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Q & A With Karl Strauss Head Brewer Matt Johnson It might be just a bit of an understatement to point out that the arrival of the Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant in 4S Ranch has been met with an enthusiastic response. Full tables, a packed bar and an increasing need for reservations on the weekends demonstrate the popularity of the San Diego craft brewery company and their seventh north San Diego spot. Recently, Back At The Ranch had the opportunity to pose a few questions to one of the key people behind the new Karl Strauss location – head brewer Matt Johnson. The man in charge of the brewery aspect of the new 4S Ranch business shares some insight about his start in the profession and what local residents can expect to see at the local watering hole. How did you get your start?
Why did you want to become a brewer?
I began brewing professionally in 1997. Before then, I was a marketing consultant in Los Angeles and I just didn’t like it. The idea of being stuck behind a desk for the rest of my life freaked me out. I started to homebrew and I realized that I loved it and I wanted to make it my profession. I signed up for the American Brewers Guild correspondence classes through UC Davis and got my degree in Brewing Science and Engineering. My first job was at Hops Bistro in Phoenix, Arizona. From there, I wound up at Uptown Brewery in Arizona and came back to California in 2001 to be the head brewer at Tustin Brewing Company in Orange County. In 2008 I joined Karl Strauss as the head brewer.
I was sick of my desk job and I wanted to do something I was passionate about. I love brewing because I get a kick out of people drinking and enjoying something that I made. Nothing makes me happier than when someone tells me my beers are the best they’ve had.
What is the first beer you will brew and when? The first beer we’re going to brew at 4S is a saison. It’s a Belgian farmhouse ale that is light gold in color and very sessionable. We add bitter orange peel, coriander and grains of paradise to give it a unique, peppery flavor. We are currently waiting on our final licensing to come through, but as soon as we get it, we’re ready to brew.
What is your involvement with 4S Ranch? Since I had experience building breweries form the ground up, I was put in charge of the brewery project at 4S Ranch. I was responsible for designing the brewery and making sure it was put together properly – everything from the glycol, heaters, exhaust pipes, brewhouse and tanks. We installed a JV Northwest 7-barrel system, which means every time we brew a batch, it yields 14 kegs. We have two fermenters that each holds 14 barrels, or 28 kegs. In order to fill one fermenter, we brew the same recipe twice.
What is your favorite beer to drink and what do you pair it with? My favorite Karl Strauss beer is our Pintail Pale Ale. It’s a sessionable pale ale that has a ton of grapefruit and bitter orange citrus flavors and aromas. It’s a great example of the style and it’s the one I always come back to. I like to pair it with our Piri Piri wings because the wings have a lingering heat and spiciness that the beer helps cool down.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company Is A North County Melting Pot By Debi Renken “Make Beer, Not War.” It’s a play on words unique to Karl Strauss Brewing Company and if you have been to the newly opened 4S Ranch location, you’ve seen these words prominently displayed on one of the back walls. Seeing as brewing beer is their core attraction, I would venture to say the phrase is highly appropriate. From the lighter beers like “Wind and Sea” to the more robust beers like, Fullsuit Belgian Brown Ale”, there’s a beer for every palette, but it’s much more than simply a brewery. Most of you are aware that Karl Strauss moved into the old Chili’s Restaurant location. That is where the reference ends. Instead of sprucing up what was left behind by Chili’s to suit their needs, Karl Strauss spared no expense and completely remodeled the building into a trendy, spacious and welcoming eatery, perfect for meeting friends and family, savoring dinner or just enjoying a cold beer. The place feels almost cavernous, but at the same time radiates a warm, appealing environment of good cheer. There are two highlights that are important parts of the whole design ergonomics – the wonderfully large, hip, bar and the lovely, fresh, outdoor patio. If it’s a cold beer you’re “achin’ for” then you can grab a stool and slide up to the bar that is conveniently located immediately to your left as you enter. Also in the bar area for your viewing pleasure is an abundant array of big screen TVs offering up a continuous
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stream of sports action. Want some fresh air to enjoy that beer? Then, head on out to the spacious and ambient outdoor seating area. There is a delightful, elevated seating island complete with a glass chip fire pit! Outside, you’ll also find a selection of bar tables and chairs where you can enjoy some tasty appetizers along with your sudsy brew. The view from the patio is not exactly the Italian Riviera, but the environment has a pleasant charm all its own. The cuisine is scrumptious and offers up a wide selection of choices to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites. For “Starters” you can enjoy some “Sweet and Stinky Fries” (sweet potato fries with melted gorgonzola cheese), for “Mains” you might want to try the “Drunken Cioppino”, or the “Black N Blue Strip” and rest assured your server is ready and able to suggest the correct beer to go along with each menu selection. There is so much more to the huge menu, including sandwiches, burgers and “greens”. They even have daily specials - you won’t go home hungry! It seems like the Karl Strauss Brewing Company took forever to finish building its newest location, but in the short time it’s been open, it’s proven itself to be a most welcome addition to our community as well as North County. The 4S Ranch Karl Strauss is attracting families from Poway, Escondido, San Marcos and even Vista. It would appear that the restaurant is for sure becoming.................a local melting pot!
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