Raise a (Plastic) Glass to Karl Strauss Brewing Company at DCA!
Anaheim isn’t known for its cool weather and refreshing breezes. It’s no Orlando, but come on. I’m willing to bet you’ve been out in the Parks a time or two, desperately seeking some refuge from the heat. Better yet, you should find yourself a nice drink while you take your respite. Not enough for you? Why not find the one spot in the Parks with a connection to that Pabst Blue Ribbon?
That’s not a natural connection, for sure. If I paid attention at Blog U, I might have realized it’s better to lead with that one weird connection to draw you in. Well, you already clicked on the link and there’s no going back now. I guess I just need to explain this connection after this short ad and we can move on with me describing the Karl Strauss Beer Truck to you.
Karl Strauss beer has been a staple of the California craft beer scene for decades now. Named for one of the Pabst brewers responsible for rejuvenating the brand in the 1950s, Karl Strauss Brewing Company opened in 1989 in San Diego. The brewery earned its status as one of the country’s leaders in the craft beer movement early on. The popularity of their beers led to multiple tap rooms around Southern California and distribution across the state.
The Pacific Wharf area of Disney’s California Adventure is the perfect place to hide a beer truck. Multiple access roads to the area provide an easy path through on your way to or from park attractions. Don’t be distracted by the many food options in the area. You can eat later! Keep moving your way to the back and you will find Karl’s truck parked with a big awning rolled out. A sign blurbs the brewery’s history but gives no indication for how the truck came to be parked there. I guess the Imagineers didn’t need much of a story. You’ll buy the beer regardless.
Six taps are available along with some snacks like popcorn or pretzels. Some of the taps do rotate throughout the year, allowing guests to enjoy light summer lagers and malty fall ales alike. Some of the Karl Strauss favorites are always in attendance, though.
Follow the Sun is a light and refreshing Pilsner. This straw-colored lager is just the thing on those warmer days. Face that glowing orb in the sky head-on with a dry, firmly-bittered lager. Red Trolly Ale is a maltier offering that doesn’t stray too close to a red IPA in flavor. The hop bitterness is present, but restrained to a point that keeps this red ale from getting too sweet. They also sell IPA. Tower 10 is the standard offering, a west-coast style with plenty of piney bitterness and grapefruit flavor. Some of the rotating beers include double IPAs for those truly interested in alcohol, pine sap, and citrus. I bet you can even find a hazy one if you’re lucky.
Sorry, folks. That’s about it. No cocktails or wines here. No hard seltzer, even. Just good beer and a few umbrellas under which you can shelter and sip. If you want a little bit of advice on beer, feel free to read on. Not sure why I’m writing this other than I feel obligated to pass on my sage wisdom.
In this case, my sage wisdom is sponsored by the book Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher. I read this book years ago and this part always stuck with me, much to my wife’s chagrin as she waits for me to finish pouring. If you want to truly enjoy all of a beer’s flavors and scents, don’t be afraid to just pour it into the glass. Yes. It will foam. This is the point. Let it.
Let a nice head collect and slowly settle. You can wait a few minutes while it does so and then finish pouring the rest. When you finally sit down and enjoy your beer, you can enjoy the full sensory experience. Pouring slowly on an angle into the side of the glass sure does keep the beer from foaming, but that gas is still going to be trapped in the liquid. When does it come out? When you swallow. If part of the beer experience is enjoying the aroma, why let beautiful carbonation emerge once it hits your stomach? All you’re left with then is burping and a sense of fullness that will restrict your ability to continue drinking.
And that’s that, Libation Explorers. While you enjoy the Californian park intended to summarize an entire state, take a few minutes and enjoy some beer from said state. Karl Strauss Brewing Company had a big role in kicking off this nation’s beer obsession. Six taps may not rival your favorite tap house, but I guarantee there will be something that can please your palate.
Until next time, keep exploring!
