Abbey Scribe – Page 4 – The Lost Abbey

March 12, 2012

Box Set Track 3 Releases Saturday, March 17

Double Sour Special Hours: Red Poppy Releases Same Day

This Saturday, March 17, 2012 will mark the release of our third track in our now famed Ultimate Box Set series.

Track 3, a tribute to AC/DC’s head-banging anthem Hell’s Bells, is a pale sour and the second of our Remixed Tracks. A blend of Mellow Yellow and Phunky Duck barrels, the beer details (blend, ABV, liner notes, album art, etc.) are on the website here.

special notes: Red Poppy will also be released on March 17, so we are doing things a bit differently. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR MORE INFO.

Extended Tasting Room Hours: Because we are expecting larger than usual crowds (two releases and St Patrick's Day), we will be opening our doors from 9am to 7pm. The MIHO Gastrotruck will be onsite with breakfast specials from 8am – 11am and a special lunch MENU from 11am -7pm.
Beer Reservations: We know many will want both Track 3 and Red Poppy, so we will begin IDing and wristbanding people for the beers at 8am. If you arrive early (i.e., before 9am) to ensure you get bottles, please line up on the loading ramp leading into the tasting room. As with previous releases you will be able to pay in line and be issued a ticket/receipt that ensures your allotment.
Allotments and Restrictions:
- Track 3 – As with all Box Set releases, the beers must be consumed on site, same day. Bottles may not be carried out. The bottles are 375ml and are $15 each.
- Red Poppy – As with past releases, Red Poppy is also 375ml bottles; $15 each with a six bottle per patron limit.(Yes, you can take Red Poppy away with you).
Special Taps: Red Poppy will be on draft as 4 ounce tasters only. Tasters are $3 each.

Because this event happens to coincide with St Patrick's Day, we expect larger that usual crowds after noon. If you wish to avoid the crowds and be assured of getting bottles of Track 3 / Red Poppy, we recommend that you arrive earlier rather than later.

February 17, 2012

Carnevale di Lost Abbey Masquerade Party 2012

You are cordially invited to celebrate the end of the Carnevale season with one last evening of celebration at The Lost Abbey’s famed Venetian masquerade ball on February 25, 2012 from 7pm to 11pm.

Among the 20-plus taps of fine Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey beers will be the premiere of the 2012 vintage of our GABF gold medal winning Lenten saison, Carnevale. We’ll also have fine food from Chef Jasón Dänderand and company, and live music courtesy of The Professors.

Beers are regular price, but for those properly attired for the masquerade (costume and mask), the food and entertainment are free. A $10 cash only cover charge applies to those without proper dress. 21 and over only please. Valid ID required.

NOTE: This is a very popular event, and food and space are limited, so it’s best to arrive early rather than late. Mark your calendars now!

Details:
What: 5th Annual Carnevale di Lost Abbey Masquerade
When: February 25, 7pm to 11pm
Where: The Lost Abbey, 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069

For directions to the brewery or more information, please vist our Contact Page.

Check out these photos from previous Carnevale Masquerades:

February 3, 2012

3/12 = 15

Hop 15 returns in a big way in March, 2012

The Hop Heads have spoken!

Out of just about 500 votes, nearly 90% of you wanted Hop 15 back. What’s more, most of you aren’t going to stand for this “oh it’s out there, but you can’t get it because it’s so limited.” No, you want it back in a big way – bottles and draft from coast to coast.

So that’s what you’re going to get.

We just got word from Production Head Honcho Gwen that the brewers will be clearing the decks at the end of this month and the first part of March to brew not one, but four – count `em, 4 – big, fat batches of Hop 15. (Some of the brewers aren’t so excited about having to make 60 trips up the brew platform — 15 hopping sessions per batch — but they could probably use the exercise anyway.)

With a run that big that means there’ll be enough to fill taps and shelves in all of our distribution regions north, south east and west!

Look for the Port Brewing fleet of hop bombers to be filling the skies over your neck of the woods in mid-to-late March.

January 25, 2012

Reader Poll: To Hop 15 or Not To Hop 15?

We have a quandary of sorts.

As you may know, we’re supposed to brew and release our epic double IPA, Hop 15, a couple of times a year — August and February. Well it’s almost February now, but we’re doing so well with our other double IPA, Mongo, that’s it a little difficult to justify tying up major tank time to brew a batch of an IPA that is, uhhh… let’s just say not for the faint of tongue. So there’s some back and forth going on behind the scenes as to what we should do.

