It was 1989 when local entrepreneurs Chris Cramer and Matt Rattner started San Diego’s modern craft-beer era with the opening of Karl Strauss Brewing’s original brewpub on the corner of Columbia and B Streets in the city’s downtown core. The county’s longest continually operating post-Prohibition brewery location, it’s held a special place in those pioneers’ heart and business infrastructure for nearly 35 years, but it’s never been part of their asset inventory…until now. Last week, Karl Strauss acquired the historical space and can now move forward with plans to reimagine it.
“The pride we have for this acquisition cannot be overstated,” says Cramer. “We’ve poured our passion into this craft for decades, and witnessing it come full circle as we near our 35th anniversary is a remarkable achievement, serving as a testament to our enduring commitment to the city, the regional brewing industry and our guests.”
Playing a major role in the company’s efforts to install a motif paying homage to the San Diego brewing scene will be newly appointed Chief Experience Officer (CXO), Jennifer Briggs. A seasoned beverage-industry veteran with more than 20 years of wide-ranging business and operations experience, Briggs worked for Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing from 2004 to 2017, where she last served as Vice President of Organizational Development and Human Resources.
Briggs is best known to followers of the San Diego brewing industry for her more recent work as the Chief Executive Officer for Point Loma-based Modern Times Beer, a position she assumed in October 2021 following the departure of original CEO and founder Jacob McKean, who stepped down following workplace-harassment allegations made earlier that year. It was a challenging time for the then eight-year-old company, which found itself financially overextended during the pandemic and in need of course correction.
Briggs was at the helm as Modern Times shuttered locations from the Pacific Northwest to Southern California in an attempt to consolidate the company and refocus its energies to its home market. She also oversaw a turbulent, multi-phase court-ordered receivership sale in 2022, where Modern Times was set to be purchased by Anaheim’s Brewery X, before being put back on the block, where it was ultimately acquired by Craft ‘Ohana, the parent company of Maui Brewing. Owned by San Diego-born and highly revered craft-beer industry veteran, Garrett Marrero, it was deemed a best-case scenario for the struggling business, the reputation of which has improved since the ownership change.
Briggs departed Modern Times following the acquisition and began working with Karl Strauss as its acting CXO in January of this year. Today, it was announced that she will be joining the company in that capacity, full-time.
“Craft carries a meaningful implication; it signifies creating with purpose, intention and time. In our modern world, brewing isn’t just about beer — it is about the patience of creating something good that requires the patience of fermentation,” says Briggs. “I’m looking forward to the next chapter, where not only will we draw wisdom from the legacies of the past, but we will also live those legacies now, guided by patience, independence, originality and kindness.”
Earlier this month, Karl Strauss extended distribution of its beers into Nevada care of a new partnership with Vin Sauvage Nevada Beverage Distributor, and later this month it will open the doors to its long-awaited “Outpost” beer-garden venue (its sixth San Diego County location) north of State Route 78 at the Las Posas exit in San Marcos.
Karl Strauss Brewing’s original brewpub is located at 1157 Columbia Street in Downtown San Diego