Karl Strauss Releases Golden Stout Award-Winning Seasonal
Story by:
Bil Corcoran
Karl Strauss Golden Stout Award-Winning Seasonal Beer
A stout doesn’t always have to be dark, and Karl Strauss Brewing Company has another pretty convincing reason to make that point with the return of its award-winning Karl Strauss Golden Stout. The San Diego brewery has released its 2026 seasonal edition, a 7.5% ABV beer that manages to deliver the familiar richness of a coffee stout while skipping the traditional roasted malts responsible for the dark color most drinkers expect.
Instead, Karl Strauss Golden Stout pours golden, with coffee, Ghanaian cocoa nibs and vanilla beans doing much of the work, and this is not some brand-new experiment that needs to prove itself because the beer has already collected medals at two World Beer Cups, including a Bronze Medal in 2026 and a Silver Medal in 2024 in the Coffee Beer category.
That’s a pretty good track record. The 2026 Karl Strauss Golden Stout also marks the seventh consecutive year the brewery has released this seasonal beer, which says something about the response it has received from drinkers over time. This year’s edition features coffee from San Diego-based Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, giving the beer a local connection that fits nicely with Karl Strauss’ San Diego brewing roots, while Ghanaian cocoa nibs and vanilla beans add the chocolate and softer dessert-like character described in the brewery’s release. Columbus hops round out the ingredient list, but the interesting part is how the beer gets its stout character without relying on the usual dark roasted grains.
A golden pour with stout character. That’s the hook, and it’s a good one. The brewery describes a silky body with rich coffee, bittersweet chocolate and soft vanilla, finishing just sweet enough, which sounds like a beer designed for people who enjoy the flavor of a substantial coffee stout but might appreciate something a little different visually and stylistically. At 7.5% ABV, Karl Strauss Golden Stout is certainly not a lightweight seasonal beer, and the combination of coffee, cocoa and vanilla should give it enough character to stand alongside more traditional dark stouts without trying to imitate their appearance. A familiar flavor profile, but with a different approach.
Karl Strauss Golden Stout is available on draft at the company’s nine Southern California brewpubs and in four-packs of 16-ounce cans at those locations and retail outlets throughout California, Arizona and Nevada. The release also supports Restaurants Care, with Karl Strauss donating 1% of the beer’s California retail sales to the program, which assists food-and-beverage workers facing crises, and the brewery is celebrating another strong year after being voted 2026 Best Micro Brew Pub in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s U-T Readers Poll; here is the brewery’s complete announcement with additional release and availability information.
Here’s the full Press Release from Karl Strauss Brewing Company:
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Karl Strauss Brewing Company has released its award-winning, seasonal Golden Stout. The 7.5% ABV Ridiculously Limited Release beer is available on draft at Karl Strauss’ nine Southern California brewpubs, as well as in four packs of 16-oz cans at the brewpubs and in retail outlets throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Golden Stout won a Bronze Medal in the Coffee Beer category at the 2026 World Beer Cup (WBC), which is often referred to as the Olympics of beer competitions. Karl Strauss Golden Stout also won a Silver Medal in the Coffee Beer category at the 2024 WBC.
This is the seventh year in a row that Golden Stout has been released. The 2026 edition features coffee from San Diego-based Better Buzz Coffee Roasters. Other ingredients include Ghanaian cocoa nibs, vanilla beans, and Columbus hops – and it skips the traditional roasted malts one would expect in a dark beer.
The result is magic in a glass: a golden pour with silky stout character. Rich coffee, bittersweet chocolate, and soft vanilla, wrapped in a full, smooth body and finishing just sweet enough.
Karl Strauss brewpubs are located in Anaheim, Corona, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles (Downtown), San Diego (4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Downtown, Sorrento Mesa), and Temecula.
Karl Strauss will donate 1% of the beer’s California retail sales to the Restaurants Care program, which provides hope and stability to food-and-beverage workers in California who are in crisis. To find Golden Stout in retail stores, visit: https://www.karlstrauss.com/
Karl Strauss was voted 2026 Best Mico Brew Pub in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s “San Diego’s Best, U-T Readers Poll.”
Keep up with Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/
Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
The following published MyBeerBuzz stories are especially relevant to this release and provide useful internal links:
Karl Strauss Brewing Company Releases Hard Cherry Cola — Recent coverage of the brewery’s creative beverage releases.
Karl Strauss Brewing Company Releases Award-Winning Seasonal Golden Stout — Previous coverage of Golden Stout and its earlier award-winning releases.
Karl Strauss Brewing Celebrates 37 Years of Brewing Bravely — Anniversary coverage featuring another golden stout.
Karl Strauss Brewing Bringing Back Peanut Butter Cup Porter — Coverage of the brewery’s dessert-inspired seasonal porter
Karl Strauss to Release Oktoberfest Märzen Lager at Nine Southern California Brewpubs — Seasonal beer coverage and brewpub availability.
