San Diego, CA – April 23, 2014 – Karl Strauss Brewing Company is thrilled to unveil its completely renovated Sorrento Mesa brewery restaurant. Affectionately referred to by the locals as “Brewery Gardens” for its tranquil setting, this hidden gem is located in the QUALCOMM tech center and offers a unique beer oasis. “If you don’t know we’re here, you’d never find us,” says Matt Rattner, President and Cofounder, Karl Strauss Brewing Company. “For two decades we’ve been a best-kept secret and with this remodel, we’re hoping to expose more people to our unique Karl Strauss experience. After all, who doesn’t want to enjoy handcrafted beer in an amazing setting like this?” The extensive remodel has left the lush koi pond and gardens intact but the rest of the structure was torn down to the studs to create a more vibrant and socially engaging space.
At the heart of the redesign was shifting the bar towards the center of the brewery restaurant and doubling the amount of taps to create a more diverse beer lineup and livened social atmosphere. “We wanted to create an inviting, fresh place to hang with friends and have a beer,” says Melissa Dombo, Creative Manager, Karl Strauss Brewing Company. Concrete, stainless steel and reclaimed wood elements are artfully combined to create a modern brewery-loft vibe that entices guests to pull up a barstool and connect with friends. “The goal was to create a space that gets the beer flowing and people mingling,” says Dombo. “We have several large communal tables that are reminiscent of beer halls. It’s fun to order a beer and strike up a conversation.” Wall-to-wall garage-style roll-up doors bring the outdoors in, and contribute to the festive beer-garden atmosphere.
In keeping with the company’s commitment to supporting local businesses and the environment, all of the furniture in the space is custom built by local craftsmen and sourced from reclaimed materials where possible. “We worked with two local companies to hand-forge all of our furniture. The vintage hardware on each table comes from 1800’s machinery found in an abandoned Julian mine. It makes for a cool space to hang out in,” says Dombo. An additional 36 seats—including a new wrap around deck cantilevering over the pond—were added to the brewery restaurant, creating even more room for guests to enjoy the company’s West Coast Pub Fare or weekly cask nights. For more information about Karl Strauss Brewery Gardens, visit www.karlstrauss.com. Share it. Cheers.
Facts:
Square footage of space: 5,500 interior/3,450 patio/8,950 total
Occupancy: 452 seats
Employees: 101 (up from 78 prior to renovation)
Operating Hours: 11a-9p Monday-Wednesday/11a-10p Thursday-Friday/Closed for private events Saturday/10a-2pm Sunday brunch
Cask night: Every Thursday, 5:00pm, limited release small-batch brews
Local Furniture Craftsmen: San Diego Urban Timber (reclaimed and sustainable wood); KlausArt, Inc. (locally sourced wood, vintage hardware)
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About Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Karl Strauss Brewing Company has pioneered the San Diego beer scene since 1989 with innovative beer releases like Big Barrel IIPA and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. The brewery has won 54 medals over the past three years and its Red Trolley Ale is one of the most award winning beers in the world. The company is currently ranked #41 on the list of the country’s top craft breweries with sole distribution in California. 2014 is on pace to be another exciting year of double-digit sales growth, with the main brewery tasting room and newly remodeled brewery restaurant in Sorrento Mesa now open. For more information visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739. Share it. Cheers.