Abbey Scribe | October 15, 2007

Port Brewing takes three medals, brewery and brewer of the year at Great American Beer Festival

San Marcos, CA – Tiny Port Brewing Company and its head brewer Tomme Arthur made a big impression at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver last weekend when the craft brewer not only nabbed three medals, but also landed the dual honors of small brewery and small brewer of the year.

Port Brewing’s Lost Abbey beers won in the following categories:

• Gold Medal, Specialty Beer – Judgment Day
• Gold Medal, Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer – Cuvee de Tomme
• Silver Medal, Experimental Beer – Veritas 002

The medal-winners, along with two other Lost Abbey entries — Cable Car and Ten Commandments — also led judges to place Port Brewing and Tomme Arthur above hundreds of other entrants and name the two small brewery and brewer of 2007.

“I felt we had some award-winning beers going into the competition, but I still can’t believe that we got brewery of the year,” said Arthur. “Our beers take a phenomenal amount of effort and patience to make. It’s great that our dedication to inspired beer has been recognized by our peers.”

The 2007 Great American Beer Festival Competition winners were selected by an international panel of brewing experts from a field of 2,832 entries submitted by 474 American brewers.

Established less than two years ago, Port Brewing has become famous for its line of rare, deep and flavorful beers that food and drink experts compare more closely to wine than mass-market brews. Issued under the Lost Abbey label, these beers are brewed with ingredients such as raisins, sour cherries, black pepper and grains of paradise, and often aged in oak, wine, brandy and bourbon barrels for as long as 18 months. The brews have been featured in numerous publications including The Wall Street Journal, Food & Wine, Maxim, and Playboy, as well as dozens of newspapers and industry periodicals.

While the GABF awards are a first for Port Brewing, the experience isn’t entirely new to Arthur. While heading brewing operations at a sister brewpub, Pizza Port, Arthur received the GABF’s brewpub brewer of the year award twice. With his most recent win, he is one of a handful of brewers to have won the award three times.

“It doesn’t matter how many times I win,” he said. “Every time is as good as the first.”

About Port Brewing / Lost Abbey
Founded in 2006, Port Brewing Company 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 Great American Beer Festival brewer of the year, Tomme Arthur, four beers are issued under the Lost Abbey label year-round: Avant Garde, Lost and Found, Red Barn 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.

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Tomme | October 15, 2007

Session #9 is titled Beer and Music- The Message in a Bottle.  Just about every brewery or pub I have ever walked into, there is music- Background, in the brewhouse or even live on the floor.  It’s everywhere.  There’s even beer enthusiasts, marketers and producers who play.

Personally, I have always loved music and its ability to serve so many different needs and roles.  In many ways, it’s like beer.  There’s seemingly so many different styles and interpretations and for me, there is always a great song or beer for every occassion.

For this session, I am looking towards my fellow bloggers to share a music and beer moment with.  It could be that Pearl Jam show I attended 7 years ago where I was forced to drink 5 Coronas to stay warm.  But more likely, it could be an album or song that you’re always listening to.  I, for my part, will be writing two blogs.  One will be about a particular memory and the other will be about musical stylings and my beers.

Mostly though, I would really like to see how others experience music and beer.  I have so many ideas that to only work with two seems crazy.  Music as an artform inspires me in so many ways.  I think it infuses my writings and brewing and I can’t wait to share that with you.  I hope you find this an agreeable Session…

Tomme

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Tomme | October 13, 2007

Hey,

It’s me. You know that balding guys ego. He’s asleep right now and he neglected to blog about his beers so I thought I would do it for him.

I’ve said it before and it bears repeating, I don’t show up in Denver to loose. Sure that’s a hell of a statement but why wouldn’t you want to win? It’s the biggest and most prestigious event in the United States. Each year, we send 8 beers and every single time we enter, I expect that 50% of them will medal. Clearly, that’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself. But hey, that’s what egos are for…

This year is certainly no different as we have again entered 8 beers. I’d like to stand here and tell you that all 8 are medal worthy but that simply isn’t the case. Tomme waited all week to post this because he thought some of the beers sent were incredible unique. That’s him you know- Fearless. I think he’s stupid too. But that’s just me. The ego keeping things real.

If you’re reading this, the judging sessions have all ended and all that is left is the awards ceremony today where we get to see how well breweries have done this year. This year, the Great American Beer Festival judged over 2800 beers in 75 separate categories. First up for Port Brewing Co will be category #7 and the place where we have placed Judgment Day. This is the Specialty Beer category and beers in this division require unique fermentables. Judgment Day is made with raisins and finds itself being measured against 16 other beers. This one made Jeff’s list.

