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Port Brewing Announces “Board Meeting”

Imperial brown ale brewed with coffee and cocoa is brewery’s first addition to its year-round line-up in two years

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Award-winning craft brewery Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey today announced a new addition to its portfolio produced under the company’s Port Brewing label. Board Meeting Brown Ale, an imperial brown ale brewed with coffee and cocoa nibs, will join Port favorites Wipeout IPA, Shark Attack Imperial Red, Old Viscosity and Mongo Double IPA, as a year-round offering from the brewery in February 2013. It is the first new beer to be added to the Port Brewing regular line-up since Mongo’s release in early 2010.

Board Meeting Imperial Brown Ale label
Board Meeting Imperial Brown Ale (click for full sized image)

“Between our Lost Abbey and Port Brewing labels we produce a really broad variety of beers; over three dozen in all,” said Port Brewing director of brewery operations, Tomme Arthur. “Interestingly, we’ve never produced a brown ale, so Board Meeting seemed a natural fit in our portfolio.”

Port Brewing beers are typically boldly-flavored American and hop-forward West Coast style ales or lagers, and Board Meeting Brown Ale is no exception. An amplified brown ale, the beer is brewed with liberal additions of coffee from local San Diego roasters, Ryan Brothers, and cocoa nibs sourced from famed San Francisco chocolate maker TCHO. Alcohol by volume is 8.5%.

“Board Meeting offers the malty richness and assertive hop presence that you expect in an American brown ale, but enhanced with pronounced roasted coffee and bitter chocolate aromas and flavors,” Arthur said. “I think people will enjoy this beer by itself and at the table paired with meat dishes like pork, roasts and barbeque. I imagine it’d be pretty good washing down a sausage omelet at breakfast too.”

As with the other members of the Port Brewing year-round portfolio, Board Meeting brown ale will be available in 22 ounce bottles and on draft throughout the brewery’s distribution network. Consumers should expect to see it on tap in draft houses and on retailer’s shelves by mid February 2013.

About Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey produces an extensive line-up of continental and American-inspired ales and lagers. Under the direction of legendary brewmaster and co-founder Tomme Arthur, the brewery has garnered dozens of awards in its six year history including the 2007 Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year, and 2008 World Beer Cup Champion Small Brewery. The company’s beers, many of which are aged in oak barrels for 12 months or longer, are universally recognized for their complexity, unique flavors, and bold, boundary-pushing styles. For more information, contact Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey at 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, telephone (800) 918-6816, and on the web at www.lostabbey.com.

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The Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set Makes an Encore

Award-wining craft brewery to issue a special 13th Track; make select number of Collector’s Sets available to the general public on December 1, 2012.

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Don’t turn up the house lights yet because The Lost Abbey is returning to the stage with a grand finale to its multi-award-winning Ultimate Box Set. This Saturday, December 1, 2012, The Lost Abbey will release a previously unannounced 13th beer, aptly inspired by the 1979 hit “Message in a Bottle” by the Police. On the same day, the brewery will also make available a select number of Ultimate Box Set Collector’s Editions for purchase by the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Track 13 - The Bonus Track
“When we began the Box Set releases last January our plan was to release a bonus track and make a number of complete sets available to the general public at the end of the year,” said director of brewery operations Tomme Arthur. “But as the months progressed we began to worry that the demand was beyond our production levels and we weren’t going to be able to deliver complete sets to both those who reserved them during the year and have some left for the public in December. As a result we opted to make the sets available only to those who reserved them.”

To reserve a complete box set, patrons had to purchase one of the 350 bottles in each monthly Track release. The purchaser’s names were placed in a lottery, 45 were drawn and received the option to purchase a complete box sets at the end of the year.

The complete box sets were released to the winners this past weekend at a special party that let the winners go “backstage” at the brewery to meet Arthur and the other members of The Lost Abbey team.

“As luck would have it, between higher than anticipated yields on each Track, and some of the lottery winners opting to take less than their full entitlement, we can release a limited number of the complete Box Sets the general public,” Arthur said.

