Karl Strauss Releasing Imperial Collection

Karl Strauss is unveiling its new Imperial Collection of 22oz specialty bombers featuring amped up versions of popular favorites, Red Trolley Ale and Tower 10 IPA, and newcomer Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. “We basically doubled everything, increasing the malts, bitterness, alcohol and flavor,” says Paul Segura, Karl Strauss Brewmaster. “Our motto has always been to share good beer, but these are a few you will be tempted to keep for yourself.” Off the Rails Imperial Red, Tower 20 IIPA, and Wreck Alley Imperial Stout will be available year round and are worth the search to find.

Off The Rails

A spin on the company’s Gold Medal winning Red Trolley Ale, Off the Rails takes Red Trolley to the next level with a robust toffee malt character, balanced by an earthy Willamette hop flavor. This Imperial Irish Red Ale will age well, but we won’t tell if you drink it now.

Stats: 8.5% ABV – 32 SRM – 40 IBU

Bottle: After brewing our award-winning Red Trolley Ale for more than two decades, we decided to raise the stakes. Why mess with a good thing? Because it’s that kind of dangerous thinking that leads to the next great beer. For this undertaking, we more than doubled our Red Trolley recipe with massive amounts of sweet caramel malts and earthy Willamette hops. Off The Rails has arrived: A West Coast Imperial Red Ale with rich toffee flavors, undertones of dark fruits, and a derailing hop character. If this is your first time off the rails, hang on with both hands.

Tower 20 Double IPA

We first brewed this beer last year at the Karl Strauss Wall St. Brewdown and the feedback was unanimous—Tower 20 IIPA had to be bottled. Our brewers packed a huge amount of Centennial, Cascade, and Crystal hops into each barrel of this deceptively smooth double IPA and then dry-hopped with Crystals for an intense, citrus aroma. Resist the urge to stockpile and drink this one fresh.

Stats: 9.5% ABV – 9 SRM – 100 IBU

The saying “less is more” doesn’t apply to West Coast IPA’s. Less is a glass half empty and Tower 20 is a full glass of unrivaled hop character – a Double IPA where more is more. In brewing this hoppy offering, we took the best of Tower 10 IPA and added more. An abundance of high-alpha Centennial hops give T20 its resinous pine-like bitterness, while Oregon-grown Crystals and Chinooks lend zesty grapefruit and tangerine hop flavors. Don’t hoard this hop bomb, drink it fresh and we’ll brew more.

Wreck Alley Imperial Stout

Our brewer’s work is equally fueled by beer and coffee, so it made sense to combine the two into one tasty beverage. The result is Wreck Alley Imperial Stout. This opaque, black beer is brewed with a slightly fruity variety of Ethiopian coffee and then “dry-hopped” with cacao nibs for a rich chocolate flavor in the finished beer. Wreck Alley’s ready to drink now, but will only improve with time.

Stats: 9.5% – 100 SRM – 50 IBU

Label: Beneath the tides off Mission Beach rests Wreck Alley – a dark and mysterious seascape of forgotten ships. Amidst the rusted wreckage is a marine ecosystem, an artificial reef teeming with life. Our Wreck Alley is as dark as the depths of its namesake, an Imperial Stout of uncharted complexity. Brewed with darkly kilned malts, cocoa nibs, and Ethiopian coffee beans, Wreck Alley boasts rich layers of dark chocolate, toffee, and espresso-like roast. Save a bottle. This one has a stout shelf-life.