Karl Strauss Brewing Company is bringing Oktoberfest to Pacific Beach with Karlfest 2007 at their Rose Creek Canyon Brewery Saturday, Oct. 6.
The annual fall beer and music fest thrown by San Diego’s largest microbrew distributor would probably make even Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria and his wife Princess Therese proud. They’re the happy couple who started the Oktoberfest celebration when they invited all of Munich to their wedding in 1810.
“This year we are doing something slightly different with Karlfest” said Melody Daversa, marketing events manager for Karl Strauss. “We are limiting the capacity to 1,000 people so we can deliver a great beer experience. Unlike Beach to Brewery (Karl Strauss’ large annual spring festival), this event will be slightly more intimate and we will have an opportunity to really engage the beer community.”
Daversa said the event will feature six of their core beers on tap as well as several specialty beers, brewery tours and beer and cheese pairings. Grilled chicken and sausages will be served, as well as there will be musical performances by local bands Dirty Sweet, Transfer, and The Swedish Models.
This year will also debut Karlfest’s first Homebrewer’s competition, where home brewers will compete for the chance to have their creations served on tap at Karl Strauss restaurants. The winning beer will also will be co-entered with Karl Strauss at the Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am in 2008.
“Since we will be focusing on the beer, we figured a home brew contest was the perfect way to get the local home brewing community involved,” said Daversa.
Kicking off the festivities will be the ceremonious tapping of the Karl Strauss Oktoberfest firkin keg.
Firkin kegs are batches of beer brewed in small casks instead of large kegs. They are tapped with a mallet and create a beer spray. They will serve four to six Firkin Kegs created specifically for Karlfest, including one called California Common (also known as “San Diego Uncommon”), which was crafted with ingredients from several members of the San Diego Brewer’s Guild, an organization of local brewers.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company was established in the late 1980s when after a post-college, around-the-world trip, Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner decided to start their own brewing company. Cramer’s uncle was master brewer Karl Strauss.
Seeing microbrews as the wave of the future, in 1989 they opened their first location in downtown San Diego on Columbia Street. In 1992 they purchased the Santa Fe Street Location, which still serves as their main brewery. Karl Strauss beer can now be found in more than 2,500 bars and restaurants throughout Southern California and is the official beer of Disneyland.
According to Daversa, all proceeds from Karlfest support the Karl Strauss Brewers Education Fund ” a scholarship fund established in Karl’s memory that provides financial educational support for aspiring brewers in Southern California.
Karlfest runs from noon to 5 p.m. at the Pacific Beach brewery, 5985 Santa Fe Street. Online presale tickets are $10. Tickets at the door are $15. Entry includes a taster glass and five beer samples. This is a 21 years and older event.
Though there will be no shuttles running from Pacific Beach and Ocean Beach as arranged for the Beach to Brewery event, there will be shuttles running along Santa Fe Street for those parking long distances down the street.
For more information about Karlfest or the Brewers Education Fund visit www.KarlStrauss.com.