You Drink Stone Brew? Shame On You

[roadx]

Originally Posted by kareem korn

A few of us got this email back from them.........
Just sharing with all my fishing friends.




Subject: Ex Stone Beer Drinker

Well, I just found out about your endorsment of the MLPA. I used to drink only YOUR beer, bring only YOUR beer to functions/events. Go ahead and cross me off your X-mas list. I will no longer buy your product.

F-You Very Much
Your
-Ex-



Hello!
Many thanks for your note regarding the Marine Life Protection Act. Since opening in 1996, Stone Brewing Co. has been a big supporter of local, community organizations, supporting a variety of interests, activities, and deserving charities that benefit a multitude of different community and environmental causes. One such group that we have been proud to partner with since our humble beginnings is the Surfrider Foundation. We realize that their support of the MLPA legislation can be rather polarizing, however they have assured us that they are committed to working with the public and the science community in order to find a balance that protects special marine reserves, while not unnecessarily displacing those who catch fish for a living or for pleasure. They have set up a webpage to address frequently asked questions, which also contains links for submitting comments on current and future proposals, and we encourage you to voice your concerns there so that fair and agreeable solutions can be found.





Samantha Loveira

Lead Indoctrination Specialist

samantha.loveira@stonebrew.com

Stone Brewing Co.

1999 Citracado Parkway

Escondido, CA 92029

(760) 471-4999x1621

i think this needs to be brought up from time to time so the new comers are aware that some products they use may affect their hobby and not to support products that do.

F**K STONE BREWERY

[dniss]

What the hell is a "Lead Indoctrination Specialist" anyway?

[yakman619]

Ballast Point is where its at anyway. It doesn't get much better than a Sculpin IPA after a day on the water.

[yakman619]

Originally Posted by dniss

What the hell is a "Lead Indoctrination Specialist" anyway?

^^^ I think Hitler had one

[PAL]

I will NEVER forget or forgive Stone's lazy, "feel good" green washing. Surfrider was in the bag for maximum closures from the get-go. Stone is on my permanent ban list, along with the entire cities of Malibu and Laguna. Someone might dig up the Chit List if you want a refresher.

I don't always drink beer, but when I do, it's Ballast Point.

[Fiskadoro]

Originally Posted by dniss

What the hell is a "Lead Indoctrination Specialist" anyway?

It's a fancy name Stone gives to their female tour guides. It started as kind of a joke and stuck.

I could give a shit about "craft" beers. Pabst, Guinness, and Rolling Rock worked thirty years ago and they still work today.

[jorluivil]

I only drink Colt 45 and OE

[roadx]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I only drink Colt 45 and OE

Old school
I make a lot of own beer now

[maui jim]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I only drink Colt 45 and OE

I thought more of a Micky's or Night Train....

[NEEFFF]

Originally Posted by jorluivil

I only drink Colt 45 and OE

OE & 211 lol

[Cyn]

I make my own beer, but have grown to hate Stone because their bottles are acid etched and I can't remove their labels easily to use as my own bottles.

Add to that I've never encountered a Stone beer I've enjoyed...

[CorvinaLoca]

I think thread posted again yesterday to remind everyone is a bit outdated.

Check out more recent response from Stone CEO and co-founder this thread and on BD below:

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/mar...port-mlpa.html

I'm all for Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA is one my favorite beers all time. But I also enjoy Stone's Smoked Porter and love the fact that I can buy a case of Stone IPA at Costco for about $30. Great beers too.

In the end it's a free country and I'm not going to bash someone for giving away free beer to nonprofits (even ones that I don't like). If you don't like his personal views, then of course don't support his company. But hey, for all you who highly principled ex-Stone drinkers, PM me and I'll come by to pick up all your beer .

[roadx]

[steveooo]

Originally Posted by CorvinaLoca

I think thread posted again yesterday to remind everyone is a bit outdated.

Check out more recent response from Stone CEO and co-founder this thread and on BD below:

http://www.bdoutdoors.com/forums/mar...port-mlpa.html

I'm all for Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA is one my favorite beers all time. But I also enjoy Stone's Smoked Porter and love the fact that I can buy a case of Stone IPA at Costco for about $30. Great beers too.

