Beer of the Week: Golden Stout

Come fall, most beer-drinkers gravitate toward amber, chestnut and deep brown beers rich with malt complexity. They bring on a sense of warmth and help ring in the transitional season leading to the chilly (if not downright cold) holidays. Yet, even as temperatures die down (occasional Santa Anas aside) and San Diego settles into the most subtle state of autumn on the planet, by and large, locals still want their golden-hued beers. Stouts and similarly roasty brews won’t stand a chance until December…except for one. Named for what it is, that oxymoronic offering goes by the handle Golden Stout, and it’s this week’s featured beer. Produced by Karl Strauss Brewing, it’s not a stout at all, but rather an imperial golden ale lent the qualities of that typically onyx style – silky body, roastiness, chocolate notes – care of ingredients that, unlike deeply roasted malts, do not impart color. Many were the breweries that tried their hand at this visual trick of a beer in the mid 2010’s, but few have endured as long as Karl’s. Rather than render it a one-time accomplishment, the venerable brewing operation doubled down on it, forging a longstanding partnership with renowned local java interest Bird Rock Coffee Roasters and releasing the beer annually to the delight of coffee-beer enthusiasts as well as brewing competition judges. Golden Stout has taken gold and bronze at the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Great American Beer Festival, respectively, while earning silver and bronze at the San Diego International Beer Competition in 2020 and 2022. Brimming with bold coffee aroma and chocolatey on the palate without veering into dessert-stout territory, Karl’s Golden Stout is more than a novelty, it’s a quality seasonal worth seeking out.

It’s that time of year again – our award-winning Golden Stout is back with its chocolatey, roasted-coffee flavors that feel like a warm hug, or your favorite fuzzy blanket with every sip. At KARL, we look forward to the return of this beer each year, because it provides the ideal drinking experience for fall and winter, and a welcome break from our hoppy routine. Golden Stout is a master of deception, appearing as a simple blonde ale when poured it into a glass, but sipping like a robust, warm, full-bodied stout all the way through its finish. While traditional stouts are brewed with roasted barley, we brew Golden Stout with some unique ingredients to achieve the perception of an imperial stout. Locally sourced Bird Rock coffee, vanilla beans and Ghanaian cocoa nibs produce the flavors that make this seasonal a fun departure from our typical lineup, and from other stouts we’ve brewed throughout KARL’s 35 years. Cheers!”

Paul Segura, Brewmaster, Karl Strauss Brewing