The Lost Abbey Brewing Company is a brewery in San Marcos, run by Director of Brewery Operations Tomme Arthur. The Lost Abbey specializes in producing Belgian-inspired beers, barrel-aged beers and sours. The Lost Abbey, Port Brewing Company and The Hop Concept beers all come from the brewhouse within The Lost Abbey. It can be a bit confusing when referring to three different breweries that are technically located under the same roof, but there’s a reason why it’s done this way. The beers that come from these three brands allow the brewery to experiment in different ways without confusing or overloading the consumer. Wouldn’t it be weird if The Lost Abbey made a dank-bomb IPA? Yes, it would be. Today, Peaks & Pints pushes aside the hoppy beers and presents a to-go flight of The Lost Abbey beers — a flight we’re calling Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: The Lost Abbey On the Fly.
Peaks and Pints Pilot Program: The Lost Abbey On the Fly
The Lost Abbey Red Poppy Ale
6.5% ABV
The golden poppy is the state flower of California, and the red poppy is found in Belgium’s Flanders fields where The Lost Abbey’s inspiration for this Flanders red style sour originated. Red Poppy Ale is a veritable celebration of sour cherries in an explosion of aromas and tastes. Brewed from a brown ale base and aged in their oak barrels for more than 12 months, this beer is not for the faint of heart.
The Lost Abbey Ghosts in the Forest
6.1% ABV
The forest is a majestic and magical place full of wonder and incredible creatures, of course, but the amazement also comes with a great degree of mystery. Ghost definitely live in the forest, and they definitely come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, species … and tastes. Slumbering for 18th months in a forest of massive oak foeders, The Lost Abbey’s Ghosts in the Forest, a blonde sour, focuses on the complexity of Brettanomyces and oak. Ghosts in the Forest begins with a lemon tartness leading to hints of tropical fruit from the Brettanomyces with a refreshingly dry and lightly oaked finish.
The Lost Abbey Lost and Found
8% ABV
Modeled after the great Trappist and Monastic beers that inspired the founding of The Lost Abbey, Lost and Found Belgian-style dubbel arrives a richly deep garnet created from a blend of domestic and imported malts. As part of their commitment to interesting brewing endeavors, Chef Vince created a special raisin purée for this beer. It hits the nose with banana, gum-like esters, light cocoa and raisin, followed by layers of malt, yeast, and teasingly dry chocolate malt finish. Malts, raisins, and a fantastic yeast strain working in harmony produce a beer of amazing complexity and depth.
The Lost Abbey Carnevale
8% ABV
Brewed in celebration of Lent and Easter season, The Lost Abbey’s Carnevale is a light-bodied saison, using Brettanomyces along with Amarillo and Simcoe hops to generate flavor and depth. It hits the nose with moderate spice plus hints of tropical fruits and toasted biscuits. Some tangerine and apricot help round out the citrus notes. On the tongue, expect mild sweetness with subtle pop, the carbonation helps introduce the deep flavor of Brett to the palate. Carnevale’s complexity grows with time. The citrus notes tend to wane, and the wild yeast rears its wonderfully tasting head.
The Lost Abbey Judgment Day
10.5% ABV, 25 IBU
The Lost Abbey’s Judgment Day is packed with rich Belgian character. Sherry, raisins and a touch of leather carry subtle hints of smoke, culminating in an elegant bouquet. Sugary dark fruits — think cherries and raisins — splash down and seep into rich toasted bread notes and of caramel almost bordering on burnt caramel. Expect some slight bitterness, which keeps it from getting too sweet. The alcohol warmth in the finish helps to round out this beer. The beer is big and sits on the tongue and lingers.
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