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Stone Brewing’s Original Vision Gets a Second Life

Co-founder Greg Koch reflects on the long road to building one of San Diego’s most influential craft beer brands—and what comes next for its Escondido home

By SDM Staff October 22, 2026

Stone Brewing’s Original Vision Gets a Second Life — Courtesy of Stone Brewing

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Stone Brewing helped change the way San Diego drinks beer. Now, two decades after opening its sprawling Escondido brewery and restaurant, cofounder Greg Koch is getting back into the business—alongside longtime partner Steve Wagner—to bring Stone World Bistro & Gardens back to life. The original vision was bigger than a taproom with picnic tables: a destination where ambitious beer, serious food, and a sprawling outdoor space could coexist. At the time, Escondido’s dining scene didn’t offer much beyond the usual chain restaurants, and craft beer was still fighting to be taken seriously.

On this week’s Happy Half Hour, host Troy Johnson talks with Koch about the early days of Stone, the years of grinding it out before anyone was paying attention, and the lonely, high-pressure reality of building a business around a dream. Koch recalls working 16-hour days, collecting stones on the beach to turn into beer tap handles, and trying to convince restaurants to give Stone’s beer a chance. He also explains why craft beer helped push San Diego’s food culture forward, how Stone’s gardens became part of the experience, and what he hopes to preserve—and change—as he and Wagner take the reins again. For Koch, the payoff isn’t just the beer or the business. It’s hearing the low roar of people eating, drinking, and enjoying themselves in a place he helped build.