Some of the crew says “Mongo be damned, we need to brew a big, fat batch of Hop 15 and get that hop monster out to our customers far and wide.” Another faction says “we can’t go without Mongo, let’s skip Hop 15 this time and maybe we’ll brew it in the summer.”

And then there’s a third, middle of the road group, that thinks brewing a smaller batch and sending it into limited (read: no bottles and who knows who will get it) distribution is the best solution.

Needless to say, we’re kind of at an impasse. So we’re kicking it to you, the consumer and asking what you think. Should we go whole-hop, half-hop or skip it altogether? Vote in the poll below and let us know.

Hop 15 or Not? — You decide

[poll id=”2″]

January 19, 2012

Box Set Track 1 Releases This Saturday

Box Set Play Label — Press Play and Let's Rock

This Saturday, January 21, 2012 will mark the release of the first track in our ultimate Box Set, kicking off a year-long series of super-limited beer releases inspired by those great anthem rock tunes of our youth. (Feel free to wave your lighters in the air… for you younger kids that’s what we waved at the concert before cell phones with big screens.)

Because the Box Set beers are so limited, the release process will be different than the usual, so we’ve posted everything you need to know on the Box Set page here.

On the same page you’ll also find details on Track 1, (aka Runnin’ With the Devil), which is one of the “Fresh Tracks“. It’s aged in wine barrels and spiked with Cab Sauvignon grapes and our own Brett cultures. Definitely a devilish brew…

Side note: because of some labeling “issues” with Track 1 (we’ll let you guess what they were), this release has a special label that will appear only on this version of the brew. The Full Box Set release of Track 1 will have a different label in line with the others.

January 17, 2012

And The Winner Is… Sunburned Monk

Central Californian wins The Lost Abbey’s first Commercial Conclave competition with story of surfing Good Samaritan

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Congratulations to Mario Gutierrez of Selma, California. His concept for a 30 second commercial titled “Sunburned Monk” was named the winner in The Lost Abbey’s first Commercial Conclave Competition.

The contest, which ran throughout the month of December, asked fans to submit their ideas for a 30 second to one minute commercial advertising Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey beers. The best concept, as determined by a panel of Port Brewing employees, will be produced as a broadcast commercial for the brewery with the winner on set with the cast and crew for the filming.

“We were really surprised at how many people submitted ideas, including full scripts and even some videos,” said Ryan Tillotson, The Lost Abbey’s multimedia supervisor and director for the upcoming shoot. “There were a lot of great submissions, but a few really stood out from the others,” he said.

Gutierrez’ concept, “Sunburned Monk”, a story of a beach-going monk who helps a surfer, was chosen for the “clever way it captured both the Port Brewing and Lost Abbey brands without a single word being spoken,” Tillotson said.

As grand prize winner, Gutierrez will receive an all expenses paid trip to San Diego, VIP treatment at the brewery, and go on set to assist in the filming of the commercial.

Production is scheduled to begin in February with the commercial premiering some time in late March or early April.

Two other winners were also named in the Conclave Competition. First runner up went to Simon Ford of San Pedro, California for his concept “Perfect Session”, in which the day of a Port Brewing brewer parallels a surfer’s perfect session on the water. Second runner up went to Dave A. Keenan (location unknown) for his submission, “Runaway Monk”, which details the “real” source of The Lost Abbey’s beers.

Both winners will have their concepts developed into commercial shorts later in the year.

December 19, 2011

The Lost Abbey Announces Ultimate “Box Set”

Craft Brewery will issue a limited edition music-inspired beer each month in 2012, culminating in a collector’s box set

SAN MARCOS, Calif. — Get ready to crank the stereo up to 12. In January 2012, The Lost Abbey will begin a year-long series of special edition beer releases inspired by classic rock anthems invoking Heaven and Hell. Each month the brewery will release one new beer, culminating in December with a complete boxed gift set of all twelve. Each “track” released will be limited to a total of 450 bottles and available exclusively in the brewery’s tasting room.

Three Collections
The Box Set releases are divided into three collections of four titles each:

Re-Masters – Barrel-aged spins of The Lost Abbey mainstays
Re-Mixes – New blends created from The Lost Abbey archives
Fresh Tracks – All new beers brewed specifically for Box Set

Each release will be offered in a 375ml corked, hood-and-wire format and include its own original art. Beers will represent the full gamut of The Lost Abbey’s signature stylings, including fruit and spiced beers, wood-aged brews, sours, wild, and spontaneously-fermented ales.

