Lone Tree Brewery

Lone Tree Brewery is a small kosher craft brewery located in the Gush Etzion bloc, near the Israeli settlement of Kfar Etzion in the West Bank. The brewery began commercial beer sales in 2010 after being established in 2009 by two couples: Myriam and David Shire, and Susan and Yochanan Levin. Its name refers to an ancient oak associated with Gush Etzion. The tree survived the period of Jordanian control of the area between 1949 and 1967 and subsequently became a regional symbol; it also provided the visual inspiration for the brewery's logo. The Shires had previously lived in Glasgow, Scotland, before moving to Gush Etzion in 1983. The Levins immigrated from Maryland in the United States to the West Bank around 2006. David Shire, who lived in the nearby community of Neve Daniel, worked as a biologist at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and later as a landscaper before turning to brewing. The founding story therefore combines local settlement identity, immigrant experience, and a small-scale entrepreneurial project centered on specialty beer. Lone Tree's production facility was described as a roughly 50-square-meter building in the center of Gush Etzion. The operation was distinctly microbrewery-sized: reported output in the early 2010s was approximately 250 to 300 bottles per week, or about 800 to 900 bottles per month. The brewery produced seven or eight varieties, including oatmeal stout, India pale ale, California common, Piraat-style ale, and pomegranate ale. This range positioned it as a boutique producer rather than a high-volume national brewer. The brewery also functioned as a visitor destination. According to reporting cited in the Wikipedia article, guests traveled from Tel Aviv, Haifa, and overseas to visit the facility. Its beers were presented at the BEERS conventions in Tel Aviv in 2011 and 2012 and at the 2012 Mateh Yehuda beer festival. By 2011, distribution was reported to be concentrated in the Gush Etzion area and Jerusalem. No reliable material in the supplied references establishes the brewery's present production, ownership, distribution, website, or operating status, so those details remain unconfirmed.

Lone Tree Brewery was founded in 2009 by Myriam and David Shire together with Susan and Yochanan Levin. The Shires had moved from Glasgow to Gush Etzion in 1983, while the Levins came from Maryland to the West Bank around 2006. David Shire's earlier professional background included biology at Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem and landscaping. He eventually pursued his ambition of creating a boutique brewery. The brewery's name came from an ancient oak tree regarded as a symbol of Gush Etzion. The tree had survived the years in which Jordan controlled the area from 1949 to 1967, and its image was incorporated into the brewery's logo. This gave the business a strong local identity rather than a generic commercial name. Commercial sales began in 2010. The manufacturing operation was housed in a building of approximately 50 square meters in central Gush Etzion. Early production was limited, with reported output of roughly 250 to 300 bottles weekly, equivalent to around 800 to 900 bottles per month. The brewery made seven or eight types of beer, among them oatmeal stout, India pale ale, California common, Piraat-style ale, and pomegranate ale. By 2011, the beers were primarily available around Gush Etzion and in Jerusalem. The brewery also attracted visitors from Israeli cities including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as from abroad, turning the production site into a modest tourism destination. Its beers were shown at the BEERS conventions in Tel Aviv in 2011 and 2012, and at the 2012 Mateh Yehuda beer festival. The supplied reference material does not document later ownership, expansion, closure, or current distribution, so the brewery's present status cannot be established from the available sources.

1. 2012Festival and convention appearances

   Lone Tree returns to the BEERS convention and is featured at the Mateh Yehuda beer festival.

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2. 2011First documented BEERS convention appearance

   The brewery's beers are featured at the BEERS convention in Tel Aviv.

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3. 2010Commercial sales begin

   Lone Tree begins selling beer commercially.

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4. 2009Lone Tree Brewery is founded

   Myriam and David Shire and Susan and Yochanan Levin establish the brewery in the Gush Etzion region.

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A boutique kosher microbrewery emphasizing locally rooted production, varied small-batch beer styles, and a visitor-oriented Gush Etzion identity.

• Oatmeal stoutStout

  One of the brewery's documented beer varieties. It represents the brewery's production of darker, specialty-style ales within its small-batch kosher portfolio.

• India pale alePale ale

  A documented Lone Tree offering in the India pale ale style. Its inclusion in the early range illustrates the brewery's attempt to cover recognizable craft-beer styles rather than producing only one house beer.

• California commonAmber ale or lager-style ale

  A California common was among the seven or eight varieties reported for Lone Tree Brewery. The supplied reference identifies the style but provides no further product specifications.

• Piraat-style aleStrong ale

  The brewery produced a Piraat-style ale as part of its early assortment. The reference material does not provide a formal product name, recipe details, alcohol content, or continuing availability.

• Pomegranate aleFruit ale

  A pomegranate ale was one of the brewery's distinctive documented varieties, linking the range to a fruit-forward specialty beer style. No further formulation or sales information is supplied.

• 2012BEERS convention participation

  Israel

  The brewery's beers were featured again at the Tel Aviv BEERS convention.

  Outcome. A repeat appearance is documented, but the available source does not report attendance, sales, or campaign metrics.

  Source
• 2012Mateh Yehuda beer festival participation

  Israel

  Lone Tree beers were featured at the Mateh Yehuda beer festival, connecting the brewery with Israel's regional craft-beer and tourism scene.

  Outcome. Participation is documented, while any commercial or promotional result is unknown.

  Source
• 2011BEERS convention participation

  Israel

  Lone Tree beers were presented at the BEERS convention in Tel Aviv, giving the small Gush Etzion brewery exposure at a national beer event.

  Outcome. The brewery was documented as participating; no quantified commercial outcome is available.

  Source

• 2010Commercial launch of the Lone Tree beer rangeProduct launch

  Following its 2009 founding, the brewery moved from establishment into commercial production.

  What changed. Lone Tree began selling its beers commercially, including several specialty styles.

  Aftermath. By 2011, reported distribution was concentrated in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem.

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• 2009Founders establish a boutique microbreweryStrategy

  The founders pursued a small-scale brewery project in Gush Etzion rather than a high-volume production operation.

  What changed. They established production in an approximately 50-square-meter facility and developed a multi-style kosher beer range.

  Aftermath. Commercial sales began in 2010, with early output reported at approximately 250 to 300 bottles per week.

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• 2012Lone Tree beers return to the BEERS convention

  Lone Tree Brewery was again represented at the BEERS convention in Tel Aviv.

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• 2012Lone Tree beers featured at the Mateh Yehuda beer festival

  The brewery participated in the Mateh Yehuda beer festival, another public showcase for its small-batch beers.

  Campaign
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• 2011Lone Tree beers appear at the 2011 BEERS convention

  The brewery's beers were featured at the BEERS convention in Tel Aviv, expanding its public exposure beyond its immediate production area.

  Campaign
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• 2011Lone Tree beers are reported as available in Gush Etzion and Jerusalem

  Contemporary reporting described distribution as concentrated in the Gush Etzion area and Jerusalem.

  Other
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• 2010Lone Tree Brewery begins commercial beer sales

  The Gush Etzion brewery, founded the previous year, began selling its beers commercially.

  Product launch
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1. Lone Tree Brewery