The Conduit

Stories from the Abbey

News and Events

Featured
Christmas
events
Christmas
events

Merry Christmas!

events
Welcome to LostAbbey 4.0
Welcome to LostAbbey 4.0
Warehouse Sale at the Brewery!
Events & Appearances Events & Appearances

Santa's Got a Brand New Sleigh

In celebration of Santa coming to town for The Lost Abbey / Port Brewing's Christmas in July, We took Santa out on an LAV, thanks to the US Marine Corp and Toys for Tots. So when you see a couple of amphibious vehicles storming the brewery, don't be worried, it's just Santa making a grand entrance.Santa's Got A Brand New Sleigh from The Lost Abbey on Vimeo.

The Details:

  • When: Saturday, July 13, 2013; Two sessions – 11am – 3pm & 4pm – 8pm
  • Where: The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing, San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
  • How Much: Whether you’ve been naughty or nice through the first half of the year, as long as you bring an unwrapped toy (valued at $15 or more) you’re in! Did your dog eat your toy along with your homework from 1995? Not a problem, for just $15 at the door you’re set to join us for food, fun, entertainment and photos with Santa all included! (Beers are all regular price)
Read More
Events & Appearances Events & Appearances

Annual Christmas in July Celebration - 2013

Our annual beer release and party to benefit the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Foundation!Join us for a day of Christmas time festivities, great food and beer to celebrate the release of bourbon barrel-aged Santa's Little Helper and collect toys and cash to benefit the Marine Corp's Toys for Tots foundation.

The Details:

  • When: Saturday, July 13, 2013; Two sessions - 11am - 3pm & 4pm - 8pm
  • Where: The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing, San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
  • How Much: Whether you’ve been naughty or nice through the first half of the year, as long as you bring an unwrapped toy (valued at $15 or more) you’re in! Did your dog eat your toy along with your homework from 1995? Not a problem, for just $15 at the door you’re set to join us for food, fun, entertainment and photos with Santa all included! (Beers are all regular price)

Events on tap:

Beer releases:

  • 2013 Bourbon Barrel-aged Santa's Little Helper - 22oz bottles; $12 ea. / 6 bottle limit.

Food & Beer:

  • Food - Entrants will receive a ticket good for food at any of the three vendors in our mobile food court. Vendors include: Hoangies, Devilicious, and Red Oven Pizza 
  • On Tap - All of The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing’s full core lineup of beers will be available, plus a few specialty taps will be available. Besides the fat man in the red suit (who will be available for pictures throughout the day), we’ll also be celebrating 5 years of releasing a Bourbon barrel-aged version of our Imperial Stout, Santa’s Little Helper. A robust beer with tones of sweet malt, dark cocoa and notes of deep bourbon, Santa’s Little Helper is the perfect accompaniment to fruit cake during a California Christmas in July

Specialty Taps (Limited Draft): 

  • '12 Deliverance
  • Older Viscosity
  • Framboise de Amorosa
  • Red Poppy
  • Special "Santa's Flight" - $8 for tasters of '13 Bourbon Santa's Little Helper, '11 Brandy barrel-aged Santa's & '11 Santa's Little Helper (Brandy and Vintage Santa's only available on Flight)

Activities:A Visit from St. NickSanta Claus loves to visit us while he's on vacation in San Diego! He'll be dropping by the brewery so you can get you, your friends' and family (kids welcome) professionally photographed with him.

  • Santa's Schedule -- 11:30am - 3:00pm & 4:30pm - 8:00pm

Toys for Tots toy drive and fundraiser

  • Toy Drive -- Bring a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more to benefit Toys for Tots
  • Giving Tree - Make an additional donation to Toys for Tots (above & beyond the unwrapped toy) and you get to select a gift from the Christmas Tree. Gifts will include rare bottles, Port Brewing & Lost Abbey gear, tickets to our legendary Barrel Night, and The Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set.

