Karl Strauss
Karl Martin Strauss | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Minden, Germany |
| Died | December 21, 2006 (aged 94) |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, executive, consultant |
| Known for | Co-founder of Karl Strauss Brewing Company |
Karl Martin Strauss (October 5, 1912 – December 21, 2006) was a German-American brewing expert who escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 and established himself as a leading brewer, executive, and consultant within the American brewing sector. His professional journey encompassed work with both prominent national breweries and the burgeoning microbrew industry. In 1989, he co-founded the Karl Strauss Brewing Company, which remains operational under his namesake.
Early life
Strauss was born on October 5, 1912, at the Feldschlösschen Bräu brewery located in Minden, Germany, where his father held the position of president. He was the middle child among three siblings born to Albrecht and Mathilde Strauss. Educated at Oberrealschule in Minden, he also gained practical experience assisting his father in brewing operations. At age 19, he pursued formal studies in malting and brewing at the Technical University of Munich at Weihenstephan, where he earned both a degree and certification as a Master Brewer. Following his education, Strauss worked at several breweries such as Falkenkreuz Brauerei Lippert in Detmold, Bauer Brauerei in Lübeck, and Altstädter Malzfabrik in Thuringia.
Due to the rise of Nazi power and his Jewish background, Strauss encountered significant obstacles securing employment in Germany’s brewing industry. Consequently, he emigrated to the United States with support from family sponsors. Sadly, during this period, his mother perished in a concentration camp while his brother was killed during a Nazi raid targeting the Polish underground resistance.
Career in America
After arriving in the U.S. in 1939, Strauss initially planned to join relatives in San Francisco, but paused in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he sought employment at the Pabst Brewing Company. He started at Pabst on May 11, 1939, performing bottle feeding tasks but quickly advanced once his Bavarian brewing expertise became apparent. Within a few months, he was promoted to filtration foreman and continued ascending through positions including assistant superintendent, malt house superintendent, and plant production manager based in Peoria, Illinois.
By 1948, Strauss was appointed superintendent of Pabst’s newly established Los Angeles facility. He later became technical director in 1958 and vice-president of production by 1960. During his tenure, he played an instrumental role in reformulating Pabst’s beer portfolio, notably contributing to a revamped version of Pabst Blue Ribbon. After dedicating 44 years to Pabst, he retired in 1983.
Following the death of his first wife in 1978, Strauss remarried Marjean Schaefer two years later.
Post-retirement
Throughout the 1980s, Strauss shifted focus toward brewery consulting, providing expertise to both large-scale breweries and microbreweries worldwide. His clientele included Molson, Tsingtao, The Boston Beer Company, and Goose Island Beer Company. Over his consulting career, he was involved in designing more than fifty brewpubs and microbreweries.
In 1987, Strauss collaborated with cousin Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner to establish Karl Strauss Brewing Company in San Diego. He took charge of brewery design, brewer training, original recipe development, and lent his name to the enterprise. Officially opening on February 2, 1989, it was San Diego’s first new brewery in over half a century and played a pivotal role in launching the local craft beer movement. Strauss fulfilled roles as brewmaster and corporate spokesperson while maintaining active participation in brewery design and product innovation until his passing on December 21, 2006, aged 94.
He also co-authored The Practical Brewer, published by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas.
Legacy
Strauss held the position of president at the Master Brewers Association of the Americas between 1961 and 1963, and remains the sole person honored with its three most prestigious awards: the Award of Merit (1981) acknowledging significant contributions to the industry; the Award of Honor (1992) recognizing outstanding service to the association; and the Distinguished Life Service Award (2003) celebrating exceptional lifelong dedication.
He was instrumental in founding and leading the Museum of Beer and Brewing located in Milwaukee, which currently presents an annual Karl Strauss Award to honor lifetime accomplishments within the brewing sector.
In 2006, the Karl Strauss Brewing Company partnered with the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego to create the Karl Strauss Brewers Education Fund, aimed at providing financial assistance to aspiring brewers in Southern California who are pursuing professional careers in brewing.