We've been telling San Diego stories since 1989. Usually we tell them in pint glasses. This year, we're telling them on the big screen too.

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is proud to be the Official Craft Beer Sponsor of the 25th annual San Diego International Film Festival, running October 13–18, 2026, with screenings at AMC UTC 14 at Westfield UTC in La Jolla. Filmmakers, film lovers and folks who just wandered in for the popcorn will gather to celebrate independent cinema from around the world. We'll be pouring at every festival bar, all festival long.

Why a Brewery Belongs at a Film Festival

Great films and great beer have more in common than you'd think. Both take patience, a little obsession and a crew that sweats the details nobody else notices. And both are better shared.

Our story started with a premiere of its own. When we opened our first brewpub in downtown San Diego in February 1989, it was the first brewery to open in the city in more than 50 years. Locals lined up around the block. Call it our opening night.

The recipes behind that night came from co-founder Chris Cramer's cousin, Karl Strauss, a German-born master brewer who spent 44 years at Pabst. He taught us that world-class beer is a promise. We've kept it ever since, and we take it seriously. Just not ourselves.

That's why this partnership feels right. The festival champions independent voices and bold storytelling, and so do we. Independent films, independent beer, one very good festival.

What We're Pouring

We've cast a lineup for every kind of moviegoer:

• Tower X West Coast IPA. For IPA fans who like their plot twists hop-forward.
• Boat Shoes Hazy IPA. Soft, juicy and laid-back. The crowd favorite every festival needs.
• Follow The Sun Lager. Crisp, easygoing and built for sunny screenings and long lobby conversations.

Not sure where to start? Ask our team. They're happy to play guide, never gatekeeper.

Where to Find Us

At the festival. All three beers are on tap at every bar throughout the San Diego International Film Festival. Grab a beer before the lights go down, or stick around after to argue about the ending. Get your passes and tickets and plan your week with the 2026 festival schedule.

At our brewpubs. Keep the conversation going at a Karl Strauss brewpub near you. Our pubs have been San Diego's living rooms for more than 35 years, and the best post-film debates happen over a flight and some West Coast pub fare.

On the shelf. Hosting your own screening night? Pick up Tower X, Boat Shoes and Follow The Sun at your local grocery or bottle shop, or use our beer finder.

See you at the movies. Cheers!

‍