When you think of your perfect dinner, what do you imagine drinking alongside it? Perhaps an ingeniously engineered cocktail or a fine glass of wine? Those options may suit people of a certain palate; however, the plain truth is that there is no less art in beer than in liquor or wine.
True, beer is sometimes cheap, watered down, and virtually tasteless. And at a frat party, you’re much more likely to find beer than merlot. So it’s no wonder that we often forget everything that beer can be. The brewers at Karl Strauss, however, have never lost sight of their genuine vision to produce great craft beer.
Other brewing companies that dabble in craft beer generally do so tentatively, producing watered down versions of popular foreign styles – Hefeweizens and Belgian Tripels – in order to market to American beer-lovers. Karl Strauss stands among a handful of exceptions to that rule, always brewing boldly flavorful and rich beers.
Last Wednesday, Karl Strauss Brewing Company at Universal Studios CityWalk hosted a tasting of 5 of their boldest beers. Beer experts Dan and John of TheFullPint.com were there to guide us on our tour through the newest and best that Karl Strauss had to offer – together, the comprise the site’s two “Chief Beer Drinkers”. Their refreshing take on craft beer is inclusive rather than exclusive, and caters to anyone who wants to learn more about great beer.
Red Trolley
1) Red Trolley – This was our first beer of the night, and it was a great start. Karl Strauss Red Trolley is a medium-bodied amber ale that’s extremely balanced. On your first taste, you’ll notice hints of raisins and caramel. It’ll go great with virtually any meal or even by itself. In fact, it’s so good that it just took first prize at the Great American Beer Festival.
2) Fullsuit Belgian Style Brown Ale – Our second beer was my personal favorite. One could draw comparisons to Newcastle Brown Ale, but that would fall tragically short of Fullsuit’s flavor. The flavors are complex and fruity with a subtle hint of vanilla. Fullsuit is a late fall/winter seasonal brew that will be on tap in Karl Strauss restaurants within the next few weeks.
3) Karl Strauss Belgian Tripel – The third stop on our tour, Belgian Tripel, is made with an extremely authentic recipe – in much the same style as Belgian monks originally brewed it. Your first sip will yield clove and fruit flavors, but have a sip after a bite of mild cheese and you’ll notice more spice and a sharper flavor to the beer.
4) Imperial Amber Lager – Next up, we sampled this extremely strong brew. Not for the faint of heart, the Imperial Amber Lager is for those who enjoy an extremely hoppy beer. In fact, the beer is so loaded with hops that it finishes with a kind of pine or flower taste. Of course, those flavors are augmented by subtle hints of caramel and toasted malt. Imperial Amber Lager is only available in Karl Strauss restaurants at the moment, so make sure to try it if you find yourself in the vicinity.
Big Barrel Double IPA
5) Big Barrel Double IPA – The final stop on our tour was this extremely hoppy IPA. Made with hops imported from New Zealand, Big Barrel Double IPA has a distinct grapefruit aroma, citrusy flavor, and bitter finish. Pair Big Barrel Double IPA with a tangy bleu cheese to tame the bitterness and notice the beer’s more “earthy tones”.
Stop into Karl Strauss Brewing Company to try any of these great beers or grab a burger with friends.
To find out more about Karl Strauss Brews, visit them online at www.KarlStrauss.com
For more news and reviews on the finest in craft beer, visit www.TheFullPint.com
