By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com San Diego Editor
Scott Watkins, the PubClub.com San Diego Bar Manager of the Month for December, used to go home smelling like beer.
It’s not because he was always heavily drinking the stuff, forcing him to make excuses to his wife. It was because he was learning how to make and appreciate beer at the then newly opened Ocean Beach Brewing Company. The brewmaster, Jim Millea, used to let him put in the hops and lean over the boiling kettle to soak in the aroma.
“I would put my face there, my glasses would get fogged up and it was just an amazing smell,” he said. “My whole face would be glistening with hop oils. We called it the ‘hop spa.’ I would go home and my wife would say ‘you’re glowing today.’ ”
He is now now a General Manager of Karl Strauss Brewing Company and sure has come a long way from when he was drinking the likes of Milwaukee’s Best while a student at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff. Watkins is running the downtown location for the company that is credited with starting the craft beer craze in San Diego. It was a career milestone for a beer lover to land a job at this legendary and well-respected brewery.
“I was super stoked when it came up, of course, how could you turn down that offer,?” he said. “I accepted it immediately.”
His favorite part of the job? Making sure his customers are happy with their beer. He does that with the ease that a bird flies or a surfer catches a wave. I know that from personal experience because when I told him I like West Coast IPAs, he poured me a Karl Strauss Tower X while describing it it with such detail I felt like I was a student in a craft beer class.
“I like to talk to a guest and ask them what they like,” he said. “One of my favorite things in the last 10 years of working at breweries is finding that palate that matches you.”
He also believes that a well-trained, happy staff makes for happy customers.
Watkins first got interested in beer when he was handed a brew other than a Milwaukee’s Best, which he was drinking while in college.
“Somebody turned me onto Sierra Nevada Pale Ale and that was my first snippet of drinking a really good quality beer,” he said. “I was like “wow, this is what beer is supposed to taste like!’
“Soon after that I had a job at Beaver Street Brewing Company in Flagstaff. I was part of the opening crew in ’94 and my love for beer grew from there. I lived above the brewery – yes it was very, very dangerous (said with a laugh) – and I would wake up in the morning and say ‘they are brewing a stout today.’ At that point, I was 100% hooked.”
In 2000, he moved to San Diego with his wife and eventually started working at one of San Diego’s legendary live music venues, Croce’s in the Gaslamp Quarter. For those not familiar, Croce’s was the creation of famous folk singer Jim Croce (“Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown,” “Operator,” “Time In A Bottle”) and his wife Ingrid. Tragically, tho, Jim died in a plane crash just prior to its opening yet Ingrid kept it going and it became a destination for famous musicans far and wide for the next 31 years. Arlo Guthrie, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, James Taylor — you name it – all played there. For Watkins and everyone else, working there was, well, like living time in a bottle.
“Gilbert Castellanos, probably the best trumpet player in America, played every Friday or Saturday,” Watkins said. “It was really a special time. Not only was it an incredible restaurant but the jazz club was spitting out incredible jazz music.”
From there, Watkins helped to open OB Brewing and then moved onto Karl Strauss in November of 2024, becoming GM in May of 2025. He’s the PubClub.com San Diego Bar Manager of the Month for December because his love and appreciation for beer makes its way to his customers. Go in and let him recommend a pint or two that fits your tastes.
Name: Scott Watkins
Occupation: General Manager
Bar/Restaurant: Karl Strauss Brewing Company downtown, 1157 Columbia St.
Hometown: Orange County, CA. Went to school at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ
How Long Have You Been In San Diego? Since 2000
Personality: I’m kind of an easy going guy.
Favorite Beer To Recommend To Customers: My favorite thing to do is talk to the guests and find out beer what they like and recommend a beer that matches them.
Favorite Beer To Drink: West Coast IPA (Tower X at Karl Strauss)
Things You Like To Do When Not Working: I used to be a rock climber. I love heights. I play the guitar. I hang out with my wife, go to movies and walk along the beach.
Instagram: @karlstraussbeer
TikTok: @karlstraussbeer
READ MORE ABOUT SAN DIEGO’S BAR MANAGERS & BARTENDERS
• Meet “Cute Kate” of Miss B’s, the September Bartender of the Month
• Meet Gary of The Smoking Gun the October Manager of the Month
• Meet Natalie of 710 Beach Club the November Bartender of the Month
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