Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Encyclopedia
Karl Strauss Brewing Company is a San Diego, California
-based beer business with a microbrewery
and a chain of brewpub restaurants.
In 1988, Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner asked Cramer’s cousin, the late Karl Strauss
, to help them develop a brewpub. Strauss was a former vice president of production at Pabst Brewing Company
, reaching the title of Master Brewer.
The company’s first brewery restaurant, Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant, located on Columbia Street in Downtown San Diego, opened in 1989. It was the first new brewery of any type to open in San Diego in more than fifty years, and the first-ever brew pub in San Diego.
The company's first distributing brewery began producing beer in late 1991. In 1996 the company’s distributing brewery operations were moved into a 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) home office and brewing building in Pacific Beach
. In 1999, the company installed new brewery equipment at its microbrewery, which more than tripled the brewing capacity. In 2009 they introduced a bottling line so that they could produce bottled beer as well as kegs in their local facility.
Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens restaurant in Sorrento Mesa
opened in 1991. In 1996, the company opened Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant in La Jolla. In 1999, the company opened a brewery restaurant in Carlsbad, California
, and under a licensing agreement with Host Marriott opened a Karl Strauss Handcrafted Beers Bar at Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX) and San Diego International Airport
(SAN). In August 2000, the company opened a Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant at Universal Citywalk
in Los Angeles. In 2001 the newly-opened Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim included a Karl Strauss "beer truck" in the Pacific Wharf area, selling six of the company's brews. The most recently opened Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant was established in 2002 in Costa Mesa, California
.
In January, 2009, the company moved its bottling operations from Stevens Point Brewery
to its San Diego, California location.
In 2009 the company made news by partnering with the Greenhouse alternative energy company in a program to convert its waste to ethanol for use as a fuel.
The January–February 2010 issue of Draft Magazine
named a Karl Strauss brew, Endless Summer Light, as the best light craft beer in the nation. Also that year, the brewery's Red Trolley Ale received gold medals in the Irish red ale category at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.
Besides being available at its own restaurants, the company’s beers are available on tap at many Southern California restaurants and bars, as well as being sold in bottles at retail stores.
Annual events held at the microbrewery include the Beach to Brewery Beer & Music Fest in May and the Karlfest in October.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
-based beer business with a microbrewery
Microbrewery
A microbrewery or craft brewer is a brewery which produces a limited amount of beer, and is associated by consumers with innovation and uniqueness....
and a chain of brewpub restaurants.
In 1988, Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner asked Cramer’s cousin, the late Karl Strauss
Karl Strauss
Karl Martin Strauss was a German-American brewer. A Jew, he fled Nazi Germany in 1939, and went on to become a brewer, executive, and consultant in the American brewing industry. He received numerous awards during his career, which spanned both the large national brewery and the microbrew segments...
, to help them develop a brewpub. Strauss was a former vice president of production at Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company
Pabst Brewing Company is an American company that dates its origins to a brewing company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best and by 1889 named after Frederick Pabst. It is currently the holding company contracting for the brewing of over two dozen brands of beer and malt liquor from defunct companies...
, reaching the title of Master Brewer.
The company’s first brewery restaurant, Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant, located on Columbia Street in Downtown San Diego, opened in 1989. It was the first new brewery of any type to open in San Diego in more than fifty years, and the first-ever brew pub in San Diego.
The company's first distributing brewery began producing beer in late 1991. In 1996 the company’s distributing brewery operations were moved into a 22000 square feet (2,043.9 m²) home office and brewing building in Pacific Beach
Pacific Beach, San Diego, California
Pacific Beach is a neighborhood of San Diego, bounded by La Jolla to the north, Mission Beach and Mission Bay to the south, Interstate 5 to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. While largely populated by young people, surfers, and college students, the population is becoming older, more...
. In 1999, the company installed new brewery equipment at its microbrewery, which more than tripled the brewing capacity. In 2009 they introduced a bottling line so that they could produce bottled beer as well as kegs in their local facility.
Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens restaurant in Sorrento Mesa
Sorrento Mesa, San Diego
Sorrento Mesa is a neighborhood of San Diego, California. It is located in the northern part of the city, east of Interstate 805, on the mesa overlooking Sorrento Valley. University City lies to the south, the Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve to the north, and Mira Mesa to the east...
opened in 1991. In 1996, the company opened Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant in La Jolla. In 1999, the company opened a brewery restaurant in Carlsbad, California
Carlsbad, California
-2010:The 2010 United States Census reported that Carlsbad had a population of 105,328. The population density was 2,693.1 people per square mile . The racial makeup of Carlsbad was 87,205 White, 1,379 African American, 514 Native American, 7,460 Asian, 198 Pacific Islander, 4,189 from other...
, and under a licensing agreement with Host Marriott opened a Karl Strauss Handcrafted Beers Bar at Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles International Airport is the primary airport serving the Greater Los Angeles Area, the second-most populated metropolitan area in the United States. It is most often referred to by its IATA airport code LAX, with the letters pronounced individually...
(LAX) and San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport , sometimes referred to as Lindbergh Field, is a public airport located northwest of the central business district of San Diego, California and from the Mexico – United States border at Tijuana, Mexico...
(SAN). In August 2000, the company opened a Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant at Universal Citywalk
Universal CityWalk
Universal CityWalk is the name given to the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. Originating as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, CityWalk serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the...
in Los Angeles. In 2001 the newly-opened Disney's California Adventure Park in Anaheim included a Karl Strauss "beer truck" in the Pacific Wharf area, selling six of the company's brews. The most recently opened Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant was established in 2002 in Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
.
In January, 2009, the company moved its bottling operations from Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery
Stevens Point Brewery is a regional American brewery located in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The brewery is the fifth-oldest privately-owned brewery in the nation....
to its San Diego, California location.
In 2009 the company made news by partnering with the Greenhouse alternative energy company in a program to convert its waste to ethanol for use as a fuel.
The January–February 2010 issue of Draft Magazine
Draft Magazine
DRAFT Magazine is an American magazine that celebrates the world of beer and beer culture. Published since September 2006, the magazine is known for its articles about "good times and great beer", and for the celebrities that appear on its cover...
named a Karl Strauss brew, Endless Summer Light, as the best light craft beer in the nation. Also that year, the brewery's Red Trolley Ale received gold medals in the Irish red ale category at both the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup.
Besides being available at its own restaurants, the company’s beers are available on tap at many Southern California restaurants and bars, as well as being sold in bottles at retail stores.
Annual events held at the microbrewery include the Beach to Brewery Beer & Music Fest in May and the Karlfest in October.