Karl Strauss Brewing debuted a new brew during last week’s pseudo-holy IPA Day (August 1) and it captured large-scale attention from local beer enthusiasts. The rate of sale and interest in that beer, New California IPA, have been exceptional even by the reputable Pacific Beach-based brewery’s standards. What made this one move so swiftly? The involvement of another storied, long-tenured California-focused beer interest, Northern California’s Russian River Brewing.
“Our co-founder, Chris Cramer, is good friends with [Russian River Brewing owners] Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, and they’ve been talking about doing a collaboration for years,” says Karl Strauss brewmaster of brewery operations Matt Johnson. “This is the largest collaboration we’ve ever brewed.”
Hopped with a bill stocked with popular modern hops, including Strata, Idaho 7 and Ekuanot, plus long-proven Amarillo and a high-alpha American newcomer hop called Pahto, New California IPA was designed to deliver piney, resinous and citrus-fruit flavors. Balance was the focus with this beer, which was released in four-packs of 16-ounce cans.
“I really enjoyed brewing with Vinnie and it was a lot of fun brainstorming about what type of IPA to create,” says Johnson. “One of our goals was to feature some hop cultivars that aren’t as well known yet.”
New California IPA is currently available in four-packs of 16-ounce cans throughout California as well as Karl Strauss’ tasting room and Southern California brewpubs and restaurants.
