Karl Strauss joins the revolution

San Diego's oldest brewery is now L.A.'s newest. Reigning midsize brewery of the year Karl Strauss Brewing Company has continued its brewpub expansion model with a new property at 600 Wilshire Boulevard, near Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles. Opening to the public on November 21st, the 12,632-square-foot restaurant can host up to 359 customers and features a 7-barrel brewhouse, 24 tap handles serving a full complement of the company's brews, and more than 140 employees.

Speaking via press release, Karl Strauss brewmaster Matt Johnson said, “The craft beer scene in LA is taking off…and we are honored to participate in LA’s craft beer revolution.”

President and cofounder Matt Rattner added, "This location is a prime spot for people to get a tasting room experience and enjoy independently owned, freshly brewed, local beer."

Karl joins ten other breweries with shops in the vicinity, including Angel City Brewery, Mumford Brewing, and Golden Road. Within the next year, another San Diego beer company, Modern Times, plans to open a vegan brewpub five blocks away.

The announcement estimates Karl's new brewpub will produce 35 small-batch beers each year. Like its nine other brewpubs throughout California — including one at L.A.'s Universal City Walk and a recently opened Anaheim location — the downtown Los Angeles brewhouse will be part of Karl's research and development program, "where brewers are given free rein to experiment with new and exciting small batch beers." The company also operates a production and distribution brewery in San Diego's Bay Ho neighborhood.