About Karl Strauss Brewing Company
Karl Strauss Brewing Company is one of the pioneering names in the Southern California craft beer industry, with a history that dates back to 1989 and a reputation built around quality brewing, creative recipes and a willingness to experiment with ingredients and styles. Based in San Diego, California, Karl Strauss helped introduce a new generation of drinkers to locally brewed craft beer at a time when the American beer market was still dominated by large national brands and relatively limited beer choices.
The brewery opened its first location in downtown San Diego on February 2, 1989, with founders Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner working alongside master brewer Karl M. Strauss. Karl brought decades of professional brewing experience to the project, having spent much of his career at Pabst Brewing Company, where he eventually served as Vice President of Production. His German brewing education and professional experience helped establish the technical foundation for the new California brewery.
A pioneer of San Diego craft beer
When Karl Strauss Brewing Company opened, San Diego had very little of the independent brewing culture that would eventually make the region famous. The original downtown brewpub introduced locally produced beer and a more adventurous approach to brewing, helping create an audience for styles and flavors that were not widely available in the area.
The brewery’s early success helped establish a foundation for the growth of San Diego’s craft beer community. Its influence extended beyond its own beer lineup, with generations of brewers and industry professionals developing their careers in a region that would become one of America’s most important craft beer destinations.
The company has maintained a connection to its original identity while continuing to introduce new beers and explore changing consumer interests.
Award-winning Karl Strauss beers
Karl Strauss has developed a diverse lineup of beers over the years, including traditional ales, lagers, hop-forward IPAs and specialty seasonal releases.
One of its best-known beers is Red Trolley Ale, an Irish-style red ale that has become a recognizable part of the company’s brewing history. Its malt-forward character, caramel notes and balanced bitterness helped establish it as a flagship offering.
The brewery has also built a following through its IPA program, including Tower X West Coast IPA, Aurora Hoppyalis IPA and other hop-driven releases. These beers demonstrate the brewery’s interest in balancing traditional brewing techniques with contemporary American hop varieties.
Seasonal beers have also become an important part of the Karl Strauss lineup. Its annual Oktoberfest release, which dates back to the brewery’s opening year, is one example of how the company has maintained connections to traditional European beer styles.
Other seasonal and limited releases have allowed the brewing team to explore more unusual combinations, including dessert-inspired porters, specialty stouts and experimental beers.
The story behind Golden Stout
Golden Stout is among the more distinctive beers in the Karl Strauss portfolio because it challenges one of the most familiar expectations about stout.
Most traditional stouts receive their dark color from roasted malts and darker specialty grains. Golden Stout takes another approach, using coffee, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans to create a stout-inspired flavor profile without depending on the traditional dark malt bill.
The beer features coffee, Ghanaian cocoa nibs, vanilla beans and Columbus hops. Its golden appearance contrasts with the richer flavor profile associated with conventional coffee stouts.
The brewery originally developed Golden Stout as part of its collaboration series before turning it into a regular seasonal release. Its continued popularity and competition recognition have helped establish it as one of the more recognizable specialty beers in the Karl Strauss lineup.
The 2026 release adds coffee from Better Buzz Coffee Roasters, another San Diego-based business, continuing the connection between Karl Strauss and its local brewing community.
Nine Southern California brewpubs
Karl Strauss has expanded its hospitality business throughout Southern California and currently operates nine brewpubs.
Locations include Anaheim, Corona, Costa Mesa, Downtown Los Angeles, Downtown San Diego, 4S Ranch, Carlsbad, Sorrento Mesa and Temecula.
Each brewpub offers Karl Strauss beers alongside a food menu designed to complement the brewery’s beer selection. These locations give customers an opportunity to experience the brand beyond packaged beer, with fresh pours, restaurant dining and seasonal releases available throughout the year.
The original downtown San Diego location remains an important part of the company’s history, representing the place where the brewery helped launch the city’s modern craft beer movement.
Community involvement and California craft beer
Community involvement has also remained part of the Karl Strauss identity. The company has supported local organizations and charitable programs through its brewery activities and special beer releases.
The 2026 Golden Stout release continues that approach, with 1% of California retail sales benefiting Restaurants Care. The program assists food-and-beverage workers experiencing personal or financial crises, providing support to people working in an industry that has long been connected to the brewery’s hospitality business.
Karl Strauss has also received recognition from the local community, including its 2026 Best Micro Brew Pub selection in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s annual readers poll.
Looking ahead
More than three decades after opening its first brewpub, Karl Strauss Brewing Company continues to balance its brewing history with new ideas and seasonal releases.
From Red Trolley Ale and its established IPA lineup to experimental beers such as Golden Stout, the brewery continues to give Southern California craft beer drinkers a range of styles and flavors to explore.
Its commitment to quality ingredients, creative brewing and community involvement remains central to the brand.
For more information about Karl Strauss Brewing Company, its beer lineup, seasonal releases, brewpub locations and upcoming events, visit the official website:
zzubreebym
Comments 0
No Readers' Pick yet.