Abbey Scribe | June 21, 2010

Join us at The Lost Abbey for our second annual Christmas in July celebration and fundraiser to benefit the Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots Foundation.
(Click here to get on the Guest List!)

Events on tap:

Beer releases:

• 2010 Santa’s Little Helper (Bourbon Barrel-aged) – 22oz bottles; $12 each; 6 bottle limit

Food & Beer:

• Food – Authentic San Marcos-style BBQ; slow-cooked to perfection
• On Tap – All of The Lost Abbey & Port Brewing’s regular 21 tap line-up, plus a few secret specialties

Activities:

• A Visit from St. Nick – Get your photo with Santa Claus in the Barrel Room
• Live Music — 1st session: Boneyard, 2nd session: The Professors

Toys for Tots drive and fundraiser

• Toy Drive — Bring a new, unwrapped toy values at $15 or more to benefit Toys for Tots

• Get a Gift, give a gift — For every bottle of Gift of the Magi sold ($12 $10) we’ll make a $1 donation to Toys for Tots

• Giving Tree – Make an additional $15 cash donation to Toys for Tots (above & beyond the unwrapped toy) and you get to select a gift from the Christmas Tree. Here’s a partial list:
  • Cable Car
  • Churchill’s Finest Hour
  • Cuvee de Tomme
  • Red Poppy
  • Sinner’s Blend
  • Yellow Bus
  • Tickets to the Lost Abbey Private Barrel Night

  There are only 100 gifts under the tree per session, so make sure to get yours early!

The Details:

• When: Saturday, July 24, 2010; Two sessions: 12pm to 3pm and 4pm to 7pm. Beer and bottle release sales begin at 12pm, food and music at 1pm, santa arrives at 2pm.
• Where: Lost Abbey / Port Brewing Co., San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
• How Much: Photos with Santa, music, food and entertainment are all FREE! We are, however, asking everyone who attends to bring a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more to donate to Toys for Tots. (Beers are all regular price.)

Category: Beer Releases, Events and Appearances | Comments Off
Tags: chistmas in july, fundraiser, Santa's Little Helper, toys for tots

Tomme | July 29, 2009

Here in San Diego, even when it’s supposed to be Christmas time, it rarely truly feels like Christmas.  In December each year, other parts of the country, throw on their best Christmas sweaters and sing about how the “weather outside is frightful.”  Us, we head for the beach and roast Marshmallows (not Chestnuts) by a bonfire.  Yet, each year we at Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey do our part to support seasonal beers with the production of not one but two Christmas beers- Santa’s Little Helper and Gift of the Magi.

Last August when we produced the 2008 Santa’s Little Helper Imperial Stout, we put a plan in motion to age a portion of the batch in Bourbon Barrels for a Christmas in July promotion that I wanted to do at the brewery.  Last weekend, we had another kick ass event at the brewery (thanks to all of our volunteers who supported us)!  There were great new beers in bottles and on tap (including the first release of Duck Duck Gooze).  Chef Vince of course whipped up some amazing pizzas and The Professors sounded as tight as they could in a brewery environment.  Santa Claus even paid us a visit.  All told, it was a great event for the patrons of Lost Abbey.

But what truly made the event memorable was the overwhelming support that we received for Toys for Tots.  As part of our Christmas in July promotion, we asked attendees to bring one unwrapped toy (valued at $15) in exchange for entrance to the party.   I must say that I was blown away by the generosity of our people and clearly they understand that together we can make a difference.  We raised over $10,000 worth of new toys from this event.  Those who didn’t bring toys were asked for a cash donation and $1,500 was sent to the Toys For Tots Foundation as well.

It gave me goose bumps on Saturday night to stand next to all the great toys that we collected.  It meant an awful lot to me that we were able to take something (like beer with the associated stigmas) and do great work for kids.

I know that beer and children can be very taboo in our society but if you look at what we accomplished this weekend, I know this is not always the case.  Personally, this was an incredibly gratifying and rewarding day.  Many children will need help in order to celebrate Christmas this year.  Knowing that our beer brought so many people together for this cause is an exceptional feeling.

So, to everyone who was there on Saturday and gave a little bit to help brighten the Christmas morning of so many children, I say thank you!  Christmas in July has landed here at Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey and will remain on our calendars each year from here on out.

• Christmas in July photos with Santa
• Christmas in July photo gallery

Category: Around the Brewery, Brewer's Blog | Comments Off
Tags: christmas in july, santa, Santa's Little Helper, toys for tots