Beer of the Week: Squawk Box
Many believe collaboration beers should be more than a one-and-done affair, including Karl Strauss Brewing and Green Cheek Beer Co.
Collaboration beers are something special, as much for the parties involved as the crat-beer fans who seek out and consume them. Whether trying something new or leaning on shared bailiwicks, pooling technical knowhow and creative energy often results in high-quality beers…which makes it so disappointing that, typically, they are only made just once, then left to fade into little more than alcohol-skewed memories. “Remember the time [X] and [Y] put out that collab triple IPA? It was so good. Man, they should bring that back!” If I had a nickel for every time someone at a beer fest or taproom belted out a statement like that…OK, I wouldn’t be wealthy, but that would be some significant coin. In the case of something like a triple IPA – a style that’s excessively expensive to produce and difficult to turn a profit on – it makes sense for that to be a singular limited-edition creation. But with standard beers – everyday lagers, pale ales and IPAs – I say give the people what they want. Fortunately, certain breweries feel the same way, and resurrect some of their greatest collaborative hits. Two such operations, Karl Strauss Brewing and Green Cheek Beer Co. recently did so with this week’s featured beer, Squawk Box IPA. Originally released in late 2023, this IPA has a lot going for it. A bouquet evocative of mixed citrus and stone fruit gives way to flavors of navel orange, white peach, passionfruit and even a touch of kumquat skin. A light malt bill and modern-gauged 6.6% alcohol-by-volume keeps the beer drinkable and perfect for summer weather. So this seasonal is coming along at just the right time, having hit shelves and the taps at Karl Strauss’ quartet of San Diego County brewery-restaurants yesterday. There’s no telling if this quality collaboration will be brought back a third time, so it’s best to take advantage of its current reincarnation, Pally (IYKYK).
The Southern California brewing industry is full of so many stories, a lot of soul and some damn great beer. Squawk Box is a representation of the passion San Diego and Orange County share for local, independent, quality beer. Brewing with Green Cheek again has been a blast, and we feel lucky to consistently collaborate with the great innovators across our industry. Inspired by Green Cheek’s top-tier IPAs and the citrus groves of Orange County, Squawk Box bursts with sweet orange, floral and tropical flavors. Green Cheek says ‘drink while smiling’, and we like to ‘make people happy one Karl Strauss beer at a time’. I’d say this beer should bring a lot of joy to SoCal summer.”
Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing
Karl Strauss Brewing’s San Diego County brewery-restaurants are located at 1157 Columbia Street in downtown San Diego, 9675 Scranton Road in Sorrento Mesa, 10448 Reserve Drive in Rancho Bernardo and 5801 Armada Drive in Carlsbad