Victor Montero: Leading With Heart at Karl Strauss Temecula
The private event space at Karl Strauss Temecula carried a comfortable buzz that afternoon, the scent of craft beer mingling with the savory aroma of grilled specialties. Sitting inside a booth adorned with an image of gleaming Karl Strauss bottles, General Manager Victor Montero folded his hands beneath the table, reflecting a calm confidence. He wore a Karl Strauss hoodie, and his smile was as warm as the atmosphere he helped cultivate.
Victor had joined Karl Strauss barely a year prior, but his swift rise to general manager suggested a level of commitment and leadership experience that was anything but ordinary.
“I’ve been the general manager here at Karl Strauss Temecula since October of 2023,” he stated, voice steady despite admitting he felt a bit of nervousness talking on camera. With a genuine laugh, he mentioned how conversation was essentially his job, and any apprehension quickly melted away as he started speaking passionately about his journey.
Before Karl Strauss, Victor had been working at Starbucks, poised to become a store manager. He described how he initially took on a side gig at Karl Strauss, but soon realized that the brewery’s environment and core values resonated with him more deeply than the corporate path he had followed.
“I ended up moving up really fast,” he explained. “I was offered a supervisor role, then an assistant manager position in Costa Mesa. Within months, a general manager position opened up in Temecula, and my boss said, ‘Here’s the job if you want it, but you have thirty days to move.’” Victor chuckled softly at the memory, recalling his scramble to relocate from Orange County. “I did it in record time. I moved in twenty days,” he said, a hint of pride in his tone.
Though the transition felt sudden, he was grateful to share the experience with his fiancée, a milestone he was proud to be celebrating during this new chapter. Victor shared that Temecula made him feel right at home. The slower pace, cleaner streets, and sense of community stood out. “Going to the grocery store or Costco in Orange County was shoulder to shoulder,” he recounted. “Temecula’s a blessing. I love it here.”
Slightly pivoting in his seat, he reflected on his lifelong background in leadership. From his first job at Knott’s Berry Farm onward, Victor found himself in supervisory or managerial roles. Yet he resisted labeling himself a “badass,” a label that we felt befitting given his background. “I learned by making mistakes and taking risks. I used to speak my mind no matter what, but now I realize timing is everything. Being a leader means knowing when to speak and when to listen.”
His time at Karl Strauss hasn’t been without its challenges. Arriving from the Costa Mesa location, he initially assumed the same strategies would apply in Temecula. “That didn’t work out too well,” he said with a subdued laugh. “My employees said, ‘No, you just got here. You don’t know how we do things at this store.’ I had to set aside my ego, acknowledge I was new, and earn their respect rather than force it.”
When asked how his employees might describe him, Victor’s earnest nature surfaced. “I think they’d say I’m all about accountability,” he answered. “But it’s not just for them; it’s for me, too. If I make a mistake, I own it. The key is admitting there’s a problem before we can fix it.”
His approach as a manager mirrors his role as a mentor and coach. With two managers recently transferred to help open Karl Strauss’ new Corona location, Victor faces the task of developing a new managerial team. He emphasized the importance of self-awareness, humility, and learning from errors. “The best leaders will sometimes make bad decisions. The difference is they own them and improve.”
Slight amusement flickered in his eyes as he detailed the qualities that set Karl Strauss apart from other companies he had worked for, including big-name brands like Starbucks.
“Karl Strauss feels less corporate. We have these core values that really mean something—K is for ‘Kare for each other, our community and the environment,’ A is for ‘Authentic relationships based on trust and integrity,’ R is for ‘Respect, share and enjoy our craft,’ L is for ‘Learn, improve and grow.’ I’m passionate about them because it’s more than just selling beer; it’s about
making real human connections. We might talk about sales numbers, sure, but at the end of the day, we’re here to make people happy, one beer at a time.”
He nodded toward a wall displaying framed photographs of Karl Strauss’ signature ales. “When people come in, I don’t just want them to think of the brewery. I want them to think of Temecula, to think of a place they can share stories, meet great staff, and enjoy good food. My boss, Michael Brooks, always says, ‘We don’t take ourselves too seriously.’ We come in, we do our jobs with integrity, but we also have fun. And that’s exactly what I love about it.”
His respect for the crew echoed in every statement. He saw them as collaborators, not subordinates, a reflection of his personal leadership skills. “Happy employees make happy guests,” he offered, as though it were the most natural logic in the world. And for Victor, it was.
When asked about the future, he leaned forward. “I don’t see myself going anywhere else. This is my home right now.” He smiled, a calm assurance in his gaze, as though he were envisioning the years ahead in Temecula. “I’m excited about what’s next, but in the meantime, I’m here.”
With a final pause, he wanted to invite the community to experience Karl Strauss first-hand. “Come meet me, come meet Andrew, my assistant manager, come meet all our amazing employees. We’re about good food, great beer, but most importantly, about making real connections. You’ll feel it the second you step inside.”
In the warmly lit booth, Victor’s blend of amiable friendliness and professional acumen seemed to epitomize what Karl Strauss strives for; authentic relationships, mutual respect, and a promise to keep growing. And just as he spoke about accountability and humility, he raised his glass for a celebratory cheers, a fitting gesture for a leader whose dedication to both his team and his patrons shines through in every interaction
Visit Karl Strauss at 40868 Winchester Rd, Temecula, CA.
Watch Victor’s full interview here: Victor Montero: Leading with Heart at Karl Strauss Temecula