He could be right! Three years ago, at Tomme’s insistance, Eric Rose entered a Belgian Style Dubbel with Raisins in this category and went on to win the Gold Medal. It was his first ever GABF Medal. The judges have shown an inclination to accept the merits of brewing with raisins as a unique ferementable and without a doubt, Judgment Day is a beast of a beer in that department. If we hit the board with our first entry, we may hit the ground running and never look back.

Up next, we have # 11 Experimental Beers with 35 Entries. Here, Tomme has entered one of his numerous small batch blends called Veritas 002.

He is very excited to be sending a beer in this category. When he thinks of all the beers and flavors he wants to create, this is what it is all about. Often, this is a wide open field with too many unknowns to handicap well. Veritas 002 is no different. It is a collaborative blend of sour barrel aged beer, Redstone Black Raspberry Nectar and Old Viscosity. This is a unique drinking experience. Even me, his ego, loves it!

Yet, not one of our tasting panelists picked this as a medal winning creation. As his ego, I was crushed. He tells me to get over it. I don’t know if I can. Each liked the creation for its perspective but none wanted to endorse it. I am personally enamored with its ego stretching boundaries and am thankful he sent it. Based upon last night, so are many of the beer drinkers on the floor.

After the Experimental Beers, we’ll catch our breath for about 30 seconds waiting for Category # 12 and the newly created category known as American Wild Ales with 12 Entries. A brewer friend of Tomme’s recently said they probably created this category with Tomme and Vinnie in mind. As his ego, I couldn’t agree more as this is exactly the sort of category that Vinnie and Tomme can do well in.

Cable Car has been called many things since it was released earlier this summer. John Hansell of Malt Advocate Magazine tabbed it as the “best American Sour ale I have ever had…” Since it was blended, I have watched Tomme tell people in no uncertain terms that he feels it is the best bottle of beer he has ever produced. And trust me, he ain’t taken to hyperbole often. That’s my job!

Cable Car was a special blend of three oak barrels which was created for the Dave Keene and the world famous Toronado at 547 Haight Street. Dave Keene will be in the audience today and should this beer medal, Tomme has promised to drag Dave Keene on stage with him. Tomme told me last night if is only going to win one award this year, he wants this one so that Dave can see the stage from another perspective. Both Vinnie and Bagby have stated the same. Let’s hope we go trifecta on the Toronado beers and give Dave an amazing day.

Once we have ridden the Cable Car to its destination, we’ll focus our efforts to Category 16 Wood and Barrel Aged Sour Beers with 20 entries including our world famous Cuvee de Tomme. The Cuvee has gone dark in the last few years lurking seemingly beneath a burdening shadow of greatness.

I’d like to see this one make like Lazarus and rise from the dead. It remains one of the most uniquely produced American Beers out there. This batch is the first batch we ever blended for bottling and it remains to be seen if the sum total is greater than any of its parts. This is another new category created for Tomme and Vinnie and it looks like we’re crapshooting here. I like this beer. I just hope we’re not left wondering how we’re ever going to get back on the podium with this one.

Post Cuvee, we’ll slumber through Lager Land waking only long enough to cheer for PBR and Mickey’s all the while waiting to see if Sandlot can go Big Time like before and sweep through the lagers as in the past. I don’t think it will happen. There are just getting to be too many beers for this to go their way again.

After the Lagers, we’ll watch Pizza Port make it’s stretch run through the Ale categories. Our next beer will be in Category #45 with Hop 15. This is the biggest Dog that we have sent. It will easily get its ASS kicked by better more deserving beers. I hate typing that but it’s true.

It’s a production nightmare to make this beer in San Marcos and we’ve been chasing this beer all summer. For those of you playing along at home, we promise to get Hop 15 back to the podium. It is a damn fine beer. But if you’re betting the farm on one of our beers, just remember with Hop 15, I don’t drive tractors either.

After Hop 15 gets trounced(by Jeff and Vinnie), we’ll sit back and cheer through Belgian Beer land as our friends pick up the slack. We’ll pause at Category 62 for Belgian Style Specialty Ales with 58 entries including and our Ten Commandments. This is our Anniversary beer made with Blackened Raisins and Rosemary. It doesn’t really fit a “true” style guideline and it really only “sorta” fits here.

At the tasting, this beer fired like an uncaged sprinter and never let up. The problem is, that even though this beer exudes confidence, like me, this category sets up more often than not of late to smash individualism. We’ll remain committed to making this great batch of beer even if we never find a home for it at the GABF.

It’s possible that we could catch a flyer on uniqueness and earn extra points for subtle spicing but in the end, Tomme’s pretty sure we’ll get passed over. If it wins, he’s promised to High Five Jeff for a beer finally getting its due. It remains to this day, one of their most inspired and well thought out beers even though it never seems to win anything. A vote for Myopia then?

