Sapporo-Stone Brewing Bolsters Leadership with New VP Joel Pipman for Bi-Coastal Brewery Operations

Sapporo-Stone Brewing, the renowned brewery behind Japan's oldest beer and the number one selling Asian beer brand in the U.S., has made a strategic move by appointing Joel Pipman as the Vice President of Brewing Operations. Pipman, a seasoned industry veteran with 19 years of diverse brewery experience, will play a pivotal role in overseeing the company's bi-coastal breweries, ensuring the consistent quality and innovation that Sapporo-Stone is known for.

“Sapporo-Stone's quality culture enticed me to join this great team,” explained Joel Pipman, Sapporo-Stone Brewing’s incoming VP Brewing Operations. “I look forward to helping the team reach its goals and am excited to brew a lot of awesome beer together.”

Bi-Coastal Leadership and Expansion Plans

Pipman's base of operations will be in Richmond, VA, where Sapporo-Stone Brewing will focus on producing approximately half of its beer output, destined for the Eastern and Central U.S. markets as well as international distribution. In his primary leadership role, he will have a comprehensive oversight of operations at both bi-coastal breweries.

The strategic composition of Sapporo-Stone's leadership team is specifically tailored to address the unique requirements of a large brewery producing not only the top-selling Asian beer brand in the U.S. but also innovative craft offerings. Pipman's role will involve guiding the team through a phase of continued growth and innovation, ensuring uniformity in both brewery locations and aligning with the precise specifications of Sapporo's exceptional beer lineup.

Impressive Career and Qualifications

Prior to joining Sapporo-Stone Brewing, Pipman served as the Senior Brewmaster for Anheuser-Busch in Williamsburg, VA, for five years. His earlier positions at Anheuser-Busch included roles in engineering, quality assurance, finance, and maintenance at their breweries in Newark, New Jersey, and St. Louis, Missouri. Pipman's academic background includes a degree in Chemical Engineering from The Pennsylvania State University and a Master's in Business Administration from Washington University in St. Louis. Furthermore, he earned his diploma in Brewing from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling and is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Brewery Expansion and 2024 Production Projections

Both of Sapporo-Stone's breweries are currently undergoing substantial expansion initiatives as the company gears up to brew all Sapporo beers for the U.S. market, in addition to their signature Stone Brewing offerings. The combined company has set ambitious production targets, with expectations to brew approximately 700,000 barrels in 2024, marking a significant increase compared to Stone Brewing's pre-2022 acquisition production levels by Sapporo U.S.A. Beer enthusiasts can anticipate the first batches of Sapporo beers from the Sapporo-Stone breweries to start flowing in early 2024.

Growth and Market Presence

Sapporo, the prestigious Japanese beer brand, continues its impressive growth trajectory in the U.S., boasting a 7.6% year-over-year increase and securing a larger share within the rapidly expanding import beer category. Simultaneously, Stone Brewing is making significant gains within the competitive craft beer sector, outperforming category trends by nearly four percentage points.

Joel Pipman officially assumed his role at Sapporo-Stone Brewing on October 23, 2023, marking a significant milestone in the brewery's ongoing journey of expansion and excellence.