The Conduit
Stories from the Abbey
News and Events
Tasting Room Restrictions Lifted
Due in no small part we’re sure, to the pleadings and prayers of the Abbey faithful, the temporary restrictions placed upon us have been lifted while we adjust our space in order to please the powers that be.[singlepic id=4707 w=320 h=240 float=right]To celebrate our restored freedom, please join us this weekend as we welcome all of our friends and family in with a full tap list, food trucks both Saturday and Sunday, Brewery tours on Saturday and perhaps a special tap or two. And, as a very special treat, on Saturday (5/26) at 1:00, we will release a limited amount of bottles of Track 3, a blend of two pale sour beers inspired by AC/DC's anthem Hell’s Bells. Normal on-premise rules will apply and there will be no lottery ticket associated with this special release. In addition, a similar amount of Track 5, our homage to Motley Crüe's 1983 hit "Shout at the Devil" will be available and all normal rules (including lottery) will apply.Extended hours will remain in effect through Monday, Memorial Day and we look forward to celebrating our restored freedom together!
Updates: Tasting Room & Track 5 Release
Recently, our local Fire Inspector came by as part of their regular visitation process. During their visit, they notified us that we are not able to use the loading ramp as an entrance/exit as we have done for the past six years. That is until we install a new, controlled entrance. As such, they have severely restricted the number of employees and guests that may be inside at any given time to less than 50. We are working with them to satisfy their requirements as quickly as possible to get these restrictions lifted. In the interim, we have suspended our brewery tour program and limited group visits. We are also making additional adjustments in order to provide the best service possible, while adhering to these new restrictions.
In regards to the release of Track 5 this Saturday (5/19), we will open to the public at 11:00 and Track 5 will be available at that time per normal rules and procedure. We do ask however, that in consideration of guests that may be waiting to gain entry, Patrons please limit their visit to an hour’s time or less. On-duty staff may need to cease service to guests that remain past that time. We will also be featuring a Growler Fill and Bottle Sales station on the loading ramp at what was once our main entrance. Although you will not be able to enter the Tasting Room, employees will be there to assist you in selecting bottles or filling your growlers. Both cash and credit cards will be accepted. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work through this challenge. Being able to share our outstanding beer with you is why we make it. We look forward to getting back to “business as usual” as soon as humanly possible. This also has an impact on our hard working team of Brewers and Beertenders, so we thank you in advance for supporting them through it all. Please stay tuned here and via our social media feeds for further updates and information as it becomes available.
Tasting Room Temporarily Adjusts Hours & Number of Visitors
As the brewery continues to grow and expand, we remain committed to ensuring that we provide the best customer experience while remaining in-line with regulatory requirements. We have therefore decided to temporarily adjust our Tasting Room times and occupancy while we research further into the best balance for all.Effective today, Monday, 5/14, we will adjust our maximum number of Patrons to fifty (50) inside the building at any given time. We will also be expanding our weekend hours allowing additional time to help offset this limitation.We appreciate your patronage and hope you will visit us during these new expanded times. Please stay tuned for further updates as we transition through this process and strive to provide the highest quality in service, experience and outstanding craft beer made with pride.
Adjusted Hours Are As Follows:
- Mon-Tue: 1pm - 6pm
- Wed: 1pm - 9pm *
- Thur: 1pm - 7pm
- Fri: 1pm - 9pm
- Sat: 11am - 9pm
- Sun: 11am - 7pm
* Wednesday is Hump Day Happy Hour! It's a round-up of great gourmet food trucks ready to serve amazing food to pair with our beers! A different line-up every week!
Craft Brewers Conference - Extended Tasting Room Hours
The World Beer Cup and the Craft Brewers Conference (CBC) is here May 1st - May 5th!
With over 2600 brewing industry professionals visiting the San Diego area from around the world, we are happy to welcome them and you, our loyal Patrons here for special hours during this auspicious event. We will be hosting special extended hours on the following days as follows:
- Sunday 4/29 - 12:00pm - 7:00pm
- My Urban Eats Food Truck
- Monday 4/30 - 11:00am - 7:00pm
- No Food Truck
- Tuesday 5/01 - 11:00am - 7:00pm
- No Food Truck
- Wednesday 5/02 - 10:00am - 9:00pm
- Slow Cal BBQ & Casanova Fish Tacos 11-8pm
- Hungry Hump Day Happy Hour:Red Oven Pizza, Mad Maui, Slow Cal BBQ, Casanova Fish Tacos BBQ & New York on Rye 5-8pm
- Thursday 5/03 - 11:00am - 3:00pm
- Early close due to Private Event.