Oh CRAP! He just woke up…I’m posting now without finishing this blog. I hope he doesn’t mind. Me, I love being his ego. It’s a pretty cool job with tons of fringe benefits. Sometimes, I wonder what life would be like if I had a sucky ego job?

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admin | October 9, 2007

As we move south from San Clemente, we make a short detour in Carlsbad to visit the 10 beers that Jeff Bagby is sending to the festival this year. My liver was threatening to go Screen Actors Guild on my ass and require a stunt double to get through this side of the tasting. My agent of liquid refreshment calmed him down. For those playing along at home, Jeff tallied 5 medals last year. Most expect that he’ll “fall” back resting on his laurels if you will to only 3-5 this time. I’m in the 3-4 camp myself.

First pony out of the gates for Carlsbad was:

Good Grief Brown Ale: This beer was on top of the world at the San Diego County Fair competition in June. A great English Style Brown Ale with loads of depth. Unilike little boy Chuck who never seems to actually make contact with that ball, Jeff booted this recipe straight through the uprights. Unfortunately, this one may find him more on his back this time. A great beer that lacks “La Cruda.” Ask me why…the psychiatrist is in. .05 cents please.

Port Truck Stout: This is essentially the same recipe as the Seaside Stout that is brewed in Solana Beach. It is an awesome Dry Irish Stout when it fires. This one is so close to being perfect. We loved the finishing power of this beer. This category can be quite the dog and pony show but I like some of Jeff’s other beers better. Would be in my Superfecta pix with a nod to sympathy and the recipe I love.

Great American Brown: This is a recipe that Jeff developed to send to the GABF for the first time last year. Guess what? It won. Seems to have all the properties required of a winner. It’s on my list of beers with ??? marks which is better than the ones I wrote nothing about. Maybe for some. I’m ambivalent which means I’ll pass at this time.

Sticky Stout: The beer that “shocked” the world last year. This is basically your Gold Medal American Stout winner. Anybody else remember the two headed monster of Noah on Jeff’s Shoulders across the stage? Don’t expect the monster this year. Noah moved on to San Clemente…Could this be Yiga’s Year? Me thinks so. Go for Gold.

Sharkbite Red Ale: Jeff has pretty much owned some version of the Red/Amber/Imperial Red category since he was with me in Solana Beach and then on his own at Oggis. The man knows Red Ales. Me, I am raising a Red Head. Either way, they’re both special and his beer shines. I’m reserving the right to say I told you so. But, I am not betting this one as I want to wager on other beers. A Sunday favorite with the others.

Beech Street Bitter: Jeff knows hops. Really, he does. This is an example of great skill with those little cones. An English Style IPA that brought home the eggs and bacon last year. I am calling for a two peat. A very tasty beer worthy of our judges attention this week. Bank on this one. I am.

Wipeout IPA: Your basic well hopped American Style IPA. I liked the taste of this beer. Hard to find ways to stand out in a sea of 120 beers. This one has potential. It has won in the past and is poised. Although, if I am betting IPA, I go San Clemente by a nose. A very small nose indeed.

Poor Man’s IPA: This was your runner up last year to Pliny the Elder in the double IPA category. Since Vinnie built in Santa Rosa, we’ve pretty much all been Pliny’s Bitch (even me once). That being said, I am staking my handicapping skills that this is the year that Pliny takes a half step back so that a Poor Old Working Man can bring home the goods. Gold Medal. Nothing else matters here.

Hop Suey: It’s a little known fact that a Pizza Port based Double IPA has won a medal at the GABF every year since they launched the category some 5 years ago. No other brewery can make that claim. This beer has never won but damnit it should. With that being said, Jeff wins two medals in the same category this year. Gold and Bronze. This beer wreaks. It wreaks like Fuzzy Bud. Very Fuzzy indeed.

547 Haight Street: The world famous Toronado had a 20th anniversary party this past summer. Perhaps you sampled this monster then? If so, you’d know like me, this is a WHOA Joey Lawrence sort of beer. I like it. I prefer the Shark Attack more. However, the sentimentality kicks in here. There are at least 3 of the Toronado 20th Anniversary beers entered in the competition. Would be pretty kick ass to see all three win. It could happen.

That’s it for Carlsbad. Jeff owned the Pizza Port Stage last year. I don’t see any reason for slowing down. It may not be 5…3 certainly wouldn’t suck. The cream rises to the top. Here’s hoping the Carlsbad boys have the ability to rise above the altitude one more time.

By my count 3-5 medals. I am taking the middle road of 4.

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