When it comes to using a new public venue to drive home an existing thematic, a company can’t hit the nail any harder or more squarely on the head than Catholicism-steeped San Marcos brewing interest, The Lost Abbey, siting a tasting room in a historic church. The project has been in the works for three years, during which the circa-1906 Mexican Presbyterian Church at the corner of J and 13th Streets in downtown’s East Village transformed into a suds-sampling space with an outdoor patio that will also house an on-site kitchen. “The Church” has been highly anticipated by beer fans who have had to wait far longer than they—or The Lost Abbey’s team—have wanted or expected, but soon, church will finally be in session.
“We started on this project in September of 2018 when we first toured the project site. Needless to say, the world has gotten crazy, but as we get closer to opening the space it feels like great timing,” says The Lost Abbey’s co-founder and Director of Brewery Operations Tomme Arthur (pictured above). “The actual process of finishing the space has been the most challenging. All of the stuff sitting on ships and in ports not reaching shelves has been nothing short of amazing. It’s unreal how hard it’s been to find the right finish pieces.”
Rather than compromise, Arthur and company held out and held true to their vision for the space. The Church features a white-and-gray marble bar top, custom tables and pew-style benches and an altar centerpiece. There is also a stained-glass piece designed by local artist Paul Bloomquist, and a plethora of the iconic heaven-and-hell visuals from The Lost Abbey’s artist over the company’s 15-year lifespan, Sean Dominguez. The latter, in particular, makes it clear from the moment a fan of the acclaimed brewing interest steps foot in The Church, that this is an extension, if not the perfect embodiment, of The Lost Abbey and its Old World spirit.
“I think for the most part we have really nailed it. Lost Abbey fans will see tons of our art, some great church-like elements and there is an awesome Après-like ski deck for imbibing outside,” says Arthur, referencing the “after-ski” culture of socializing after a day on the slopes.
While there are no snow-capped mountains in The Church’s vicinity, The Lost Abbey figures to draw its fair share of area urbanites. The initial lure will be its Belgian-inspired beers along with products from sister brands Port Brewing, The Hop Concept, Tiny Bubbles and Khárisma hard teas. The project’s food component is on pace to debut about a month following the venue’s debut. That concept, which The Lost Abbey will operate itself versus bringing in a food-vendor partner, will offer a menu of tacos with an epicurean bent. Running a culinary operation will be a first for the company, but Arthur is encouraged by having an experienced kitchen manager on his team.
When reflecting on the long and arduous road leading to The Church’s unveiling, Arthur cites a number of parties that were incredibly helpful. Among them are the fans who purchased specialty beers to help fund construction efforts as part of The Lost Abbey’s “Fund the Church” sale earlier this year. The money raised through that initiative was used to put down payments on restaurant and kitchen equipment and preorder other necessary items months in advance of the opening.
Arthur adds that consultants from Hauck Architecture and builders from Prevost Construction were “money and lights-out,” and says he expects a similarly impressive performance from Jenna Sloan (pictured above) the longtime general manager of The Lost Abbey’s Cardiff-by-the-Sea tasting room, The Confessional, who will be relocating to manage The Church.
Following The Church’s debut, which is up-in-the-air as Arthur and company await a final piece in the puzzle from SDG&E, its hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. For now, The Lost Abbey is getting its service element in order with a pair of industry nights that will serve as practice sessions for The Church’s staff.
Arthur says he and his team are feeling the need to party after all that went into realizing their vision. As such, a grand-opening event will surely take place, and he says that fete figures to include specialty tacos and “copious kegs of great beer”, initial public debut, including fan-favorite American gueuze, Duck Duck Gooze.
The Lost Abbey’s tasting room, The Church, is located at 1313 J Street in downtown San Diego’s East Village