- No Food Truck
- Friday 5/04 - 11:00am - 9:00pm
- Slow Cal BBQ Food Truck 12-9pm
- Saturday 5/05 - 11:00am - 7:00pm
- New York on Rye Food Truck 12-7pm
Come and join the fun as we celebrate the whole week through!
Meals on Wheels Charity Fundraiser
Early this morning our Hospitality Manager, Kevin Hopkins went on KPRI Radio to talk about a special Hungry Hump Day Happy Hour (#HHDHH) event we're hosting today from 5-8pm. Check it out!
Kevin on KPRi Radio
Hump Day Happy Hour Meals-on-Wheels
North County Progressive Food Truck Event
This coming Wednesday (3/21/12) we will hosting a very special edition of our regular Hungry Hump Day Happy Hour. Instead of the average five trucks, we are anticipating anywhere from 12-20 food trucks gathered outside the brewery to support Meals-On-Wheels Greater San Diego, Inc, and their ongoing program to provide meals to area seniors. Along with a plethora of trucks there will be live entertainment, a charity raffle, and the trucks will be competing for your vote to be selected best of the best. A fun time, great food, and fabulous beer is guaranteed!
Details are as follows:
- What: A VERY special edition of our regular, every Wednesday, truck gathering.
- Where: The Lost Abbey Parking Lot & Tasting Room
- How Much: Free Entry
- When: 5pm - 8pm on Wednesday, March 21 2012 .
- Who: Click HERE for a list of participating food trucks.
- Caveats: (read: Feel free to bring the food inside, but no alcohol is allowed outside.) 20% of funds raised by the food trucks and The Lost Abbey will go directly to -- Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Deigo, Inc.
- Twitter hashtag: #HHDHH
» Check out @lostabbeykevin on TV to help promote the event here: http://www.sandiego6.com/news/sd6-in-the-morning/Mayors-for-Meals-143103216.html
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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.
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 MasqueradeWhen: February 25, 7pm to 11pmWhere: The Lost Abbey, 155 Mata Way, Suite 104, San Marcos, CA 92069For directions to the brewery or more information, please vist our Contact Page.Check out these photos from previous Carnevale Masquerades:
Box Set Track 2 Releases This Saturday, February 18
This Saturday, February 18, 2012 at noon we'll be releasing the second track in our year long Box Set series.
Track 2, an ode to Led Zepplin's epic "Stairway to Heaven", is the first of our Rexmixed Tracks. It's a blend of Bourbon Angel's Share spiked with peaches, Cuvee de Tomme and Project X (our wild fermentation project). A heavenly brew indeed.As with all the Box Set releases, this is a very limited beer, so the release process will be different than the usual. We've posted everything you need to know on the Box Set page here.You'll find full details on Track 2 (the beer blend, ABV, liner notes, album art, etc.) on the website here.See you Saturday!
Box Set Track 1 Releases This Saturday
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.
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.
Boos n' Brews Night 2011
It's that time again! Sharpen your carving knife and have your pumpkin goop scooper at the ready because it's Boos n' Brews night at The Lost Abbey!
Join us in the tasting room for fresh Port / Lost Abbey beers and whole lot of really creative pumpkin carving as we get ready to ward off the evil spritis on All Hallows Eve Monday. A family-friendly occassion, you can bring your own pumpkin or pick one up at the brewery!The carving starts at 5pm - pumpkins are free, but in limited supply, so get there early if you’re feeling crafty with the squash. Beers are all our regular (very reasonable) prices.The Details:
- What: Boos n’ Brews Night at Lost Abbey
- When: Friday, October 28, 2011 – 4pm to 9pm
- Where: The Lost Abbey / Port Brewing
- How Much: Free!
Check out photos from our previous Boos n' Brews Nights:
5th Annual Barrel Party Night
The Details
- What: Lost Abbey Annual Barrel Night 2011
- When: Saturday, November 5, 2011 - 7pm to 10pm
- Where: The Lost Abbey / Port Brewing, San Marcos, San Diego County, CA
- How Much: $80 per each; $150 for a pair
Tickets go on sale October 5, 2011 at 12pm PDT and must be purchased online.
Click here to purchase ticketsSOLD OUT
Tickets for last year's event sold out very quickly, so make sure to purchase tickets early!
2011 Beer for Boobs Fundraiser
Port Brewing & The Lost Abbey will once again be hosting an annual Beer for Boobs fundraising event in support of the Susan G. Komen philanthropic trust and The 3 Day event to help find a cure for breast cancer.
