The Art of Beer: How One Business Brews Creativity

By Chris Cochran, Community Affairs, Stone Brewing Co.

Located in a unique facility that you must see to appreciate, the Stone Brewing Co. is known for making big character beers and for doing so in a very uncompromising manner. When visiting our brewing complex it’s easy to understand the influence of the arts just by looking around. From the eclectic architecture to the incredible food to the amazing beers, the work of creative minds is evident.

Did the welder building the brewery think that was going to be his career when he was eight? Doubtful. Did the chef think when he was ten years old that he’d be creating unique, organic items for a cutting edge restaurant later in life? Probably not. Did the architect grow up thinking he’d win design awards for creating one of the most challenging projects of his life? Dubious. And did the brewer sit in school dreaming of how he’d create the next great beer recipe? Unlikely.

What all those people did do was attend a school that had art programs and art classes. Art programs are vitally important to schools and to education because they do much more than simply teach people how to paint, draw or weld. They nurture creativity, problem solving, and innovation. These skills can lead to a variety of careers, and at the same time they shape our community and enrich our lives.

Currently many art programs in our school systems are in jeopardy of being cut back, or eliminated altogether. As local communities struggle to find a voice, and struggle to make ends meet, it is a shame that one of the things that could come to the rescue down the road is being taken away. But there is hope. Hope in you, in your neighbor, and in your neighborhood businesses and organizations.

That’s why the Stone Brewing Co. supports local, regional, and national non-profit organizations, including many within the arts and education realms. If you’re a patron of the arts in the San Diego region, or work in education, then you’ve probably been to an event that was serving donated Stone Brewing beer. Last month, Stone was proud to partner with the California Alliance for Arts Education to host an event for Escondido parents, teachers, art, business, and community leaders. These kinds of creative partnerships can build support for the arts.

We’re glad to be a part of a community that appreciates creativity and we hope you’ll join us in working to keep it that way. We all have the ability to demonstrate our support of the arts…we all have a voice…make your voice heard!