Hundreds of staff are set to lose their jobs after one of the largest breweries in Southern California announced its manufacturing services will be leaving the area.

Stone Brewing will be exiting its three areas in Escondido as the firm strikes manufacturing to Paso Robles in San Luis Obispo County and to Kansas City.

Workers brew, bottle and pack craft beer at Stone Brewery in Escondido. AP

Stone Brewing launched in 1996 in San Marcos and relocated to Escondido in 2006. AP

The craft beer pioneer will first lay off 58 staff in late October before ultimately axing a complete of 220 workers, according to a notification letter filed with the state.

Stone Brewing was acquired by Japanese beer big Sapporo in 2022 to take on manufacturing of Sapporo beers in California for distribution across North America.

The CEO of Sapporo USA, Zach Keeling, said the Escondido areas had to be closed because it has “not yet found a viable long-term solution” for the website.

Stone Brewing was acquired by Japanese beer big Sapporo in 2022. AP

“This is an understandably difficult time for our Escondido employees and community, and we’re committed to supporting them through this transition,” Keeling said.

Stone Brewery was offered in May by Sapporo to Firestone Walker Brewing Company and Duvel Moortgat USA. In that deal, the consumers acquired the model and some hospitality areas, but the announcement did not point out the Escondido websites.

A Stone Brewing faucet home in Escondido. Stone Brewing

Stone Brewery was at one level the ninth largest craft brewery in the US. AP

“Stone Brewing will retain its distinct voice, joining a family of breweries that share a deep respect for beer tradition and culture,” the consumers said.

According to the announcement, one location in San Diego will still function as both a hospitality vacation spot and an lively brewing facility, leaving at least some of Stone’s bodily presence in the space.

Stone Brewing launched in 1996 in San Marcos and relocated to Escondido in 2006. The firm, which was buoyed by the West Coast craft brewing growth in the 2000s, was at one level the ninth largest craft brewery in the U.S.

The dying hype around craft beer and the COVID-19 pandemic has since been a hit to the business, which is going through a nationwide pattern of declining alcohol consumption.

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