February marks the 22^nd Anniversary of craft beer in San Diego, and Karl Strauss Brewing Company is celebrating the occasion with a new event and limited release brew.  Join the company for its inaugural “Changing of the Barrels” event to be held at the main brewery in Pacific Beach on February 2.  This intimate event kicks off the company’s new anniversary barrel-aging series, offering the public an exclusive chance to taste the 22^nd Anniversary beer unblended, side by side with the blended version that will be released later in the month.

Guests will also be the first and only to taste the 23^rd Anniversary brew before it goes into barrels for 12 months.  “Changing of the Barrels” is limited to 60 tickets and will include beer and appetizers, live music by the local band Blackout Party, and a night of hanging with the   Karl Strauss brew crew.  Guests will receive a bottle of the 22^nd Anniversary Vanilla Imperial Stout and a commemorative snifter glass.

“We’ve dabbled in barrel aging beers before and I’m excited about this new program where we’ll start aging each of our anniversary beers for an entire year,” says Paul Segura, Karl Strauss Brewmaster.  “I think it’s cool that guests will have an exclusive chance to try next year’s Anniversary Old Ale before its aged.  Next year, they can come back and see how the beer has changed in the barrels.”  Each guest at the event will receive a 33 Bottles of Beer booklet (33beers.com) to write their tasting notes for comparison year after year.

This year’s 22^nd Anniversary beer is a Vanilla Imperial Stout, with a portion aged in bourbon barrels for nine months.  The barrel-aged beer was then blended with a fresh batch of stout, along with the addition of fresh split Madagascar vanilla beans.  The bourbon and vanilla flavors perfectly complement the dark chocolate and warming fishing of this 8.5% sipper, making it an ideal dessert or after dinner drink.

The 22^nd Anniversary Stout will be available on tap at select beer bars across Southern California and in 22oz bottles throughout the state starting in mid February.  To purchase tickets to the “Changing of the Barrels” VIP Event visit www.karlstrauss.com.

Event details:
Date: February 2, 2011 (our real Anniversary!)
Time: 5pm-8pm
Where: Karl Strauss Brewing Company, 5985 Santa Fe Street, San Diego, CA 92109
Ticket Price: $50 per person, tickets online only (this event will sell out, so buy early)

What’s included: Ticket includes beer and food for the night, live music, a commemorative 22nd Anniversary snifter, and a 22oz bottle of the 22nd Anniversary Vanilla Imperial Stout.  This is also the only chance to try the 22nd Anniversary Ale unblended and the 23rd Anniversary Ale before it goes into barrels for 12 months.

22^nd Anniversary Vanilla Imperial Stout Specs:
8.5% ABV
50 IBU
80 SRM

Label Copy:

When we opened in 1989, the most adventurous beer in town was our Downtown After Dark Brown Ale. Our 22nd Anniversary Stout is a tribute to our roots and to those that dared to dream big in San Diego. Brewed with vanilla beans and aged three months in American oak bourbon barrels, this complex Imperial Stout has layers. Nuances of dark chocolate and espresso flavors are underpinned by hints of vanilla, bourbon, and oak. Save a bottle. Like us, this Special Release gets better with age.

About Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Karl Strauss Brewing Company is celebrating 22 years of brewing in San Diego.  From humble roots, a big vision, and the desire to share handcrafted beer with America’s Finest, Karl Strauss has grown from one brewery restaurant to a local institution—brewing 34,000 barrels in 2010 and operating six successful brewery restaurants across Southern California.  The company has not strayed from its pioneering roots with new releases like Big Barrel IIPA and Whistler Imperial Pils, while still capturing hearts and the 2010 WBC and GABF gold medal for long-time favorites like Red Trolley Ale.  With distribution solely in California, Karl Strauss is ranked #40 on the list of the country’s top craft breweries. For more information visit www.karlstrauss.com or call the brewery at (858) 273-2739.

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