St. Stan's Brewery

St. Stan's Brewery
Industry Alcoholic beverage
Predecessor St. Stans Brewery 1984
Founders Chad Rice
Rich Hodder
Headquarters Modesto, California, U.S.
Area served
 U.S.
Key people
 Chad Rice (president)
Products Beer
Website StStans.com

St. Stan's Brewery is a microbrewery in Modesto, the San Joaquin Valley, California.

The company was established in 1984. It was regarded as a high quality beer.[1]

In 2017, St. Stan's reopened in downtown Modesto, with a taproom as well as offsite brewing of craft beers by their original brewmaster of 25 years, Bill Coffey, brewing original favorites such as "Red Sky Ale, Whistlestop Pale Ale, Amber and even the highly potent Barley Wine", in addition to plans for some new styles.[2]

History

The brewery originally produced traditional German beer styles. St. Stan's was the first brewery in the United States to brew an Altbier style beer. The brewery was a leader in the microbrewery movement in the 1980s.

It was lead plaintiff in a 1997 class-action suit against Anheuser-Busch, which it accused of engaging in anti-competitive practices by coercing or bullying distributors to get them to stop distributing product for smaller breweries.[3][4] A Justice Department investigation was ended but the class-action lawsuit was unaffected.[5]

In 2008, Susan Little-Nell, a former owner of St. Stan's, was one of a number of craft breweries lobbying against an attempt by Anheuser-Busch to get California state law changed to allow it to give out free souvenirs up to $5 value rather than just $.25. She described the tough situation of small brewers in the face of "free-for-all promotional spending of international corporations."[6] The Nell's operations of St. Stans, both the brewery and the brewpub, closed on an unknown date, sometime in early 2015.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Michael Skube, Staff writer (June 8, 1995). "Beers of distinction NOT JUST ANY BREW WILL DO: QUAFFERS SEEKING QUALITY ARE FILLING THEIR GLASSES WITH MICRO LAGERS AND ALES". The Atlanta Constitution. p. H1.
  2. ↑ Rowland, Marijke (July 8, 2017). "You’re about to be able to pour yourself a St. Stan’s brew again, hallelujah". The Modesto Bee.
  3. ↑ Groves, Martha (July 30, 1997). "'Davids' Sue Beer Goliath". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 August 2014.
  4. ↑ John R. Wilke and Bob Ortega (October 2, 1997). "Anheuser's Sales Practices Under Probe --- Justice Agency Investigates Charges Brewer Abuses Its Top Market Position". Wall Street Journal. p. A3.
  5. ↑ "Food: Vendor news". Discount Store News. Nov 23, 1998. p. 23.
  6. ↑ Hecht, Peter (July 22, 2008). "Battle brews between beer giant, small makers over free swag". McClatchy - Tribune Business News.
  7. ↑ Guerra, Patty (February 7, 2015). "Biz Beat: Modesto brewpub closes, but owner plans ‘better-than-ever’ future". The Modesto Bee.

    Reopening

    • NOVEMBER 3, 2016
    • STANISLAUS BREWING CO. ANNOUNCES CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST IN RETURN OF MODESTO FAVORITE ST STANS BREWERY TO THE VALLEY
    • After six long years of persistence, Entrepreneurs Chad Rice and Rich Hodder, Stanislaus County natives, have announced the purchase and intention to return the St Stan’s Brewing Co. to Modesto, Ca and the Central Valley with the intent to start brewing as soon as possible.
    • For those not so familiar with St Stan’s here is a small history for you. The idea was conceived in the early 70’s, the name derived from two favorite sources of the team. Chief Estanislao, a “Rebellious Indian Warrior who defended his people” and St Stanislaw, “a Rebellious Bishop who excommunicated a King”. St Stan’s was the 7th Micro Brewery established in the U.S. Not only was it the first to make a traditional Altbier in the U.S. but the first ever to produce one outside of Germany. St Stan’s was a leader in the then new microbrew industry of the 1980’s and a major player in the craft brew segment with distribution ultimately reaching into 17 states and 7 countries. In the mid-1990’s St Stan’s was seeing tremendous growth, leading its category as a microbrewery and even having “the beer hunter” place it on his 100 beers to try before you die. As craft beer was exploding, big beer had begun to take notice. The “King of Beers” began acquiring minority ownership in key regional craft breweries such as Red Hook and Widmer. Many independents resisted the “King”, falling out of favor or out of the distribution network. As history goes, so did St Stan’s.
    • In the days, weeks and months ahead we plan on restoring the greatest attributes of St Stan’s, reviving your fondest memories. We envision turning the brewery into a gathering place of yesterday, with bier gardens, bocce ball courts and the smells of hops and coffee. Part of the vision is to create more artisanal beers, partnering with local farmers and businesses for fresh ingredients and quality products to reconnect us all with our roots. Our wonderful sense of community. If you recall the nostalgic days when you could drink St Stan’s anywhere and anytime, we are looking for your help, your vision, your stories and most of all your interest. Help us bring back yesterday in its original home for tomorrow.
    • Stanislaus Brewing Co.; St Stan’s Brewery; http://www.ststans.com/; Facebook: @Stanislaus-Brewing-Co
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