No question about it: Beer is a drink of custom and history. The existence of the beverage has been dated to 600 B.C., but the tradition most associated with beer, Oktoberfest, is of a more recent vintage. Started in Munich on Oct. 18, 1810 to commemorate the marriage of Prince Ludwig I, the event is a worldwide phenomenon. Oktoberfest now hails the end of summer, and is synonymous with boisterous revelry, colorful costumes and microbrews. Microbrews, or craft beers, have become one of San Diego County’s calling cards. For a beer connoisseur, San Diego is a paradise. Carlsbad’s Pizza Port Brewery won Large Brewer of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival, while Stone Brewing, Point Ballast, Green Flash and many more are also bottled locally. In the mid-’80s, two microbrewers, Bolt and Mission, emerged as pioneers in the field. Both were short-lived, although Mission Brewery reopened in 2007. However, it was the founding and staying power of The Karl Strauss Brewery in 1989 that has been a catalyst for much of the growth today. In 2003, the company started its own Oktoberfest, dubbed “Karl Fest,” complete with 35 beers on tap, nine participating breweries and live music. One of the company’s biggest sellers each year is brewed for the event, fittingly called Oktoberfest. “People are very excited for this beer to come out,” said Melody Daversa, Strauss marketing events and PR manager. “They’re still brewing batches just to get us through the end of the month. It’s a pretty crazy amount to keep up with demand.” Daversa noted that the beer has special significance beyond Oktoberfest itself. “It’s a decade old, though we revisited the recipe a few years ago,” she explained. “It was the last recipe that (company founder) Karl Strauss, the man, worked on and kind of tweaked before he passed away. It was the last beer that he gave his input on, so it’s a very special beer to us.” Strauss died in 2006 at age 94. Though Daversa is unsure what has made San Diego a beer enthusiast center, she considers the area lifestyle a key ingredient. “What’s cool about San Diego is that we have a free spirit in our community,” she said. “People here are willing to try new things. It’s the same sense of adventure that kind of rolls into surfing, outdoor activities, hiking and so on. We’re kind of a good breeding ground for craft breweries. I don’t think that it would have taken off in the same way in another city.” Daversa acknowledged the company’s pioneer pride. “We are so excited and honored that so many people have followed us into the craft beer scene, especially in San Diego.” she said. “Yes, we are competitors,” she added. “But really, the craft beer industry has a genuine camaraderie, which I really haven’t experienced in other industries. As part of the San Diego Brewers Guild, we all come together and share advice.” Daversa noted that when a shortage of hops and malts threatened production a few years back, breweries helped each other with supplies. Oktoberfest, the microbrew, is available at Karl Strauss, 5985 Santa Fe St. In Pacific Beach, The Tap Room, a popular local bar and grill at 1269 Garnet Ave., is known for selling an abundance of San Diego craft beers. The Pacific Beach Ale House, 721 Grand Ave., brews its own beers such as Amber Wave, Crystal Pier Pale Ale, PB Porter and Pacific Sunset India Pale Ale. Pacific Beach hotspot Moondoggies is one of the local businesses that stock the big-name brands as well as microbrews. “It’s a decent part of our business, not big, not small, but somewhere in the middle,” said manager Lupe Brookhart. He added that he considers Oktoberfest to be a boon to area bars and restaurants. Meanwhile, in neighboring Ocean Beach an Oktoberfest celebration will be held this Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Ocean Beach Pier parking lot.
