Image Credit: There San Diego
(North County Beat) – Karl Strauss Brewing Company has permanently closed its outdoor beer garden, The Outpost, in San Marcos, less than a year after it first opened its doors. The Outpost, located on Amorlite Drive, was launched in October 2023 as a test concept and was the brewery’s ninth overall location and its fifth in San Diego County.
Initially, The Outpost operated with limited hours, opening only from Wednesday through Sunday, with plans for expansion. However, earlier this month, Karl Strauss Brewing announced that it had decided to shift focus back to its other locations, leading to the closure of The Outpost.
Fred Glick, Vice President of Brewpubs at Karl Strauss, explained the reasoning behind the closure, stating, “We had hoped to evolve this concept, but the challenges of operating a fully outdoor space, coupled with the hurdles that needed to be overcome for further development, led us to the difficult decision to end this experiment.” He further elaborated that while the outdoor tasting room provided a unique experience, the company’s full-service brewpubs offer a more effective way to engage with customers through their award-winning beers and exceptional service.
The Outpost featured a custom cargo container for beer service and the company’s first-ever food truck, offering visitors a range of outdoor amenities including seating, umbrellas, tents, cornhole games, and fire pits, all spread across an 85,000-square-foot area.
Despite the closure, Karl Strauss is offering The Outpost’s 11 employees opportunities to transfer to other locations within the company. Jennifer Briggs, the acting Chief Experience Officer, expressed gratitude for the community’s support, stating, “We sincerely appreciate the support of the San Marcos community during our time at The Outpost. While The Outpost experiment is ending, Karl Strauss beer is available at our full-service brewpub locations, retailers, and other local establishments.”
Karl Strauss continues to operate brewpubs in Carlsbad, Temecula, 4S Ranch, downtown San Diego, Sorrento Mesa, Anaheim, and Costa Mesa, maintaining a strong presence in Southern California.
