Follow the Sun Lager is Karl Strauss’s newer core beer, a light-bodied American lager built on a rice base for maximum refreshment. At 4.2% ABV it is the lightest beer in the brewery’s core lineup, aimed squarely at warm days and long sessions. The brewery describes it with crisp malt, citrus, and floral aromas, and a subtle hop bitterness. It is available on draft and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans at the brewery’s nine Southern California locations.

The basics

• Brewery: Karl Strauss Brewing Company (San Diego, CA)
• Style: American Lager
• ABV: 4.2%
• IBU: 11

What to expect

Follow the Sun pours a pale straw with a bright white head and lively carbonation. The nose is clean and light, with crisp malt and a hint of citrus and floral hops. On the palate it is light-bodied and easy, with soft malt up front, a gentle citrus lift, and just enough hop bitterness to keep it crisp. The finish is clean and dry, and the beer disappears faster than you expect. It is not a beer built for contemplation. It is built for a second round, a beach chair, and a hot afternoon.

Our rating

6.0/10

Rated by Alex (5) and Nick (7). Nick scored this one higher than Alex did, and the split makes sense. The crisp, clean refreshment is the draw here, and Nick clearly liked what it brings on a warm day. Alex scored it lower, and the likely reason is that Follow the Sun is a deliberately simple beer: light malt, light hops, light everything, and drinkers who want more character will find it plain. We think the score lands about right. It is a well-made light lager that does its job without showing off. It will not change your mind about lagers, but it will not let you down either.

Sources: TapHunter, Karl Strauss Brewing Company beer list, https://www.taphunter.com/brewery/karl-strauss-brewing-company/4025 ; Karl Strauss Core Product Training, https://prezi.com/p/ly9tpcufzrga/karl-strauss-core-product-training/ ; BeerAdvocate, Karl Strauss Brewing Company beer list, https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/4146/?view=beers