Stone is a major player in the craft beer industry. Founded in 1996 by Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, the company now bills itself as the 10th-largest craft brewery in the country and one of the fastest-growing.

The company recently announced plans for a facility in Berlin, which would be the first American-operated brewery in Europe, and the Richmond facility is expected to anchor a significant domestic expansion.

In a request for proposals issued by the company last winter, Stone said it sought a location from which to serve “customers and fans throughout the eastern half of the U.S.”

“The entire operation will be staffed with local employees, and we strive to source all materials locally,” the company said in its executive summary for the project.

“We seek to establish local business relationships with all necessary partners to initiate and conduct business in the selected location, and with relevant nearby universities to engage in talent and industry development, student internships and potential lab/research initiatives, as we do in San Diego.”

The sheer volume of beer that Stone wants to produce at the facility has required the city to lift a cap in its zoning rules to allow more than 100,000 barrels per year.