Crispy Calamari, Karl Strauss Brewing Co. San Diego, CA

Having a couple of hours to spare before my flight home to Vancouver, I dropped by Karl Strauss Brewing for a quick Happy Hour visit. With HH prices for a starter and beer, I would board my flight satiated, content and with change in my pocket.

For my  appetizer , I chose the Crispy Calamari. The calamari comes crispy fried with a chili aioili dipping sauce, lemon wedges, and on a bed of shredded red cabbage. You get a lot of calamari on your plate. Lots and lots of it. Squeezing lemon juice on the calamari and dipping a spear into the dipping sauce, you have a wonderful crunchy and chewy treat for an appetizer. The chili aioili dipping sauce is particularly good. With such a large serving of appetizer, the Crispy Calamari would make an excellent light meal.

Crispy Calamari

For my Happy Hour beer, I chose the Red Trolley Ale. A gold medal winner at both the World Beer Cup and Great American Beer  Festival, the Red Trolley drank down light and easy. This medium bodied beer poured with a light head and a pretty copper color. Sweet and slightly hoppy, the Red Trolley was a nice touch to the calamari.

Happy Hour was filled with downtown regulars, a family with kids, and visitors like me. The wait staff was quick and friendly, which a brewpub patron always appreciates, especially during the rush of Happy Hour. Check it out next time you're in downtown San Diego.

Monday-Thursday — 11:30am-10:00pm
Friday-Saturday— 11:30am-11:00pm
Sunday— 11:30am-10:00pm

Happy Hour
Mon-Fri 4:00pm-6:30pm

1157 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 

619-234-2739

www.karlstrauss.com