The Collector’s Edition Box Sets include all 13 beers released throughout the year, a hand-built and individually numbered Lost Abbey road case, and an album-style book created by Grammy® Award-winning designer Matt Taylor of Varnish Studio. The book includes detailed descriptions of each Track, album cover art for each beer’s label, “liner notes” from Arthur, and a faux The Lost Abbey vinyl record.

Individual bottles of Track 13 and the complete Box Set Collector’s editions will go on sale in The Lost Abbey tasting room at 10am PST December 1, 2012. A total of 350 bottles of Track 13 will be available for purchase and must be consumed in the tasting room. At the time of this release, the total number of complete Box Sets available for public purchase this weekend is still being determined. However, the final amount will extremely limited and available strictly on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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For general release-day information, please call (925)-Boxset1 (269-7381) or email: LABoxSet@Gmail.com. For media inquries, photo requests, etc., please click here.

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Track 12 of The Ultimate Box Set Releases Saturday, November 24

This Saturday, November 24, 2012 we’re releasing the twelfth beer in our Ultimate Box Set series. Track 12 is a Fresh Track; a non-fruited sour that’s a blend of three beers aged in oak barrels and inspired by Black Sabbath’s epic 1980 hit Heaven and Hell.

Ultimate Box Set Track 12 - Heaven and Hell
The epic culmination of our Ultimate Box Set; Track 12 is an inspired new sour designed for Sinners and Saints Alike

For Track 12 we created a new beer – a non-fruited sour made from a blend of Avant Garde, a previously unreleased sour brown ale, and a splash of Gift of the Magi. Aged in oak barrels the beer offers a musty nose followed by a compelling mélange of sweet and sour flavors.

Among all the Tracks we have released this year (many of which are now medal winners), the DOBO feels that Track 12 is the one that offers the most intriguing possibilities for the long run. We think all you Sinners and you Saints are really going to enjoy this one.

You’ll find the beer details (blend, ABV, liner notes, album art, etc.) on the website here. Details on the other Box Set beers can be found on the Box Set home page.

The tasting room doors will open at 10:00 am for this special event. As with all Box Set releases, the beers must be consumed on site the same day. Unopened bottles may not be carried out. Each bottle is 375ml and is $15 each.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Track 12 release day coincides with the release of the complete Ultimate Box Set Collections for those who won opportunities in the lotteries. As with past lotteries, we will draw 45 names from those who purchase a bottle of Track 12 during the release. Unlike past lotteries, however, the Track 12 lottery winners will be “instant winners” – i.e., they will be able to purchase and take home an Ultimate Box Set Collection the same day.

If you’re a Track 12 lottery winner and want to purchase the complete collection please be prepared to take your collection home the same day.

For collection pricing, contents and other details, please click here.

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Ultimate Box Set Track 11 Releases November 10, 2012

This Saturday, November 10, 2012 we’re releasing the eleventh beer in our Ultimate Box Set series. This one is a Re-mix Track that’s a experimental nod to Charlie Daniels’ Southern rock classic, The Devil Went Down to Georgia.

Track 11

Round the mountain and run boy run, if you want a chance at a complete Box Set, this is your last one.

Track 11 is an experimental re-mix track — Angel’s Share aged in fresh bourbon barrels with an addition of fresh sliced peaches and a splash of Brettanomyces Clausenni to kick it up a notch.

You’ll find the beer details (blend, ABV, liner notes, album art, etc.) on the website here. Details on the other Box Set beers can be found on the Box Set home page.

The tasting room doors will open at 10:30 am for this special event. As with all Box Set releases, the beers must be consumed on site, same day. Unopened bottles may not be carried out. Each bottle is 375ml and is $15 each.

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All Star Chefs For Barrel Night 2012

The Olympians, the 1992 Dream Team, the Justice League of America, Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis — rarely do such groups of superheroes come together, but when they do, the results are never anything short of awesome. For this year’s sojourn into the storied Lost Abbey barrel archives we’ve lined up a world class team of chefs to create a Tapas-style menu of amazing foods to pair with our rare beers.

