“The Beer Jesus From America” – The Story of an American Craft Brewer in Germany – sneak preview screening

Sweetwood Films and Stone Brewing Announce the Limited Advanced Sneak Preview Screening of “The Beer Jesus From America” – The Story of an American Craft Brewer in Germany

In honor of San Diego Beer Week, Sweetwood Films and Stone Brewing announce the limited advanced sneak preview screening of “The Beer Jesus From America.” The 104-minute film documents Stone’s often tumultuous journey to becoming the first American independent craft brewery to build, own and operate its own brewery in Europe. “The Beer Jesus From America” was independently produced by director Matt Sweetwood, with cooperation by Stone Brewing. This sneak preview screening will take place at the stunning California Center for the Arts, Escondido. The showing will be followed by a Q&A session with Filmmaker Matt Sweetwood and Stone Brewing co-founder Greg Koch.

The film’s title stems from a 2014 article in the German tabloid newspaper, the Berliner Kurier, in which Koch made front page headlines. The newspaper’s cheeky and somewhat cynical article nicknamed him “Der Bier Jesus aus Amerika” and reported on the company’s plans to risk millions building a brewery in Germany. To Sweetwood, the name represents the misperception of who Koch really is, and he set out to tell the full story of the man and the adventure. Koch admits that he is somewhat uncomfortable with the ‘Beer Jesus’ moniker, in addition to many parts of the film, however he enjoys being able to share the story of the historic undertaking and its many challenges.

“As excited as we are to be a part of the craft beer revolution in Germany, we’re equally proud to have originated here in North County San Diego,” said Koch. “This film stands as not just a glimpse into the trials, challenges, roadblocks… and occasional triumphs of the project… but the story of following your heart and challenging convention.”

WHEN:
November 4, 2018
4 pm – Doors open
5 pm – Screening
6:45 pm – Q&A with Greg Koch and Matt Sweetwood
7 pm – Mix & Mingle at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido.

WHERE:
California Center for the Arts, Escondido – Main Theatre
340 N. Escondido Blvd
Escondido, CA 92025

TICKETS: $10 – $15

Tickets are available via the California Center for the Arts, Escondido website and limited amounts will be sold at all San Diego county Stone Brewing locations.

• 21+ will receive a complimentary 3oz taster of a rare Stone Berlin Groundbreaking Collaboration beer at the theater.
• All tickets are good for $10 credit towards food and beverage at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, any time on Nov 4, 5 or 6. Reservations are suggested for Nov 4.

All event details are available online at StoneBrewing.com/events.

“The Beer Jesus From America” film will premier in 2019. Follow @beerjesusfilm on Facebook and Twitter for updates and visit thebeerjesus.com for more information.

Film Synopsis:
After stumbling onto what seems to be a highly questionable project in a sleepy Berlin suburb, beer-lover and American expat filmmaker (and SDSU Film School graduate), Matt Sweetwood discovers an unexpected story about a not-so-typical entrepreneur. Nicknamed ‘Der Bier Jesus aus Amerika’ by a German tabloid newspaper, Stone Brewing co-founder Greg Koch has a dream to become the first US independent craft brewery to build, own, and operate its own brewery in Europe.

The film follows Greg on his journey of building a brewery in a historic 1901 gasworks facility and making the company’s American style craft beers on European soil. He comes up against challenge after challenge – from struggling with German bureaucracy and cultural differences to dealing with huge construction problems and the constant battles of delay after delay. This is a story not just about the birth of a brewery and the fight against mass market beer, it’s about an inspiring character who understands the importance of sticking to your dreams, no matter how crazy they might seem.

Watch the official trailer here.

Beers Available for Purchase at the limited advanced sneak preview screening:

• Drew Curtis / Wil Wheaton / Greg Koch “Zuper Magik w00tstout”
• The Lost Abbey / Stone “Sticks N’ Stones”
• The Bruery / Stone “Fahrt Die Ziege”
• Dogfish Head / Victory / Stone “Royale Imperial Saison du BUFF”
• Brewdog / Stone “Super Bashah”
• Bodebrown / Stone “Virando Brasiliero Con Madeira Vermelha”
• Stone White Geist Berliner Weisse (brewed at Stone Berlin)
• Stone Tropic of Thunder (brand new Tropical Lager brewed at Stone Escondido)
• Stone IPA (the iconic West Coast IPA brewed at Stone Escondido)

*all available to enjoy throughout the screening

About Sweetwood Films
Sweetwood Films (UG) is a film production company based in Potsdam-Babelsberg. Founder, filmmaker Matt Sweetwood, has over 20 years experience writing, editing, directing and producing music videos, commercials and documentaries for television and cinema. The recent cinema release of his feature documentary film “Beerland” was winner of the Dokuwettbewerb BR/Global Screen development award. Other productions include the BBC Storyville “The Love of Books,” which won the Grierson Trust Award for best historical documentary. With Rick Minnich, the co-director and editor of the ZDF Kleines Fernsehspiel, “Forgetting Dad,” won a Special Jury Award at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA).

About Stone Brewing:
Founded by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner in 1996, the groundbreaking San Diego-based Stone Brewing is the 8th largest craft brewer in the United States. Recognized as an award-winning industry leader, Stone has been listed on the Inc. 500 | 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies list 12 times and has been called the “All-time Top Brewery on Planet Earth” by BeerAdvocate magazine twice. The multifaceted company was the first American craft brewer to build, own and operate its own brewery in Europe (Berlin, Germany), and also opened a production brewery in Richmond, Virginia in 2016. In 2018, Stone opened Stone Brewing – Napa in the heart of California’s wine country. Known for its bold, flavorful and largely hop-centric beers, Stone has earned a reputation for brewing outstanding, unique beers while maintaining an unwavering commitment to sustainability, business ethics, philanthropy and the art of brewing… and pledging to never, ever, sell out to the man.  For more information on Stone Brewing, please visit stonebrewing.com or the company’s social media sites: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.