Credit: Karl Strauss Brewing Company

The Godfather is a pilsner that tastes best when served cold.

After escaping Nazi Germany in 1939, finding his way to Milwaukee, and working his way up the ranks at Pabst Brewing Company, Karl Strauss joined his cousin in San Diego, where they established his namesake brewery in 1989. Now, 35 years later, Strauss is being posthumously honored with The Godfather Italian Pilsner, a collaboration between his former brewery and Societe Brewing.

“Karl Strauss stands alone as the only individual to receive all three of the Master Brewers Association’s top awards — a testament to his unparalleled contributions to brewing,” explains Ryan Murphy, Product Development Manager at Karl Strauss. “These accolades are more than trophies; they symbolize the brewing industry’s dedication to quality, which is a philosophy that Karl Strauss helped shape, and one that continues to drive the craft community today,”

Continues Murphy, “The resurgence of interest in pilsners and their contemporary cousins like Hoppy Lagers and India Pale Lagers highlights the consumer’s preference for a light, crisp beer. The release of The Godfather is perfectly timed for Spring and offers a modern twist on a classic style that honors Karl’s lasting impact on the world of craft beer.”

The 6.0% ABV pilsner, brewed with Aramis and Saphir hops and Bohemian Pils malts, delivers floral, citrus, and light malt notes before a crisp, slightly bitter finish. Those ingredients, along with a European lager yeast strain, are integral to the two breweries’ attempt “to evoke the sensation of sitting on a sunny, colorful patio on Italy’s Amalfi Coast and ordering a refreshing pilsner.”

The Godfather marks the second collaboration between Karl Strauss and Societe, but this one appears to be more well-timed, according to Murphy. “We first did one together in 2020, which was interrupted by the COVID pandemic. It was still a successful launch, but we knew our fans could not enjoy it the way it was intended — amongst friends, or out-and-about. Luckily, The Godfather can be enjoyed this way. We really like hanging out with the crew at Societe, so it felt natural to work on another brew with them.”

Karl Strauss and Societe make you a pilsner you can't refuse.

Credit: Karl Strauss Brewing Company

Such mutual respect was beneficial to the brewing process. Murphy says, “Everything we decided was done with mutual agreement from all team members. We feel it’s important to have individuals from multiple departments, including brewers, marketing, production, and even our COO, be part of the collaboration process. Before we set out to collaborate (or make any new beer), we first start with our Research & Development Brewer. They work closely with our Master and Head Brewer, as well as the Societe team, to lay out a plan and a few different collaboration ideas. We start with multiple small batches, and, when completed, pull the team to evaluate them. At that point, we determine if we need additional rounds of more small-batch brews, or if we are ready to scale up the recipe for production at our main Brewhouse. We made two small-batch brews for this collaboration, settled on this amazing Italian Pilsner recipe, and took it into full production.”

The Godfather is available in 16-ounce 4-packs and on tap at all Karl Strauss locations.