San Diego
Beer Week,
in the fall,
is just one
of the beer-
related events
organized by
the San Diego
Brewers Guild,
featuring local
brands like
Karl Strauss
visited a brewpub that inspired the business,
which the duo named after Cramer’s cousin,
Karl Strauss, who came on board following
an illustrious career with Pabst Brewing Co.
Wildly successful, the Karl Strauss com-
pany has garnered more than 80 medals since
2009, including 22 awards alone for the Red
Trolley Ale, an Irish-style red ale. Although
most of the brand’s beer is produced at a
Amplified Ale Works
pairs its beer with
Mediterranean dishes
and ocean views.
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facility in Pacific Beach, tours are only avail-
able at Karl Strauss brewpubs—including
downtown—that boast on-site, small-batch
breweries; cask nights are also offered every
Thursday at 5 p.m. at all Karl Strauss loca-
tions. Casks are utilized for a secondary
fermentation process, providing a more
developed flavor profile than typical draft
beer, and a smoother finish because a siphon
pump is used to draw out the ale as opposed
to carbon dioxide employed when dispensing
beer from kegs.
Another well-established local brand,
Stone Brewing Co.—which celebrated its
20-year anniversary in 2016—offers tours and
guided tastings at its brewery in Escondido.
That location is also home to a 1-acre beer
garden and a restaurant serving dishes made
from local, organic produce, as well as 36 craft
and specialty brews on tap. Started by Greg
Koch and Steve Wagner, Stone has grown to
become one of the biggest craft brewers in the
country, based on beer sales volume.
Newer to the local artisanal beer scene,
Bay City Brewing Co. celebrated its one-year
anniversary in 2016. Found on Mission Bay’s
south side, its tasting room is just a short
drive from downtown. Unlike a bar, Friedli
says the experience is a “friendly, relaxing
one” in which customers’ opinions play a
large role in what is served on the menu.
Friedli says he wants customer feedback
on which beers they like or dislike and why.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a beer aficionado
or if you’ve never had a beer in your life,” he
says. “We want you to feel comfortable, try
some delicious beers and enjoy yourself.”
Friedli also encourages patrons to try
Brewing Co.