About
Back in the mid-1980s, San Diego was void of the thriving beer scene it has today. In fact, the city had not seen fresh beer since Prohibition, and the term “craft beer” didn’t exist. But that wasn’t going to stop Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner; two college buddies eager to change the status quo. Inspired by a brewpub Chris came upon while traveling through Australia, the pair had a dream: bring local, handcrafted beer back to San Diego.
It was on February 2, 1989 that Karl Strauss Brewing Company officially opened its doors in downtown San Diego and kicked off the city’s craft beer industry. Happily, as Karl Strauss Brewing Company grew, so did the industry as a whole. San Diego quickly became home to more breweries, many of whom got their start with Karl Strauss. Brewers and beer enthusiasts alike came to Karl Strauss, learned about quality and consistency from the best, and went off to create their own breweries. To this day, we take great pride in having influenced many of the brewers that now make up the DNA of our local brewing community.
It is our pleasure to continue to expose fans to beers they have never tried before by brewing a wide range of styles and experimenting with different ingredients. Two and a half decades (and counting!) after opening our doors, we are proud of our past and look eagerly to our future.
 TOWER 10 IPATower 10 IPA boasts hops from beginning to end, and everywhere in between. Karl Strauss fill the brew kettle to the brim with assertive Chinook hops, giving the beer its intense grapefruit and pine flavors that linger through its dry finish. After fermentation, they dry hop with a blend of Cascade and Centennial hops for a floral citrus aroma. A touch of lightly kilned caramel malts make Tower 10 a well balanced, full flavored IPA. |  RED TROLLEYPintail is the go-to option for those in search of a good ride. Dynamic citrus and pine flavors from Newport and Cascade hops give the beer direction, while fine pale malts provide balance. The remarkable floral aroma from dry hopping with Amarillo hops makes this beer as enjoyable as cruising down to the beach, board in tow. |  AMBERWith the first batch of his namesake Amber, Karl shared a beer and a passion that changed brewing in San Diego. Imported Munich malts give the original flagship the deep bronze color and crisp toasted malt flavors of a Vienna-style lager, while Cascade hops and its proprietary yeast strain lend a smooth body and clean finish. Brewed in small batches since 1989, Karl Strauss Amber remains San Diego’s original session beer. |  PINTALE PALEPintail is the go-to option for those in search of a good ride. Dynamic citrus and pine flavors from Newport and Cascade hops give the beer direction, while fine pale malts provide balance. The remarkable floral aroma from dry hopping with Amarillo hops makes this beer as enjoyable as cruising down to the beach, board in tow. |  AURORAOkay fine, we admit it, you can’t see the Northern Lights this far south. But San Diego has its own version of Aurora Borealis, and ours has cast a hoppy spell over this city. What the rest of the world calls an IPA, San Diego locals consider pale in comparison. Aurora Hoppyalis is our San Diego- style IPA brewed with Simcoe, Mosaic, Amarillo, and Citra hops. Robust flavors and aromas of tropical fruit, pine, and tangerine linger through a dry, crisp finish. |  MOSAICBefore the Mosaic hop even had a name (back when it was just known as “HBC 369”), our brewers couldn’t wait to get their hands on some. Mosaic Session IPA is bursting with vibrant grapefruit aroma and flavors of citrus and tropical fruit. Our signature dry-hopping technique delivers an incredibly drinkable lower ABV beer without sacrificing hop appeal. From a small test batch to the bottle you now hold in your hands, this isn’t a one-and-done beer. |
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