Born in 1912 in Minden, Germany, Karl Strauss was immersed in the brewing world from an early age, playing among beer barrels and hops at his father’s brewery. Pursuing his passion, he attended the Technical University of Munich-Weihenstephan at 19, earning a degree and Master Brewer certification. In 1939, fleeing the political climate of Nazi Germany, Strauss emigrated to America, landing a job at Pabst Brewing Company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His contributions, particularly the reformulation of Pabst’s Blue Ribbon beer in the 1950s, significantly boosted the company’s sales and launched PBR into a new era, leading to his eventual role as Vice President of Production until his retirement in 1983. However, Karl was never known to idle…

In 1986 San Diego was void of the thriving beer scene it has today. In fact, the city hadn’t seen fresh beer since Prohibition, and the term “craft beer” didn’t exist. Strauss was then embarking on a consulting career, playing a huge role into the next chapter of this story. Enter Chris Cramer (Karl’s cousin) and Matt Rattner; two college buddies eager to change the status quo. Inspired by a brewpub Chris came upon while backpacking through Australia, the pair had a dream: bring local, handcrafted beer back to San Diego. With the help of Brewmaster Karl Strauss himself, it was on February 2, 1989 that we officially opened our doors in downtown San Diego and launched the city’s craft beer industry. As our brewing company flourished, so did the industry as a whole.

Karl played a crucial role in designing the brewery, training staff, and developing beer recipes, actively participating in its operations as Master Brewer until his passing in 2006, cementing his status as the Godfather of Beer. As for us? With 128 major medals under our belt since 2009, we continue to live his legacy and pioneer the independent brewing scene by crafting innovative beers across a wide range of styles. Brews like Tower X, Follow the Sun, and Boat Shoes have catapulted the brewery into a new era; while beers such as Red Trolley Ale—one of the most awarded beers in the world—stand as a testament to Karl’s brewing excellence.