SAN MARCOS — Karl Strauss Brewing Company permanently closed The Outpost beer garden in San Marcos on Sunday, less than a year after the test concept was opened along Amorlite Drive.
The Outpost opened in October 2023 as the ninth Karl Strauss location overall and the fifth in San Diego County. While it started with limited hours Wednesday through Sunday and was intended to expand, Karl Strauss Brewing announced earlier this month that it has decided to focus on its other locations.
“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,” said Fred Glick, Karl Strauss Vice President of Brewpubs. “While we loved sharing our beer in an outdoor tasting room environment, the reality is that our full-service brewpubs really allow us to better connect with our guests through our award-winning beers and outstanding service.”
The Outpost served beer from a custom cargo container and bites out of the company’s first-ever food truck. Visitors were able to enjoy outdoor seating, umbrellas and tents, cornhole, and fire pits at the 85,000-square-foot space.
The location’s 11 employees are eligible for jobs at other Karl Strauss locations, the company said.
“We sincerely appreciate the support of the San Marcos community during our time at The Outpost,” said acting Chief Experience Officer Jennifer Briggs. “While The Outpost experiment is ending, Karl Strauss beer is available at our full-service brewpub locations, retailers, and other local establishments.”
Other Karl Strauss brewpubs are open in Carlsbad, Temecula, 4S Ranch, downtown San Diego, Sorrento Mesa, Anaheim, Costa Mesa
