While Stone had the capacity to start brewing Sapporo beer right away, Monahan said there was still a learning curve to get the recipe just right. "We did our first big brew.

it’s been nearly two years since Sapporo U.S.A. purchased Escondido-based Stone Brewing in a $165 million deal, and we’ve got questions.Q: Is Sapporo a Japanese brewery?A: Yes. Founded … ...

Sapporo USA’s beer is currently produced at facilities located mostly outside the U.S., said Monahan. “The logistics costs and such make that a very expensive proposition,” he said.