San Diego’s oldest operating craft brewery, Karl Strauss, is no stranger to Anaheim. Years ago, a stray brewery truck seemingly broke down at Disney’s Pacific Wharf, and has been pouring its beer into bright neon cups for thousands of thirsty mouse-eared people a day. The new brewpub, located miles away on the southside of Angels Stadium, will undoubtedly do the same for thousands of red-wearing rabid baseball fans.
Some beer geeks have written off the brewer as old- school, but personally, I have fallen back in love with its ultra-clean, unsophisticated, and approachable beers. Modern IPA, such as Aurora Hoppyalis, is light on the palate, low on the bitterness, yet hits you in the nose-feels with a fat juicy bag o’ hops. Aurora adds another medal to the surrounding stadium brewery scene, as it recently won bronze at the Great American Beer Festival in the International-style Pale Ale category. Karl also won for American-style Black Ale for Singularity, and Hefeweizen for its classic Windansea Wheat, brewed using a classic German decoction mash method.
Steven Hicks, the coiffed brewer at the new location, will brew on the new 7-barrel system that includes two 14-barrel fermenters and three brite tanks. Hicks hopes to release 35 small-batch beers annually, which will pour next to experimental and regular releases from the San Diego brewer. A new L.A. location is also in the works, as well as a new large-scale operation in Santee, slated for the future.
The new brewpub is airy and industrial-chic with roll-up doors facing the stadium. The menu is full of eclectic pub favorites, comfort food, and California-healthy items that pair well with the 24+taps of only Karl beer. Don’t be surprised if your server drops samples off with pairing suggestions! Bottles, cans, six-packs and growlers are also available to go.
Karl Strauss 2390 E. Orangewood Ave., Anaheim, CA 92806
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