.
• Stone Brewing will donate $0.15 for every case of Stone beer sold via its wholesale distribution partners throughout the rest of California.

What’s more, in an act of amazing solidarity that is characteristic of the independent craft brewing community, the following list of brands distributed by Stone Distributing Co. have committed to splitting a donation of $0.25 per case for the entire month.

• Avery Brewing Co.
• MadeWest Brewing Company
• Mason Ale Works
• Maui Brewing Co.
• Mikkeller Brewing
• Smog City Brewing Company
• The Lost Abbey
• Victory Brewing Company
• Wandering Aengus Ciderworks
• This is the initial list at press time. More are anticipated to be added as brewers are able to respond.  The final list will be posted at stonebrewing.com/about/press.

Stone Distributing Co. anticipates that this effort will allow the company to donate more than $50,000 to the cause.
“Russian River and Bear Republic are incredibly appreciative of all the support Stone Distributing Co. and its partner breweries are giving Sonoma County,” expressed Vinnie Cilurzo, Russian River Brewing Company Owner / Brewer. “Additionally, Russian River and Bear Republic are also doing their own fund raising efforts to help those in need.”
To date, Stone Brewing has donated more than $3.3 million to charity. In addition, Stone Brewing is donating $1 of every pint or growler fill of Stone Delicious IPA to Direct Relief to aid Hurricane Maria victims in Puerto Rico. The campaign continues throughout the month of October at all Stone Brewing locations. In September, the company donated proceeds to the Houston Food Bank via a similar campaign aiding Hurricane Harvey victims.

ABOUT STONE DISTRIBUTING CO.

Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1998, Stone Distributing Co. is California’s largest distributor of independent craft beers and specialty beverages. The company represents 38 brands and services the largest beer market in the U.S., comprised of 40,000 square-miles within all of Southern California. The company’s fleet of 100 refrigerated trucks is completely biodiesel-powered and all drivers are Cicerone and Draft Technician certified. Stone Distributing Co. is a division of Stone Brewing and exists to show Southern California that independent craft beer matters.  For more information, please visit stonedistributing.com.