In the end it's a free country and I'm not going to bash someone for giving away free beer to nonprofits (even ones that I don't like). If you don't like his personal views, then of course don't support his company. But hey, for all you who highly principled ex-Stone drinkers, PM me and I'll come by to pick up all your beer .

That link is bad, but I was ok with the response from Stone Brew regarding this.

Surfrider is still on my hitlist, but as far as I can tell, Stone simply donated beer to an event that was held by an organization. Stone seemed pretty far removed from advocating or promoting any closures. All the torches and pitchforks directed at Stone seems to be the equal of boycotting a McDonalds because the cashier had shopped at Walmart, and Walmart supports the MLPA. I'd hate to be a charitable business owner, and get tar and feathered because i donated product to an organization that someone objected to.

Unless someone can point out to me how Stone directly supported the closures, they'll be OK in my book. If not, I think there has been alot of overreacting regarding this.

With all that aside, Ballast Point Scupin IPA is possibly the best beer of all time, and is now available in cans







Here is the response from Stone unless you missed it

"Statement from Stone Brewing Co. CEO and Co-Founder, Greg Koch:

I feel compelled to respond to the mistaken claims regarding Stone and our supposed involvement with the Marine Life Protection Act (MLPA). Stone Brewing Co. does not currently support or plan to support the MLPA in the future.

In April 2010 we were sent what looked like a very reasonable letter from SD Coastkeeper asking permission to have Stone Brewing Co.’s name added to a long list of companies in support of the Marine Life Protection Act. I took a look at it, decided it looked okay on the surface, and said okay.

It’s arguable that that might not have been a good call. It was, however, the one and only interaction we had with the MLPA.

Between April 2010 and January 2012, I received only one email asking me to support the MLPA, to which I never responded. Additionally, we were not contacted by any anti-MLPA groups requesting that we support their point of view during this period.

Seemingly out of nowhere, in January 2012, we began receiving angry and accusatory inquiries about our “support” of the MLPA. When the accusations were brought to my attention, nearly two years after I received the initial letter asking for support, I was not aware of the issues, pro or con, behind the subject. Some people didn’t care, and saw us as a company on which to focus their online ire, beginning a litany of hostile accusations on websites and in emails. We responded to these comments with what we believed would end any speculation of our involvement. However, our response was dismissed by a small group of people who were very familiar with the MLPA. Admittedly, the MLPA issue was not something we were involved in, and not something we knew much about as it is not within our scope of business.

Stone Brewing Co. in no way has ever supported, is currently supporting, or planned to support the MLPA in the future (other than the single misguided generic letter we responded to that I mentioned in the first paragraph). Saying we support the MLPA is like saying we’re supporting a particular political party because we once said we thought one of their policies seemed reasonable. We’ve participated in no rallies. Conducted no fundraising. There has been no activity by Stone Brewing Co. regarding the MLPA. None.

We do participate in more than 500 charitable events a year, and have donated more than $2 million to local charities and nonprofits during the past 16 years. Is it possible that we donated beer to an event that was being held in support of the MLPA? It’s possible. Our policy is that if a 501(c)3 or 501(c)6 organization approaches us with the necessary and correct California Alcoholic Beverage Control paperwork, we most often say yes to their donation requests.

Due to the unfounded accusations around this MLPA issue, we reached out to the San Diego Surfrider chapter and inquired whether any funds we ever donated had been channeled to the MLPA. In their response letter to us, they assured us they had not. To guarantee our non-involvement, we have formally asked them to only use donated funds from Stone Brewing Co. exclusively for efforts such as beach cleanup, runoff treatment, Hold On To Your Butt, and their Rise Above Plastics campaign (programs which most certainly are near and dear to our hearts). We’ve made it clear to them that we do not wish to be listed as a supporter of the MLPA, as we never should have been in the first place. We’re politically neutral, and it was an error on our part to have allowed ourselves to be listed on the initial letter.

Since this letter covers how the events unfolded, this will be the last you’ll hear from us on this subject. If, after reading my account on the way everything played out, you still feel you will not buy our beer or visit our restaurant, so be it. Thank you for taking the time to read my account and taking into consideration the facts about Stone’s non-involvement in the MLPA issue.