Details:$10 gets you you a commemorative Beer for Boobs pint glass and two pints of any Lost Abbey or Port Brewing beer on tap.Beer for Boobs is the brainchild of our friends at White Labs who will be walking the 60 miles of The 3 Day walk for a cure in November. All proceeds from the evening will go to benefit the Susan G. Komen philanthropic trust.Who should attend:Anyone who has breasts, knows someone who has breasts, or supports breasts in any way shape or form.See you there!
What's on Tap for Labor Day Weekend
Not only is it going to be sunny and in the low 80's here in San Marcos for Labor Day weekend (okay, it's always sunny and warm in San Diego), but we've also got a whole bunch of cool stuff on tap to celebrate the traditional end of summer.Check this out:
Open Labor Day
we'll be open Monday, September 5 from noon to 4pm for tastings, as well as bottle sales and growlers fills so you can head off to your Labor Day parties and barbeques properly stocked with great Port & Lost Abbey beers.
Bourbon Angel's Share Release
The much anticipated bourbon barrel-aged Angel's Share will go on sale when the tasting room opens at 3pm on Friday afternoon. While this beer is going out to our full distribution network, if you'd like to be among the first to pick up a couple bottles, this weekend is your opportunity.
Special Taps
In addition to Bourbon Angel's Share, we'll be putting a couple of really special beers on tap in the tasting room.
- Fallbrook Estate Pale Ale: (Click here for the photo gallery)
A delicious pale ale made entirely with hops grown right here in Northern San Diego County. After the hops were picked and delivered to the brewery, a number of folks showed up to volunteer to pick the fresh hop cones from the vines by hand. Even though it took several days, the results were fantastic!We only ran one batch of this beer, meaning we won't be bottling or distributing it. As a result, your only chance to sample it will be in the brewery. 
Repoterrior Collaboration Lager: (Click here for the photo gallery)This is a collaboration beer between Allagash, Avery, Dogfish Head, The Lost Abbey and Sierra Nevada that the guys brewed together a couple months back when they were all visiting Sierra Nevada.The description from Sierra Nevada is as follows:
A distinct 5.5% ABV session-lager brewed with elemental, native terroir from the following collective of brewers: Sierra Nevada (wild rice, beets, cucumber, mint and carrots), Avery (Colorado alfalfa honey), Allagash (Maine purple potatoes), Dogfish Head (free-range Atlantic Ocean “beach” wood), and Lost Abbey (cage-free Pacific Ocean “beach” wood).Born out of a backroom conversation in a Boulder restaurant and blooming into a full-blown cornucopia of a collaboration, Repoterroir is a coming together of like-minded craft beer compatriots. Brewed at Sierra Nevada’s brewery in Chico, CA this sessionable lager beer reclaims the earthbound mantle of terroir from the grape-soaked, buttoned-down world of wine and re-purposes it in a new sudsy sense.Featuring natural ingredients contributed by each of the five breweries, this unique and earthy beer is complex and layered but ultimately drinkable. Using the full repertoire of skills from more than 86 combined years of brewing knowledge and skill, this lager combines traditional (and not so traditional) ingredients into an ideal summertime brew.
Repoterroir was an extremely limited draught-only brew, and the only places it will be available is in the tap rooms, tasting rooms and restaurants of the collaborating breweries.We only have a couple 1/6th barrel kegs, so if you want to try this brew, we recommend you show up sooner rather than later.
High Tide Brewing
Finally, as if all the other stuff wasn't enough, we just got word from Yakima that the hop harvest is on! We'll be expecting a truckload of fresh-picked hops arriving sometime Friday night and will start brewing the 2011 release High Tide wet-hop IPA that night.We'll be brewing around the clock throughout the weekend, so if you drop by you'll have an opportunity to see the beer being made right there in the brewhouse.If you've ever been curious as to what the brewing process (and/or a ton of wet hops) looks like, this will be your one and only opportunity in the Abbey for this year.(Please note: because the tasting room is in the brewhouse and they will be brewing, for guest safety our guided brewery tours will be cancelled.)