The All Star Chefs of 2012 Barrel Night

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet the All Star Chefs of Barrel Night 2012…

  • Brandon Brooks
    Executive Chef, Sol Markets
  • Nick Brune
    Executive Chef, Local Habit
  • Sara Glidwell
    The Toronado
  • Aaron Kurth
    Executive Sous Chef, Small Bar / Hamilton’s Tavern
  • Shawna McIntosh
    Owner & Executive Chef, Little Mac Productions
  • Matt Morrison
    Private chef
  • Colin Murray
    Executive Chef, Brooklyn girl
  • Ian Smith
    Owner/Chef, Swoon Dessert Bar

And leading the evening’s events:

Nate Soroko
Toronado Islander

We know… it’s an amazing line-up and we’re honored to have such a group performing their magic at our events. It promises to be two evenings of simply incredible food and beers. There are still a couple more tickets available for Sunday night.

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6th Annual Barrel Night Event

Join us on our 6th annual adventure into fabled Lost Abbey barrel archives for a unique exploration of rare beers paired with an eclectic selection of fine foods

Once again we’ll be celebrating San Diego Beer Week — this time with two very special evenings of rare beers and fine foods. Limited to 150 people per evening, guests will be treated to barrel-aged beers selected from the recesses of our archives by brewmaster Tomme Arthur and paired with a one-of-a-kind Tapas-style menu prepared by guest chefs. Everyone in attendance will also receive a 750ml bottle of our extremely limited Veritas 011.

The Details

  • What: Lost Abbey Annual Barrel Night 2012
  • When: Nov. 3, 2012 / Nov. 4, 2012 – 7pm to 10pm
    (Both evenings will be identical)
  • Where: The Lost Abbey / Port Brewing, San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
  • How Much: $100 per ticket; maximum of four tickets.

Tickets go on sale Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 4pm PDT and must be purchased online.

Because of strong demand we are doing two evenings, however, we still expect tickets to sell out very quickly., so make sure to purchase your tickets early!

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The Lost Abbey to Release Ultimate Box Set Collector’s Edition November 24

Craft Brewery will culminate its yearlong special release series with a limited edition collector’s set

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – October 17, 2012 — Bringing its 12-month paean to classic rock anthems to a shuddering crescendo, The Lost Abbey will issue the complete Ultimate Box Set as a special collector’s edition on November 24, 2012. Limited to a total of 500 publicly available sets, the collector’s edition will include each of the 12 special edition brews (aka: “Tracks” 1 through 12), a custom-designed album sleeve with the full-sized art used on each of the beer labels and liner notes from the brewers — all packaged in hand-built, numbered metal road cases. The Box Set case and album sleeve were designed by Grammy® award-winning art director Matt Taylor of Varnish Studio in collaboration with John Schulz of StudioSchulz. Each of the Sets will cost $450 and be available only by lottery drawing.

The Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set Collector's Edition - Photo Credit: StudioSchulz
The Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set Collector’s Edition | Photo Credit: StudioSchulz

The Ultimate Box Set releases began in January of 2012 with the brewery releasing one beer every month with names inspired by classic rock songs invoking Heaven or Hell. The beers covered the full gamut of The Lost Abbey’s signature stylings — fruit and spiced, wood-aged, sours, wild, and spontaneously-fermented ales. Each was issued in 375ml corked, hood-and-wire format, included original label art, and was limited to a total run of approximately 1,000 bottles; 350 of which were sold in the brewery tasting room and had to be consumed onsite. The remaining bottles, reserved for the upcoming collector’s sets, will be the only full bottles ever allowed to leave the brewery.

“This is the most ambitious project we’ve ever undertaken,” said Tomme Arthur, director of brewery operations for The Lost Abbey, and the mind behind the Ultimate Box Set. “Not only have we produced 12 exceptional rare beers, but the original label art and stories associated with each, along with the one-of-a-kind hand-built road cases brought the entire concept together beyond anything I’ve encountered in my near 20 years of brewing. It really is the Ultimate Box Set.”

