Category: Seasonal

2009 Limited Edition Barrel-aged Flanders-Style Red Ale Available Saturday, January 31

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey will issue the 2009 release of Red Poppy Ale on January 31, 2009. A Flanders-style red ale made with sour cherries and aged in French Oak barrels for one year, the 375 case limited edition release will only be available directly from the brewery.

A medium-bodied ale, Red Poppy has a reddish-brown hue, rich fruit aroma, and a complex mélange sour cherry, plum and red wine flavors accented with notes of chocolate and vanilla. The beer’s name was inspired by brewery co-founder and director of operations Tomme Arthur’s annual springtime sojourns to Flanders, a time when fields of the Northern Belgian province are covered with the fiery red flowers.

Release Details:

• Beer: Flanders-style Red Ale
• Packaging: 375ml cork-finished bottles
• ABV: 5%
• Total run: 375 cases
• Price: $15 per bottle; six bottles per person maximum
• Available: Sales of the beer begin at the brewery at 10am on Saturday, January 31, 2009.

For more information on the release and directions to Port Brewing and the Lost Abbey, please visit the Lost Abbey website at http://www.lostabbey.com.

About Port Brewing / Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, Port Brewing Company was the 2007 Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year, and the 2008 World Beer Cup World Champion Small Brewery. It produces a line of award-winning American ales as well as the groundbreaking Lost Abbey family of Belgian-inspired beers. Craft brewed under the direction of co-founder and three-time GABF brewer of the year, Tomme Arthur, five beers are issued under the Lost Abbey label year-round: Avant Garde, Lost and Found, Red Barn, Devotion and Judgment Day. Additionally, a number of seasonal and specialty releases including Ten Commandments, Cuvee de Tomme and The Angel’s Share, are offered at various times throughout the year. As many of these are blended and aged for up to 18 months in French Oak, Brandy and Bourbon barrels, Lost Abbey beers are universally recognized for their complexity, unique flavors, and bold, boundary-pushing styles. Port Brewing is located at 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA. Telephone (760) 889-9318, web: www.lostabbey.com.

The Los Angeles times gave Port Brewing’s Old Viscosity a big nod this month by naming it the newspaper’s “Beer of the Month.” From the article:

…this is a suave, very malty dark beer with a kick that sneaks up on you; think twice before trying to kill the bottle yourself.

Read the whole article here: Beer of the Month: Port Brewing Old Viscosity – via Los Angeles Times

The guys over at Bigfoamyhead.com recently took a slice of their holidays to do a broadcast about beers from the Port Brewing side of our operation. In the podcast they talk about Shark Attack, High Tide and Old Viscosity. Pretty good stuff.

You can read the post and listen to the podcast here: Show 124 – Port Brewing (bigfoamyhead.com)

Press Release From Windy City Distribution:

Windy City Distribution is very pleased to announce a new addition to our family of craft beers: The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing Company.

Pizza Port was founded by Vince and Gina Marsaglia in Solana Beach, CA as simply a great pizza joint. However, these home brewers decided to install a 7 barrel brewing system in 1992. They unleashed some handcrafted beers on their customers in 1993, and with little surprise their one location became three. Tomme Arthur joined the Port brewing family in 1996, as Head Brewer of the original Pizza Port location in Solana Beach. The Solana Beach Pizza Port location was GABF Small Brewpub of the year in 2003 and 2004, and those same years Tomme Arthur was selected GABF Small Brewpub Brewer of the year.

Tomme Arthur’s unique approach and creativity, along with his enthusiasm, helped produce a thriving beer scene in San Diego. Tomme brought a love for Belgian beer to the Port family of brew pubs and created their first Belgian style ale, Overhead Abbey Dubbel in 1997. That one Belgian style brew has since become an entire family of beers called The Lost Abbey. Tomme Arthur is certainly one of the most cutting edge brewers in the United States, and he continues to play a major role in the growth, education, and creativity of the American Craft Brewing scene. Outside of his multiple medals at World Beer Cup, Chicago Real Ale Festival, and the Great American Beer Festival, Tomme has brought a new passion to the rustic, old world traditions of Belgian brewing by creating new beers with a fresh new vision of what beer can be. The canvas for his artwork is stretched with oak, fruit, spices, wild yeast strains, and time.