Fallbrook Estate Pale Ale
Here's a few photos from our picking and brewing the Fallbrook Estate Pale Ale - a special limited brew we made entirely with locally grown hops. (Specifically, hops grown in Fallbrook, a small community in Northern San Diego County about 20 minutes up the road from us).Thanks to farmer Sheldon for the hops![nggallery id=20]
Repeterrior Collaboration Brew
Just a handful of photos from the brewing of the Repeterrior Collaboration at Sierra Nevada earlier this summer.[nggallery id=31]The description from Sierra Nevada is as follows:
A distinct 5.5% ABV session-lager brewed with elemental, native terroir from the following collective of brewers: Sierra Nevada (wild rice, beets, cucumber, mint and carrots), Avery (Colorado alfalfa honey), Allagash (Maine purple potatoes), Dogfish Head (free-range Atlantic Ocean “beach” wood), and Lost Abbey (cage-free Pacific Ocean “beach” wood).Born out of a backroom conversation in a Boulder restaurant and blooming into a full-blown cornucopia of a collaboration, Repoterroir is a coming together of like-minded craft beer compatriots. Brewed at Sierra Nevada’s brewery in Chico, CA this sessionable lager beer reclaims the earthbound mantle of terroir from the grape-soaked, buttoned-down world of wine and re-purposes it in a new sudsy sense.Featuring natural ingredients contributed by each of the five breweries, this unique and earthy beer is complex and layered but ultimately drinkable. Using the full repertoire of skills from more than 86 combined years of brewing knowledge and skill, this lager combines traditional (and not so traditional) ingredients into an ideal summertime brew.
This beer was an extremely limited draught brew served only in the tap rooms, tasting rooms and restaurants of the collaborating breweries.
Photos from the 2011 Pre-Stone Anniversary Breakfast
Last Saturday's pre-Stone Anniversary breakfast was our biggest ever with a little more than 500 people or so turning out to nosh on lots of hot and hearty foods before a day of celebrating Stone's 15th birthday across the highway at Cal State San Marcos. Thanks to all of you who dropped by to say hello. And to those who didn't, sorry we missed you!Here's a few photos from the day's events for your viewing pleasure.[nggallery id=35]
Beer Release: 2011 The Angel's Share (Bourbon Barrel-aged)
We're pleased to announce that Friday, September 2, 2011 will mark the release of the 2011 bourbon barrel-aged version of The Angel's Share, our legendary English-style barleywine.This vintage was aged slightly more than 12 months in fresh, used Heaven Hill American white oak barrels. The blend of 47 barrels yielded 550 cases and an additional 200 five gallon kegs, providing enough beer for full coast-to-coast distribution.Those living in locations in which our beers are available should expect to see The Angel's Share on shelves and taps shortly after Labor Day (September 5th).Release details are as follows:
- Beer: The Angel's Share - Bourbon Barrel-Aged
- Formats: 375ml cork stoppered bottles and draft
- Distribution: Full network
- Purchase limits: None
For more information on The Angel's Share, click here.For distribution and availability in your area, please click here.
Lost Abbey to Stone Anniversary without a Car
So you're going to the Stone Brewing 15th Anniversary celebration at Cal State San Marcos on Saturday, and you'd like to drop by Lost Abbey to enjoy a hearty breakfast and perhaps a beer or two before you head off to attend your Session.
Problem is, you really don't want to deal with the hassles of driving between the two locations.Good news. You don't have to.The Lost Abbey is actually very close to the party's location at Cal state San Marcos (a mere 4,800 ft as the crow flies), and there's a number of options including the train, bike trails and walking paths that are just about as quick as driving your car between places. Here's how to get there from here (or vice versa) without climbing in a car:
The Train
One of the best kept secrets around here is the Sprinter -- the light rail system that runs between Oceanside on the coast, and Escondido inland. You can hop on the train at San Marcos city center (Lost Abbey's station) and off it again 3 minutes later at Cal State San Marcos (for the festival). The Sprinter is also bike friendly, so if you'd rather pedal than hoof it, you can.Lost Abbey is a few minute(s) walk from the San Marcos City Center station, as is the Cal State San Marcos station from the festival. With a bike it's less than half that time.Trains run once an hour and the fare is $2 each way, or you can buy a $5 round trip pass that will take you from Oceanside to Escondido and back again (very convenient if you'd rather leave your car at the transit station or if you're going all train via the Coaster, MetroLink or Amtrak).Tip: Take the Inland Rail Trail (it's on the map) to/from Sprinter and Lost Abbey. The trail avoids the street lights and a steep hill, so you'll travel all that much quicker.MAP: Travel via the Sprinter
View Lost Abbey to Stone 14th in a larger map
Walking / Biking
If you're into the whole human-powered thing, it's still pretty easy to go between Lost Abbey and the Anniversary Party just using your feet or a bike. (The distance is actually shorter than driving because you can cut through the parking lots and use the sidewalks and bike paths to avoid car routes.) If you're driving and then hoofing/pedaling, make sure to park your car at Cal State San Marcos early and roll down the hill to Lost Abbey. You can have breakfast and burn a few carbs going back to the Stone event. When your Session is over your car will be waiting nearby.Tip: Cut through the Old Spaghetti Factory / LA Fitness parking lot between Twin Oaks & Rancheros (it's on the map). Cars have to drive around it, but you'll cut 1/2 a mile off your trip each way.MAP: Travel via foot or bike
View Larger Map