Read More
Events & Appearances Events & Appearances

PORT BREWING AND THE LOST ABBEY CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS IN JULY – 2013

Annual beer release and benefit for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation

San Marcos, CA – St. Nicholas makes his way to the Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey Tasting Room for the 5th Annual release of Bourbon Barrel-aged Santa’s Little Helper (Port’s Imperial Stout) and a Christmas in July celebration to benefit The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation on Saturday, July 13th, 2013.

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice through the first half of the year, as long as you bring an unwrapped toy (valued at $15 or more) you’re in! Did your dog eat your toy along with your homework from 1995? Not a problem, for just $15 at the door you’re set to join us for food, fun, entertainment and photos with Santa all included! (This is a Family-Friendly event)The Port Brewing and Lost Abbey “Giving Tree” will also be making an appearance, for an extra donation to Toys for Tots, you’ll receive a gift from the tree. Gifts can include rare bottles, Port Brewing / Lost Abbey gear, tickets to our legendary Barrel Night during San Diego Beer Week or a Lost Abbey Ultimate Box Set.All of The Lost Abbey and Port Brewing’s full core lineup of beers will be available, plus a few specialty taps will be available (more info to come). Besides the fat man in the red suit (who will be available for pictures throughout the day), we’ll also be celebrating 5 years of releasing a Bourbon barrel-aged version of our Imperial Stout, Santa’s Little Helper. A robust beer with tones of sweet malt, dark cocoa and notes of deep bourbon, Santa’s Little Helper is the perfect accompaniment to fruit cake during a California Christmas in July.   AboutPort Brewing / The Lost Abbey Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey produces an extensive line-up of continental and American- inspired ales and lagers. Under the direction of visionary brewmaster and co-founder Tomme Arthur, the brewery has garnered dozens of awards in its seven year history including the 2007 Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year and the 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.

Read More
News and Events News and Events

Christmas in July Video

Yeah, it's August, but what the heck -- it takes a little time to put these things together. Below is a quick video re-cap of the event deftly captured by our in-house director Ryan and hosted by Andy "MetromixSD" Killion.Thanks to all the others who helped put the video together: editor Ryan Girkins, audio mixer Kyle Thompson, and musicians, the Dolbies. And, of course, all of you who attended and helped make it a great event and fundraiser for the Toys for Tots foundation.See you all next year!

Read More
Events & Appearances, News and Events, Tasting room Events & Appearances, News and Events, Tasting room

Christmas in July Celebration & Fundraiser 2011

Our annual party to benefit the Marine Corps' Toys for Tots Foundation!Update (July 13, 2011): See below for updated schedule of events.Christmas in July celebration & fundraiser for Toys for TotsJoin us for a day of Christmastime festivities, great food, beer and music to celebrate the release of bourbon barrel-aged Santa's Little Helper and to collect toys and cash to benefit the Marine Corp's Toys for Tots foundation. Last year we raised over $10,000 in toys and cash donations -- this year we're trying to beat that!

Events on tap:

Beer releases: 2011 Bourbon Barrel-aged Santa's Little Helper - 22oz bottles; Release day only: $12 ea . Regularly: $15 ea. ; 4 bottle limit. (Yes, this beer will reach our distribution network in limited quantities.)Food & Beer: Food - We're doing a real Christmas meal! We'll be serving fresh smoked turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, yams, fresh-baked rolls and dessert On Tap - All of The Lost Abbey & Port Brewing's regular 21 tap line-up, plus a few secret specialties (more on those as we approach the event...)Activities:A Visit from St. NickSanta Claus loves to visit us while he's on vacation in San Diego! He'll be dropping by the brewery from 12pm - 5pm so you can get you, your friends' and family professionally photographed with him in the Barrel Room.Live WebcastWe'll be doing a live web broadcast -- this time from a platform high above the tasting room floor where our intrepid Anchor, Andy Killion, will cover the festivities. If you're not able to attend, you'll be able to watch the broadcast from your computer, tablet or smartphone via our brewcam page here*.* Download the Ustream Smartphone app for Android and iPhone here.Live MusicTwo bands! The Firkins and The ProfessorsToys for Tots toy drive and fundraiser

  • Toy Drive -- Bring a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15 or more to benefit 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. Gifts will include rare bottles, Port Brewing & Lost Abbey gear and tickets to our legendary Barrel Night during San Diego Beer Week.