Tasting Room Only
Because of the extremely limited nature of these beers, there will be no general distribution of Box Set releases. Individual tracks, priced at $15 each, will be available exclusively in the brewery tasting room on a first come, first serve basis and will be required to be opened and consumed on premises to prevent unauthorized re-distribution. Empty bottles may be taken off premises but will include measures to prevent counterfeit re-packaging.

The first track, an ode to Van Halen’s 1978 anthem, “Runnin’ With The Devil”, is scheduled for release January 21, 2012. Details will be available on The Lost Abbey website in mid January.

Subsequent tracks will be released the third Saturday of each month throughout the year, culminating in the release of the full 12-bottle packaged gift set in early December.

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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For more information, please contact:
Sage Osterfeld, Media & Communications Liaison
sage@lostabbey.com
(800) 918-6816 x 104

December 13, 2011

We’re Coming to New Jersey!

Well, word is out — beginning in January, Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey will be distributing in New Jersey! Below is the official press release from our new distribution partners for the Garden State, Hunterdon Distributors.

(Note: Tomme will be heading East in early January to help celebrate our launch. Keep an eye on our events calendar for appearances in the area.)

Hunterdon Welcomes Port Brewing & The Lost Abbey to New Jersey

Phillipsburg, NJ – December 13, 2011 – The New Year will bring a wave of excitement to beer enthusiasts in New Jersey. Hunterdon Distributors is pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement to distribute the highly acclaimed beers of Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey. In addition to an assortment of their most well-known beers, the inaugural launch will feature a special draft-only release brewed exclusively for the New Jersey market. Official release parties have already been scheduled for the first week of 2012.

Based in San Diego and founded in 2006, Port Brewing Company is comprised of two of the most highly regarded labels in the country: Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey. The Port Brewing line includes more aggressive and assertively hopped American & West coast-style beers, while The Lost Abbey concentrates on a unique collection of barrel-aged and Belgian-style ales.

Led by Tomme Arthur, one of the nation’s most well-respected craft brewers, both brands have found their way to the top of the craft beer charts with dozens of medals and media accolades to speak of over the last five years. Port Brewing was awarded both “Small Brewery of the Year” and “Small Brewer of the Year” at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival and “Champion Brewery” and “Champion Brewmaster” in the Small Brewery category at the 2008 World Beer Cup. All of their products have received near-perfect ratings on both Ratebeer.com and Beer Advocate.

With distribution in only eight US markets, products from both Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey have become some of the most sought-after in the industry. The company has always taken a conservative approach to expansion while putting more emphasis on providing a unique and well crafted product. When the time came to open a new market on the East Coast, they felt New Jersey was a perfect fit.

As stated by Tomme Arthur: “Hunterdon’s reputation precedes it. A lot of our good friends in the brewing industry have their beer represented by Hunterdon and have nothing but good things to say about the company.”

Hunterdon Distributors is proud to be adding Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey to its already impressive product offering in the state of New Jersey. Please visit Hunterdon’s website at www.hunterdonbrewing.com as details regarding the official release parties will be posted soon.

About Hunterdon Distributors
Hunterdon was founded in 1996 and has grown steadily over the years into a company with sixty-five full-time employees. Hunterdon has raised the bar for craft beverage availability and selection in the state by providing the most diverse and sought-after portfolio the market has to offer. The company currently represents over fifty domestic craft brands, hundreds of imports and a unique line of micro-distilled spirits, sakes, ciders and meads. Owners Mike Short and Dave Masterson continue to focus on bringing quality products to the New Jersey consumer.

December 7, 2011

Hump Day Happy Hour

We’re celebrating Hump Day with the first Food Truck roundup in North San Diego County!

Join us this Wednesday, December 7 from 5pm to 8pm as we kick off a new tradition celebrating making it “over the hump” with great craft beer and a fantastic food truck gathering outside our tasting room.

Hosted by our food truck friends, Mad Maui BBQ, every two weeks there’ll be a rotating line up of trucks available for your foodie pleasure!

Details:

When: 5pm – 8pm, Wednesday, December 7, 2011 (and every two weeks thereafter)
Where: Port Brewing & The Lost Abbey, 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069

This week’s trucks:

Mad Maui (Host truck)
Gandolfo’s Mobile Deli
Operacaffe Express
Pierogi Truck
Sushi Ninjas
Thai 1 On Eats

Never forget a Hump Day Happy Hour! — Click here to add this to your calendar.