Greg Koch
Stone Brewing Co.
CEO and Co-Founder

July 25th, 2012"

I'm going to have a beer.
Steve

[PAL]

In April 2010 we were sent what looked like a very reasonable letter from SD Coastkeeper asking permission to have Stone Brewing Co.’s name added to a long list of companies in support of the Marine Life Protection Act. I took a look at it, decided it looked okay on the surface, and said okay.

Stone's action - apparently without serious thought or consideration - is systematic of the problem "consumptive" outdoorsmen and women face. The knee jerk signing onto a feel-good message has an impact and corresponding consequences.

Stone realized a positive PR bump from MLPA proponents. Stone's name, compiled with others who jumped on board the closure train without thinking it through (save the ocean? sure), carried political weight that damaged our cause, contributing to the vast and unreasonable closures in Laguna and Malibu, and the La Jolla encirclement. Stone saying they didn't mean it is too little, too late. The damage is done.

I experienced the rigged kangaroo court (or kabuki if you like) political theater of the MLPA from way too close. I'm not ready to forgive or forget. I vote with my dollars. None of them will ever flow Stone's way.

One more note: a lot of kayak anglers and free divers gave up dozens and even hundreds of precious hours of free time to preserve coastal access. La Jolla would have been closed without the effort. WE made it politically impossible to shut down the north kelp. Every other user group that still enjoys access to LJ has our combined grassroots efforts to thank. If you weren't around for that nightmare, it may be difficult to understand the passion and anger the topic ignites.

[kareem korn]

Originally Posted by PAL

Stone's action - apparently without serious thought or consideration - is systematic of the problem "consumptive" outdoorsmen and women face. The knee jerk signing onto a feel-good message has an impact and corresponding consequences.

Stone realized a positive PR bump from MLPA proponents. Stone's name, compiled with others who jumped on board the closure train without thinking it through (save the ocean? sure), carried political weight that damaged our cause, contributing to the vast and unreasonable closures in Laguna and Malibu, and the La Jolla encirclement. Stone saying they didn't mean it is too little, too late. The damage is done.

I experienced the rigged kangaroo court (or kabuki if you like) political theater of the MLPA from way too close. I'm not ready to forgive or forget. I vote with my dollars. None of them will ever flow Stone's way.

One more note: a lot of kayak anglers and free divers gave up dozens and even hundreds of precious hours of free time to preserve coastal access. La Jolla would have been closed without the effort. WE made it politically impossible to shut down the north kelp. Every other user group that still enjoys access to LJ has our combined grassroots efforts to thank. If you weren't around for that nightmare, it may be difficult to understand the passion and anger the topic ignites.

X2

And Surfrider can kiss my ass.

[bluesquids]

Originally Posted by PAL

Stone's action - apparently without serious thought or consideration - is systematic of the problem "consumptive" outdoorsmen and women face. The knee jerk signing onto a feel-good message has an impact and corresponding consequences.

Stone realized a positive PR bump from MLPA proponents. Stone's name, compiled with others who jumped on board the closure train without thinking it through (save the ocean? sure), carried political weight that damaged our cause, contributing to the vast and unreasonable closures in Laguna and Malibu, and the La Jolla encirclement. Stone saying they didn't mean it is too little, too late. The damage is done.

I experienced the rigged kangaroo court (or kabuki if you like) political theater of the MLPA from way too close. I'm not ready to forgive or forget. I vote with my dollars. None of them will ever flow Stone's way.

One more note: a lot of kayak anglers and free divers gave up dozens and even hundreds of precious hours of free time to preserve coastal access. La Jolla would have been closed without the effort. WE made it politically impossible to shut down the north kelp. Every other user group that still enjoys access to LJ has our combined grassroots efforts to thank. If you weren't around for that nightmare, it may be difficult to understand the passion and anger the topic ignites.

PAL's (Paul Lebowitz's) viewpoint is the only one we should be siding with on this topic. Forget Stone's excuses.
Thank you Paul for your work on the front lines and in the trenches.

[cabojohn]

Originally Posted by PAL

I don't always drink beer, but when I do, it's Ballast Point.

That there is signature worthy. Thanks Pal.


Steveo- see your PM's






.

[Redeyejedi]

love stone, and balast point, venice beer and many others, and will definitely keep drinking stone, to each his own.

[Lit-up1]

Going to make it hard to not go to the new Stone Point Loma location within staggering distance of my house