Because of the extremely limited nature of the collector’s sets, the brewery will not put them into general distribution. Rather, the 500 will be allocated to the public via a lottery with names drawn from patrons who purchased individual Track releases each month in the tasting room. Two lottery drawings still remain allowing those who purchase Track 10 in October and Track 11 in November an opportunity for a full collector’s set.

The final release in the set, Track 12, will issue on November 24, coinciding with the complete collector’s set. This Track, as with the earlier individual releases, will be available to the general public in the tasting room and must be consumed on site. More information on the beer will be posted on The Lost Abbey website in mid-November.

About Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey produces an extensive line-up of award-winning ales and lagers. Under the direction of legendary brewmaster and co-founder Tomme Arthur, the brewery was named 2007 Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year, and 2008 World Beer Cup Champion Small Brewery. The company’s beers, many of which are aged in oak barrels for 12 months or longer, are universally recognized for their complexity, unique flavors, and bold, boundary-pushing styles. For more information, contact Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey at 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, telephone (800) 918-6816, and on the web at www.lostabbey.com.

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GABF Recap: Four Medals and Abbey Found

For those of you who missed it, our annual pilgrimage to the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) landed our brew crew a total of four medals, and resulted in one really lucky guy landing himself an Ultimate Box Set.

GABF Medals:

  • Bronze – Track 8 (Category 14: Experimental Ales and Lagers)
  • Bronze – Hot Rocks Lager (Category 16: Indigenous Beers)
  • Silver – Red Poppy (Category 19: American Style Sour)
  • Gold – Saint’s Devotion (Category 70: Belgian Style Ale)
Our Brew Crew accepting their Awards at GABF
The brew crew accepting awards at GABF. From left: Tomme, Gwen, Charlie Papazian, Gordon (hiding behind Charlie), Matt, Mike (reclining) and Greg

Last Friday, the day before the awards, Tomme posted his thoughts on all the beers we entered. If you didn’t read it, check it out. In hindsight the DOBO was pretty dead on.

Congrats to our whole brew team on an awesome showing (and second highest medal count) at the GABF!

Abbey Got Found

While the brew boys (and girl) were lapping the stage, out in downtown Denver we were playing “The Hunt For Lost Abbey” – a sort of “Where’s Waldo” with craft beer. Players were given clues where to stop to “find Abbey.” if they checked at the right location(s), they had a chance to win Lost Abbey wearables, schwag, and beer. The first to check in at all seven locations and find Abbey, won their very own Ultimate Box Set.

Hunt for Lost Abbey Winner Michael Kearns(L) with “Abbey” (aka our Ryan Tillotson)

Abbey was ultimately “found” first on Saturday afternoon at Falling Rock Tap House, by Denver resident (and future brewer) Michael Kearns. Congratulations to Michael and everyone who played.

And a big note of thanks to our check-in venues who helped us out — The Cheeky Monk, Euclid Hall, Falling Rock, Freshcraft, Lucky Pie and Taphouse, and Star Bar. Make sure to drop by and say hello to them whenever you’re in Denver.

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Ultimate Box Set Track 10 Releases October 20, 2012

This Saturday, October 20, 2012 we’re releasing the tenth beer in our Ultimate Box Set series. This one is a Fresh Track that’s an ode to the Meatlof operatic 1977 rock anthem, Bat Out of Hell.

You’ll probably want to get Track 10 sooner rather than later because, like the song says, this one will probably be gone when the morning comes.

Track 10 is a big coffee and cacao beer that began as a fresh Serpent Stout base sent to age in four hand-selected bourbon barrels. Then, to maximize the flavors, 17lbs of coffee and 4lbs of cacao nibs were added shortly before bottling.

You’ll find the beer details (blend, ABV, liner notes, album art, etc.) on the website here. Details on the other Box Set beers can be found on the Box Set home page.

The tasting room doors will open at 10:30 am for this special event. As with all Box Set releases, the beers must be consumed on site, same day. Unopened bottles may not be carried out. Each bottle is 375ml and is $15 each.