The 2024 San Diego Beer News Awards Ceremony was held on March 26, celebrating the contributions of breweries and brewmasters in the San Diego region. Chula Vista native Paul Segura, who has worked in the local industry for 30 years, received the Vanguard Brewer Award, the third person in the industry to be recognized with this lifetime achievement award. Segura has worked for Karl Strauss for 24 years as the company’s brewmaster.
Karl Strauss is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. Founded in February 1989 in downtown San Diego by Karl Strauss’ cousin Chris Cramer and his friend Matt Rattner. Carmer presented the Vanguard Brewer Award to Segura at the ceremony.
Segura said though he is celebrating his 30th year of professional brewing, he started in 1989 as a home brewer, starting commercially in 1994.
“I wanted to stay in San Diego. There were five or six breweries in San Diego at that time, and now there are 170. None of them were hiring, so I had to go out to Phoenix for my first job,” he said.
Segura said the company he was with acquired a brewery in the San Diego Gaslamp District, RJ’s Riptide, so they converted it into Hops! Bistro & Brewery. After a few years, David and Leslie Cohn, who own many restaurants in San Diego, purchased it and asked him to stay on as their brewer. They converted it into Hang Ten Brewing Company. In late 1999, they closed the location due to the massive construction going on in the area. He stopped working there and immediately went to Karl Strauss in early 2000.
“Karl was my boss for the first six or seven years here. When he passed away, I became brewmaster,” he said. “In the 24 years that I have been here, I have been an instructor at UCSD. I am now on the board of trustees at the Mesa College brewing program. I have been doing the 91X “Beer for Breakfast” for 11 years. I have been judging all around the world. The World Beer Cup, the Great American Beer Festival, the Australian International Beer Awards, two separate competitions in Mexico, and this year I will be judging the European Beer Star. So, I have been an ambassador of San Diego brewing all over the world,” he said.
Segura said it is important to him to raise money for local causes here in San Diego.
“I think we have raised nearly $375,000,” he said. “For the local Surfrider Foundation San Diego County. We brewed a beer specifically to put bicycle lanes in Pacific Beach. We have helped local bands by having free events for the public where the bands can come and play. Local artists, a place where they can put their art on display.”
“All of that combined is what I believed earned me the Vanguard Award,” he continued. “I am extremely flattered. And, the previous two winners, the first one was Tomme Arthur, formally of Pizza Port, then Lost Abbey. The second was Jeff Bagby, formally of Pizza Port, then Bagby Brewing Company. Those guys are world-renowned brewers in their own right. Just to be mentioned in the same sentence with those guys, is an honor in of itself. I am honored and flattered that the public voted for me on this. People out there thought I was deserving of this. When really, all I have tried to do is make really good beer, teach people about beer, and help our local communities. The communities that have supported our brewery for 35 years now.”
Since Segura’s beginnings in the industry, the brewery industry has grown exponentially.
When asked about what he tells his students who are wanting to enter the industry.
“I am telling them that now that there is still not really a small brewery in every neighborhood. The market is saturated with craft brewers. There are some suburbs in San Diego that are supporting several breweries right now, and there are some suburbs who have no breweries. But also, I am telling the students that all the craft breweries combined are still only 20% of the total, 80% is the large breweries. That tells us that there is still some market share to be gained, there is still some education that could take place. Lead people to more flavorful beer, and beer that pairs better with food,” he said.
Segura’s latest beer releases are The Godfather Italian Pilsner, brewed in collaboration with Societe Brewing Co., and pays homage to the brewery’s namesake, Master Brewer Karl M. Strauss. He also released Follow the Sun Lager as a new core year-round beer a few weeks ago.
“The words ‘crisp,’ ‘clean,’ and ‘refreshing’ are thrown around a lot with lagers, but we really feel like we hit that trifecta with this beer. Karl has been a staple in San Diego in 1989, and Follow the Sun symbolizes our passion for sharing not only our craft, but a piece of the beautiful city we get to call home with people from all over,” said Segura.
