92127 Magazine “Taps In” to the New Karl Strauss Brewery in 4S Ranch

Posted on June 8, 2012

Karl Strauss is opening its seventh brewery restaurant in the north San Diego community of 92127, specifically, 4S Ranch. Our readers have been imploring the company to open an inland location, and the 4S Ranch spot [that used to host Chili’s] hits the mark, showcasing the company’s West Coast Pub Fare concept, on-site brew-house, and a modern brewery-loft vibe.

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Projected opening date: Late July, 2012

Jobs created: 100 positions, including hourly staff and several managers

Address: 10448 Reserve Drive, San Diego, CA 92127

Brewery info: New 7-barrel JV Northwest system, 2-vessel brew house, 1 fermenter and two bright tanks

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We sat down with Melody Daversa, Marketing PR Manager, for Karl Strauss Brewing Company and asked a few questions that may be of interest to our readers.

What is the history behind Karl Strauss Brewing Company?
Since 1989, Karl Strauss Brewing Company has pioneered the local beer scene in San Diego. 23 years later, the company continues to brew an innovative line-up of award-winning beers ranging from longtime favorites like Red Trolley Ale to new releases like Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. In 2011, the company brewed 40,000 barrels and ranked #44 on the list of the country’s top craft breweries. To keep up with double-digit sales growth, the company is adding capacity to its brewery, expanding distribution throughout California, opening a new brewery restaurant, and breaking ground on an extensive brewery renovation. For more information visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739.

Is the 4S Ranch location different from your other Brewery Restaurants? If so, how?
We are thinking of our 4S Ranch location as the next generation of our Brewery Restaurant concept. It will incorporate the West Coast Pub Fare approach as exemplified by our current menu and the friendly, attentive service we are known for. The look and feel will represent our brand today and where we are headed in the future.

West Coast Pub Fare explained:
West Coast: Edgy, fresh, geographic Mexican and Pacific influences
Pub Fare: Elevated comfort food that is made with and pairs best with our handcrafted beer
“Inspired by our roots and driven by our beer, this design will convey a pioneering yet laid back San Diego brewery atmosphere. The brewery is the heart of our company. This is where we share our craft in an edgy but approachable space. The interior is inspired by our original brewery in Downtown San Diego; it has a lofty, metro feel with brick, high ceilings, and metal work. The concrete floors and reclaimed wood details create an industrial, brewery vibe, while maintaining a comfortable atmosphere that encourages a few more pints. Finishing touches include 22oz. bombers on display, art pieces featuring our beer icons, and kegs. This space will bring our soul to life.”

What is the draw to this new location? Why should people come here?
First off, it will feature our award-winning hand-crafted beer: 10 beers always on tap, including a tap that will be dedicated to fresh beer being drawn straight from the on-site brewery tanks, plus a reserve list of special and limited-edition 22oz bombers, and weekly specialty cask tappings. Our food is hand-crafted to pair with our beer and we have an amazing team of people to serve our customers. We are also excited that this is our first location to have a fire pit and we can’t wait to see folks gathering around it in the evenings to share a beer. We know that our 4S Ranch Brewery Restaurant will be a destination where people can come for great beer, great food, and relax with friends and family in a warm but unique brewery environment.

What will it look like?
We are completely gutting the space to make it truly our own. When you drive up to the brewery restaurant you’ll see a lot of industrial textures that will make it seem more like a functioning brewery than a restaurant. There will be a mix of metal, stone, and concrete on the outside, with large glass windows that peer into the operating brewery. When you go inside, the space will have an open, metro-loft, brewery vibe. We are using a lot of reclaimed wood, concrete, metal, and glass to bring the brewery elements into the restaurant. There will be 4 large roll-up garage windows (two that are floor to ceiling that lead onto the patio, and two that are ½ roll ups that bring air into the space). The bar will be the heart of the space, with 10 beers on tap and plenty of community tables for people to congregate at. The bar itself is custom-made of concrete and seats 21. There are four community tables (seating 6,8,10, and 12 respectively) encouraging people to mingle and fostering a friendly, brewery setting. Outdoors, there is a large fire-pit with room for 16, as well as benches and tables. We are looking forward to bringing elements of the brewery into the space and sharing that with the 4S community.

What is the capacity inside/outside?
On our furniture layouts we are showing:
149 interior seats (stools & chairs, booths and benches)
104 patio seats (stools & chairs, benches, and fire-pit)
253 total seats shown

Are there private meeting spaces? Can people do buy-outs?
There will be semi-private spaces—more for group events than meetings (i.e. semi-private patio space next to brewery and also the far end of the Brewery Restaurant can be sectioned off). Buy-outs are possible and one of our hidden secrets; our customers are shocked to learn how affordable our buy-outs are. Imagine that, having an entire Brewery Restaurant dedicated to your event!

Will there be tours?
Yes, brewery tours will be available. We are still working out whether these will be given at a designated time or if customers will be able to book according to their convenience. Regardless, group events can always request a brewery tour as part of their event.

Can you tell us details about the “Soft Opening” as well as any plans for a “Grand Opening?”
Our target date to be open to the public is 7/24. We are calling it a soft opening because while we will have our full menu and operate as normal, we aren’t hosting a huge kick-off event. We want our guests to have an awesome experience but we know that with any new restaurant there is a learning curve with the operations. We will plan on hosting a beer and food pairing event sometime in the Fall for our Grand Opening.

Will you have a signature 92127 Beer/menu item?
The brewer for Karl Strauss 4S Ranch will have the freedom to brew special releases to be served straight from the tanks that will be exclusive to that location!

Will you have apparel/merchandise for sale at the 92127 location?
Yes! We will have beer-to-go in ½ gallon growlers to be filled fresh on-site, as well as 22oz specialty bombers. We will also have a selection of shirts, hats, and sweatshirts.