Today we’d like to introduce you to Tomme Arthur.
Tomme, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey started brewing in 2006. We took over the original Stone Brewing building in San Marcos when they moved their headquarters to Escondido. We opened our doors with two brands of beers. The Port Brewing beers are “Laid Back and Hop Forward.” They are very much in the range of what is commonly called West Coast Craft Brewing (typically utilizing elevated hop rates and higher alcohol levels).
From the beginning, The Lost Abbey was imagined as a highly creative and boundary-pushing brand. We wanted to produce beers “For Sinners and Saints Alike.” Many of The Lost Abbey beers derive their flavors and roots in the Monastic and Farmhouse Brewing traditions from Belgium. Through the use of unique yeasts, specialty ingredients, and even oak barrel aging, big, bold, and amazing beers are produced. For the past 16 years, The Lost Abbey has been synonymous with World Class Artisanal Brewing and is known globally as an innovator in the craft beer category.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We have been blessed along the way with some incredible successes. But like many other breweries, we have dealt with our fair share of struggles. Initially, as we grew from a small to medium-sized brewery operation, we had issues with quality control and consistency of production. During this period, we implemented a new Quality Assurance program and built a lab. With the construction of the lab, we also purchased from very sophisticated measuring equipment, which enabled us to certify and repeat our processes through pinpoint control.
Today we are in a post-pandemic world that has demonstratively impacted our business. Nearly every raw material and cost of good items we need to make beer is incredibly more expensive. With this in mind, we are constantly experiencing cost increases and an erosion to our bottom line. It is something all breweries and many industries are dealing with. It sucks to be frank. But if business was meant to be easy, everyone would be doing it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At Port Brewing and The Lost Abbey, we are recognized as an industry-leading brewery with a passion for making the best beers we can imagine. Since opening our doors, we have inspired so many other breweries with our love of funky, wild, and barrel-aged beers. Some of our biggest successes have taken years to accomplish, and the awards that we have earned for these beers is proof that our crew is one of the best at this style of brewing.
Being a part of The Lost Abbey brings an amazing sense of pride and accomplishment. Knowing our beers have an impact on the global craft brewing scene is not something we take lightly. Our brewers continue to be masters of blending and finding depths of flavor in all facets of our operations.
As a Belgian Inspired brewery, we also specialize in many non-sour and wood-aged beers. These beers are defined by a collective balance and harmony of ingredients and final expression found in each sip. Not many brewers in our region have as deep a portfolio as we do. This matters very much to us a Malt and Hop Artists.
Our Co-Founder has also been recognized by the Brewers Association for his contributions in the Craft Brewing. In 2018 he earned the Russell Schehrer award for Innovation in Brewing. This award is given annually to one brewer who has demonstrated lifetime achievement recognition for their professional service and body of work. In 20022, Tomme was also recognized locally by his peers and the San Diego Beer News and earned the first Vanguard Brewer award for his 26 years of brewing, artistry, and commitment to excellence in San Diego Brewing.
What matters most to you? Why?
Great Beer- Great People and Great Occasions for them to come together. Of course, these are the elements that define how great beer fosters communities.
Without great beer, there is no reason to drink. Without great people, there wouldn’t be great occasions to be celebrated.
I’ve always thought that beer is one of the best fuels on the planet. As a social lubricant, it bridges communities; it’s non-denominational and doesn’t need party lines to define it. It’s nearly agnostic in that way, but it certainly spawns some of the most incredible conversations.
In short, Beer Matters.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lostabbey.com
- Instagram: Lostabbey.com
- Facebook: @lostabbey
