Tuesday 24th of April 2012 10:14:48 AM

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Port Brewing/Lost Abbey is located in one of a series of identical low-rise white and gray buildings towards the back of a generic light industrial/warehouse park. The grain silo outside is the only clear indication that this is a brewery. The space inside is quite large with very high ceilings, a lot of open space, and two roll-up metal garage doors. The floors are concrete as befits a working production brewery.

The wood-trimmed aluminum bar has multiple sides and very unusual “stools”, consisting of an empty keg topped by a sack of “cerelose dextrose monohydrate” (and it’s rather hard!). Several barrels on end and other makeshift tables are scattered around the tasting area.

The stainless steel brew kettle and mash tun and a number of matching fermenters occupy the back of the room, more or less in the corner opposite the bar. Behind the bar is a metal refrigeration unit holding the beer for the taps as well as bottled beer for sale. You can also get a growler filled. Behind the refrigeration unit is a large separate room entered through a timber-framed doorway bearing the motto “In Illa Brettanomyces, Nos Fides”. The walls of this room are lined with neatly arranged stacks of barrels aging various Lost Abbey beers.

The beer selection is huge: 14 Port Brewing choices and 9 or 10 Los Abbey choices were available to choose from on our visit. The beers we sampled (Port Wipeout IPA and 10 Commandments, Devotion, and Avant Garde from Lost Abbey) were all quite good. You can buy a pint or get a taster for $1.

Friday 26th of August 2011 02:12:46 PM

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Went to Lost Abbey/Port Brew with my wife on Saturday early afternoon before going to the Stone 15th anniversary Beer Festival. I had never tried any of the brews before, but I had read great things about their beers.

The place is kinda hard to find, in an industrial park type area...and limited parking. As you walk into there was a BBQ food Truck set up. We walked in and they had a very long bar set-up and lots of bartenders. It wasn't super crowded in there and not many places to sit except at the bar, so we walked up to the bar and took a seat. The bartenders that helped us were great. They treated us like we were old friends and told us all about their beer. Plus they were mostly female and attractive so it was a bonus. =D They told us that they had a FREE breakfast set up earlier that morning for the Stone 15th Anniversary Beer Festival and that we missed out since there wasn't any food left and they also offered a FREE shuttle...as it was only about 5 mins from the site of the festival. Would have been nice to know earlier, but great that they even offer it.

They have about 15-20 taps...most of them were written on a big board above the taps. Each taster was $1. I tried Judgement day and was quite impressed as I prefer Belgian Style beer. I told the bartender that I wanted to try Angels share...the bartender asked me if i had noticed their premium taps boards which were 5 small boards (1'x1')just above all of the taps...Those premium tasters are $2. She told me to try both Angels share and the premium taster the VERN...which is a peach, and black tea, version of the bourbon Angels Share. Both were excellent! My wife who doesn't usually drink beer (my DD) had a taster of the VERN...it is very strong and on the sweet side...almost like a PORT wine. We also noticed they had some pretty sweet t-shirts displayed that were discounted and ended up getting a judgement day t-shirt, the bartenders even talked my wife into getting a Witches Wit T-shirt. Wifey looks great in her t-shirt btw. I also picked up Lost Abbey glassware. There was a group sitting the end of the bar next to us, who work at Lost Abbey. They overheard us talking with the bartender and recommended Port's OLDER VISCOSITY and Port's Bourbon Santa's Little Helper. They actually had mixed them both in their glass and had given me a sip. PHENOMINAL!! I ended up trying both tasters individually. Both were Excellent and would be difficult if not impossible to find anywhere else. So I'm glad that I had to chance to try them.

We went to 8 different breweries in San Diego in this last weekend and this was my favorite spot of the weekend. Highly recommended.

FYI I later found older viscosity at Total Wine for $16...for a 12 oz bottle...glad that I had a chance to taste about 3 or 4 oz for about $2! Curious to find Bourbon Santa's Little Helper.

Tuesday 5th of January 2010 09:58:26 PM

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I was last here when it was still the Stone brewery. It's interesting to see how Port/Lost Abbey changed things around. I especially like the "chairs" of kegs topped with a sack of grain. Apparently, brewery tasting rooms can't have chairs; at least that's the story someone told me and it sounded good. Quite an extensive list of draft and bottles from both Lost Abbey and Port Brewing available. Being a barrel aged beer person and a fan of Brettanomyces, I really liked the barrel room. Simple food (dogs & chips) were available during my visit but I'm not sure how frequent this is. I was there on a Saturday afternoon and the place could get very busy when the brewpub tour bus came through. Will definitely revist the next chance I get.

Tuesday 4th of August 2009 05:27:49 PM

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Lost Abbey, sister brewery to Port Brewing, turns out some of the best Belgian style beers this side of the Atlantic. They are a small craft beer brewery located in San Marcos in the old Stone Brewery facility. They have their tasting room open on Friday and Saturday afternoons, which is held in their warehouse. They offer most of their beers on tap as well as most Port Brewing beers. Sometimes they even break out the grill for some grub.

Thursday 5th of February 2009 01:30:04 PM

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This person needs 3 or more reviews on the site for their scores to start counting.

I come here with some friends of mine who are regulars, and I have to say the place continues to impress me! I remember coming when the tasting room just opened, and now it almost seems like THE place for beer lovers to gather around North County on Friday nights / Saturday afternoons. Everyone behind the bar is great and are great sources of conversation and beer happenings throughout the county. The whole place shouts authenticity: where else can you go and hang out in the brewery itself, next to barrels and cases of world-class beer!

A great sign of a great company is when the head guy is out there every week mingling with the patrons...my hat is off to Tomme and the staff to making this about as friendly place as there is out there. There is a reason this brewery keeps the locals happy and the international beer community constantly abuzz (brewer / brewery of the year awards plus all the accolades / medals for the beers themselves go a long way in this business). Now get out there! Take advantage of this rare gem and go have a few pints with some like-minded beer enthusiasts!

Tuesday 6th of January 2009 06:15:30 PM

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Home to the legendary Tomme Arthur.

If you have enjoyed any of the Lost Abbey offerings or Port Brewing specialty beers and have ever been to San Diego, then you probably have already visited. If not, here is the basics:

Tasting Room Hours:

Fridays: 5-8
Saturdays: 12-5

All days/hours subject to change at discretion of brewers and brewery staff...

Offerings include an ever changing line-up of both Port/Lost Abbey brews with the major labels usually up all of the time.

Tastings can be 4oz. for a minimal fee.

or 16oz. pours for a standard charge.

Plus bottles and 64oz. growlers for off-site carriage.

If you come. Plan to stand. Seating is limited and supplied by what breweries have in stock. Kegs and bags of dextrose etc.

Be relaxed. Come for the beer, Service is usually provided from a number of volunteer staffers. They work hard but this is not a sit-down service type of place.

Be respectful. Everyone you speak to behind the bar, and many in front know their beer... If you want to strike up a great conversation, then be polite and engaging.

Logo'd clothing and glassware is also available for purchase.

Special events are held several times a year both on-site, and off. Some including food.

Now Go!