On Saturday, February 7, from 6-9pm, Karl Strauss Brewing Company is celebrating 26 years of crafting the local San Diego beer scene with its annual Changing of the Barrels event. The company opened San Diego’s first craft brewery on February 2, 1989 and more than a quarter century later it continues to pioneer with its innovative beers, cask offerings, and West Coast Pub Fare. Guests are invited to experience the company’s tasting room and beer garden at the main brewery in Pacific Beach. The event will feature 26 award-winning and limited edition beers on tap, brewery tours, food pairings from MIHO Gastrotruck, live music by Dead Feather Moon, commemorative glassware, and a souvenir bottle of the 26th Anniversary Belgian Dark Strong Ale.
“We had a vision to bring craft beer to adventurous and free spirited San Diegans, but our biggest fear was always, ‘will they come?’ When we saw the line around the block on opening day, we knew we were onto something,” says Matt Rattner, President and Co-founder, Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “We are proud to be woven into the fabric of San Diego and humbled to have sparked the craft beer revolution that our city is now known for.”
Tickets for the Karl Strauss Changing of the Barrels event are available online for $45, with a limited number of $20 designated driver tickets available. A portion of all ticket sales will go to support the nonprofit, Karl Strauss Brewers Education Fund, which is funding two full scholarships to the UC San Diego Extension, a program for those aspiring to pursue a career in the brewing industry.
The company will debut its 26th Anniversary Belgian Dark Strong Ale at the event, and also preview its 27th Anniversary Double Chocolate Imperial Stout before it goes into bourbon barrels for an entire year. MIHO Gastrotruck will also be pairing 4 of its dishes with Karl Strauss Brews. A few of the barrel-aged stand outs that will be offered at this year's Changing of the Barrels include Rella (Barrel-Aged Sour with Cherries), a Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel, the aforementioned 26th Anniversary Ale, and a very rare beer named Who’s Your Pappy. Plus, all the taps will be flowing with limited release brews, tank taps, and plenty of Karl Strauss classics.
“We stashed away an assortment of really exciting beers for this year’s bash,” says Paul Segura, Brewmaster of Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “26 beers for 26 years! I’m especially looking forward to sharing the numerous barrel-aged offerings with our fans – it’s a showcase of some of the exciting things to come from Karl Strauss this year.”
For more information about Karl Strauss’ 26th Anniversary and tickets to Changing of the Barrels, visit karlstrauss.com.
