Hmmm...
My take:
Stone setting up European Operations and Brewing Facilities at the fmr Beamish facilities would be a GREAT move for Stone and craft beer in Ireland; restoring the brewing tradition to a facility that is, as far as I'm concerned, a national treasure. It would lend them a wonderful marketing opportunity (in both the short and long term) and is a great opening opportunity for introducing the virtues and spirit of craft beer to the Irish public/publican.
My personal take is that it could give them further "street creds" back at home; especially if they hire someone to hit the archives and dig up some long lost traditional Irish styles/recipes and give them a "Craft Beer Extreme Makeover"...
"Sprucing up" and reenvisionning the "Bronze Man Beer" that was recently tried here and has been already advertised as the oldest known (likely) instance of a fermented barley drink is also a great opportunity. (Although probably a closer match to Sam Calagione & DFH.)
Adam
