Karl Strauss Award Dinner

 History of Karl Strauss

1912 - Karl was born October 5, 1912, in Minden, Westphalia, Germany.

Karl’s father was president of the Feldschlosschen Brau, Minden. He attended the Oberrealschule in Minden where he received his Abitur. During his young life, he assisted his father in the brewery as a brewer and intern (and later in life when his father owned a hotel.)

1931 - He began his formal brewing studies at Weihenstephan at 19 years old. In the summer of 1933, he completed the Diploma program and began working at the Falkenkreuz Brauerei Lippert in Detmold, the Bauer Brauerei, Luebecke and the Altstadter Malzfabrik in Altstadt, Thuring. 

1939 - Karls’ uncle introduced him to a Foreman at the Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee and he was hired. He arrived in Milwaukee on St. Patrick’s Day, 1939. May 11th was his first day at Pabst. 

Karl began his work at Pabst as a union worker feeding bottles to the bottle soaker. After two months on that job, he was assigned the task of studying a tunnel pasteurizer for cans. After his successful filtration experiment, within one month, he was made foreman of the department. There were 38 brewers working there - 37 Germans and 1 American. 

Following the filtration assignment, Karl was promoted to record keeping in Fermenting. He was later promoted to Assistant to the Superintendent and became a “troubleshooter”. His title was later changed to Assistant Superintendent. His next promotion was to Malt House Superintendent. He was transferred from there to the brewhouse, cellars, and bottle house. 

1942 - On June 6th, he was transferred to the Pabst Brewery, iPeoria, Illinois as Plant Production Manager. Following his stint in Peoria, he moved back to Milwaukee as head maltster. He was Assistant Superintendent of the Malt House and Brewhouse until 1948

1948 - Karl was promoted to Superintendent of the Los Angeles Plant for Pabst until 1956. In 1955, he began working between Milwaukee and L.A. His task in Milwaukee was the coordinator of plant operations and planning. 

1959 - Pabst merged with Blatz and Karl became the Technical Director.

1960 - Jim Scheckan retired and Karl was promoted to Vice President of Production.

1983 - After 44 years at Pabst, 23 as VP of Production, Karl retired from Pabst. He began a consulting career within the industry. His consulting included Kurth Malting, Molson (Montreal, Canada.) As the Oldenburg Brewery, Covington, KY, was being designed by Bishoopric (Enerfab), Karl was asked to assist in the design and start up. IN this way, Karl became a mover of the Craft Brewing Tide, which swept the US. Karl can count over 50 pub and microbreweries he designed and started together with JV Northwest. 

1989 - Karl’s cousin, Chris Cramer, wanted to start a Brewery Restaurant concept. Karl assisted in the design and start up. When they needed a name, he asked Karl if he would lend his name. The award-winning Karl Strauss Breweries in California now have six brewpubs and one microbrewery. 

Karl is the senior member of the Weihenstephan Alumni Association, an organization of 1500 graduates of the TU Munich, Weihenstephan brewing school. Karl is past president of the Master Brewers Association and the only person ever to receive the Award of Merit and Award of Honor from MBAA. Karl is a founding member of the Museum of Beer & Brewing.

Karl received this permanent award in his name from the Museum of Beer & Brewing because of his fortitude, professionalism, knowledge, and outstanding brewmaster skills. HIs life emulates the highest ideals of our brewing culture!