The Details:

  • When: Saturday, July 16, 2011; 12pm to 7pm.
  • Where: The Lost Abbey/Port Brewing, San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
  • How Much: Photos with Santa, music, food and entertainment are all FREE when you bring a a new, unwrapped toy valued at $15. No toy? That's okay. Give a $15 cash donation to Toys for Tots at the door and you're in! (Beers are all regular price!)

Schedule of Events:To ensure that we're not mobbed all at once and that everyone has a chance to get their photos with Santa, enjoy the food, music and get a ticket for the Giving Tree, we're breaking the day into two equal sessions with exactly the same stuff in both sessions. The schedule is as follows:

Session 1(12:00pm - 3:30pm)
  • 12:00 - Doors open; Block 1 of Giving Tree Tickets available. (2 ticket max per person)
  • 12:30 - Santa Arrives for photos
  • 1:00 - Live Music: The Firkins; Food is served!
  • 2:00 - Live Music: The Professors
  • 3:00 - Giving Tree Drawing #1
  • 3:30 - Session 1 ends
Session 2(3:30pm - 7:00pm)
  • 4:00 - Session 2 starts; Block 2 of Giving Tree Tickets available. (2 ticket max per person)
  • 4:00 - Live Music: The Firkins; Food is served!
  • 5:00 - Live Music: The Professors
  • 5:30 - Santa Departs
  • 6:00 - Giving Tree Drawing #2
  • 7:00 - Session 2 ends

You can also download a printable schedule here: Christmas in July 2011 Schedule (PDF)

Read More
Seasonal Seasonal

Santa Photos from Christmas in July 2010

Ever since we found out that Santa is a big fan of The Lost Abbey (and that he has a vacation condo here in San Diego), we've been able to persuade him to turn out in the red suit to take photos with the folks attending our Christmas in July fundraiser and celebration. Of course, Santa demands the best, so we also convince famed-photographer Jon Schulz to step away from the supermodels, rock stars and professional athletes for a day and help us out.Take a gander below at the photos this year's visit from St Nick. (Sure, a few of the people haven't sat with Santa in a while -- for some, a long while -- but the results are always entertaining.)Oh, and if your picture appears here, feel free to download it and use it.[nggallery id=21]

Read More
Around the Brewery, Brewer's Blog Around the Brewery, Brewer's Blog

Christmas in July

Tomme & SantaHere 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.Just a few of the bins of toysI 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.

Read More
Around the Brewery, News and Events Around the Brewery, News and Events

Christmas in July Update

We're pleased to announce that we now have a final schedule of events and full tap and bottle list for next week's Christmas in July beer release and fundraiser.The schedule of events is as follows:

  • 12:00pm — Tasting room opens. Bottle Sales; tasters & pint sales begin.
  • 1:00pm — Santa Arrives; Photos with Santa in the Barrel Room.
  • 2:00pm — Food service begins (Chef Vince and his magic pizza trailer).
  • 4:00pm — Photos with Santa end; Giving Tree* gift distribution.
  • 5:00pm — Santa Leaves. Live music by The Professors.
  • 6:30pm — Last Call. Final bottle, taster and pint sales.
  • 7:00pm — Doors close.

* In exchange for a $15 cash donation to Toys for Tots, you will be able to select a gift from the Giving Tree. (Must be 21 or over to receive gift.)A printable schedule of events and full list of what will be on tap and in bottle (along with pricing) is available for download here:

For more information on the full day's events and beer releases, please click here.

Read More