Looking ahead to the 36th anniversary of downtown San Diego’s Karl Strauss, General Manager Charles Collins is recalling the recent, five-week renovation of the classic, OG brewpub.
He points out the history in this Columbia Street location. Starting in 1989, it was here that Karl Strauss co-founders Chris Cramer and Mark Rattner kicked off San Diego’s wildly popular craft beer craze.
For the renovation, the kitchen, the heart of the house and the left side of the brewery got the biggest upgrade. Some of the bigger beer tanks were removed. There’s a new, semi-private seating area.
“As we were taking apart walls we could see the decades, and different occupants that had been here,” Collins says. “It was like unearthing the building’s history.”
The team found remnants of a former wine cellar and an architectural office that previously occupied the space. Collins, who’s been with the company eight years and GM of the downtown location for three, wondered if they might literally find some skeletons.
“No skeletons, but I love how this renovation has brought Karl Strauss into 2025,” he says. “We own the building now, so the space is our own and we’re maximizing it.”
The restaurant’s extensive menu is augmented by West Coast brewpub fare, which Collins says was created to pair with their beers, including Peanut Butter Cup Porter, Boat Shoes Hazy IPA or Imperial Red Trolley—a bolder take on their flagship, award-winning Red Trolley Ale.
One brew that’s grabbed the eye of The San Diego Sun is a 4.2% ABV rice lager named Follow The Sun. It’s got a light malt profile and floral hints. Collins calls it a “refreshing, daytime beer.”
The renovated restaurant is open now, and anybody looking to Follow the Sun (or any beer offering) can stop by Karl Strauss starting on February 2 to officially celebrate the 36th anniversary.
Stay tuned: For past milestones, Cramer has stopped by for speeches and commemorative cheers. Head brewer Paul Segura might come by for an immersive chat about small batches.
Party time or not, it’s hard to disagree with the words written right on certain blue-and-yellow cans: “Follow the Sun and savor the spirit.” SDSun