Tomme Arthur will be joining us in Chicago to help launch his beer, and I’m pleased to announce the following events:

When: Tuesday, November 11th, from 5:30 PM – 11:00 PM
Where: The Publican, 845 W. Fulton Market, Chicago
Renowned Chef Paul Kahan will design a Prix Fix/Tasting Menu, with cuisine created specifically to pair with the Port Brewing/Lost Abbey beers. In order to accommodate as many diners as possible, the tasting menu will be offered throughout dinner service, and Tomme Arthur will be in attendance to present his beers to the public.

When: Wednesday, November 12th at 7:00 PM
Where: The Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark Street, Chicago
“Meet the Brewer” launch event in the upstairs bar. An assortment of Hopleaf’s fine food will be offered buffet style, and the full line of Port and Lost Abbey beers will be served throughout the evening, providing an opportunity for beer enthusiasts to meet Tomme in person.

When: Thursday, November 13th, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Where: Dobby’s Worldwide Liquors, 15 S. Brockway, Palatine
Tomme Arthur will be in attendance to taste a variety of Port and Lost Abbey selections.

When: Thursday, November 13th, 8:00 PM
Where: Bavarian Lodge, 1800 Ogden Ave., Lisle
Launch of the Lost Abbey/Port Brewing beers, with Tomme Arthur in attendance to meet, greet, and discuss his beers.

The Lost Abbey held its first Patron Sinners and Saints party on Saturday, October 18, 2008. It was great to see so many from both above and below arrive to share beer, food and good times. Here’s a photo slideshow from the evening’s festivities.

From the article:

DENVER (AP) — In the beginning, there was a long line for Judgment Day ale.

Shortly after the doors opened on the 27th Great American Beer Festival, a crowd congregated at the booth offering that and other pours from The Lost Abbey of San Marcos, California, where the tap handle is a Celtic cross and the legacy of beer-brewing monks endures.

» Read the full article

Nation’s Top Small Brewery Signs Distribution Deal With Elite Brands of Colorado

SAN MARCOS, Calif. – Great beer lovers in the Centennial State have a reason to cheer. Port Brewing Company, 2007’s Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year, and 2008 World Beer Cup Champion Small Brewery, announced today that it has signed a distribution agreement with Denver-based Elite Brands. Under the agreement Elite Brands will provide statewide distribution of Port’s high touted family of American ales and groundbreaking Lost Abbey Belgian-inspired beers throughout the state of Colorado.

“Colorado is one of the great beer states and home to some of the nation’s best known craft brewers and most discerning beer drinkers,” said Port Brewing co-founder and director of brewery operations Tomme Arthur. “We’re very pleased that an organization of Elite Brands’ caliber will be representing our products in the state.”

“Adding Lost Abbey and Port Brewing Company to our beer portfolio is not only a great success for Elite Brands of Colorado, but also for our clients,” said Terry Cekola, owner of Elite Brands. “Their beers offer the qualities we strive to represent – top notch ingredients, superior brewing and outstanding taste.”

Elite Brands will begin distribution of Port Brewing and Lost Abbey beers immediately. In support of the brewery’s arrival in the state, Tomme Arthur will be making appearances and discussing his brews at Denver’s famed Falling Rock Taphouse on Wednesday, September 10th, and at Ft Collins’ Choice City Butcher on Thursday, September 11th.

For information and availability of Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey beers in Colorado, contact Elite Brands Sales Manager Nick Jumel via telephone at (303) 394-7535 or via email at njumel@elite-brands.com.

About Elite Brands of Colorado
Terry Cekola founded Elite Brands of Colorado in 2003 after moving from Michigan where she grew up in the distribution business. Her brothers run Imperial Beverage of Kalamazoo and Elite Brands of Michigan based in Detroit. Based in Denver, Elite of Colorado has 11 sales people and distributes beer, wine and a small amount of specialty spirits throughout the state. The company is located at 4912 Lima Street, Denver, CO 80239. Telephone (303) 394-7535.

About Port Brewing / Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, Port Brewing Company is 2007’s Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year and produces a line of award-winning American ales as well as the groundbreaking Lost Abbey family of Belgian-inspired beers. Craft brewed under the direction of co-founder and three-time GABF brewer of the year, Tomme Arthur, five beers are issued under the Lost Abbey label year-round: Avant Garde, Lost and Found, Red Barn, Devotion and Judgment Day. Additionally, a number of seasonal and specialty releases are offered at various times throughout the year. As many of these are blended and aged for up to 18 months in French Oak, Brandy and Bourbon barrels, Lost Abbey beers are universally recognized for their complexity, unique flavors, and bold, boundary-pushing styles. Port Brewing is located at 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069, USA. Telephone (760) 889-9318, web: www.lostabbey.com.