It was 2006 when The Lost Abbey Brewing debuted in San Marcos. Since then the business has earned awards and worldwide renown behind its hoppy, Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers, all while overcoming myriad challenges including relocating its headquarters, not once but twice over the past three years. The latter made for a taxing, uncertain period in the company’s lifespan, but founder Tomme Arthur says he and his team have settled nicely into their forever home at Eppig Brewing’s former production facility in south Vista. Taking a beat to recuperate would be justified, but The Lost Abbey squad isn’t resting on their laurels. Instead, they are hard at work on a new undertaking, converting a former brewery and craft-beer bar in Miramar into the company’s fourth satellite tasting room.
Located in the Miralani Makers’ District, that 1,400-square-foot space was previously the domain of Thunderhawk Alements, a nanobrewery co-founded by a pair of homebrewers in 2016. Following that business’ 2020 closure the space was taken over and transformed into a bar serving local and harder-to-come-by ales and lagers from popular and emerging out-of-market producers. Dubbed Wolf Larsen’s Alehouse, it was the passion project of Jeremy DeConcini, a co-founder of MotoSonora Brewing, a Tucson-based company Arthur consulted for in its early years.
“Jeremy was a big reason we pulled the trigger on the space. We’re constantly in conversation and he knows the area really well,” says Arthur. “ It was a simple transaction to explore the space and one that we felt comfortable doing. There has been a rich tasting-room history at this location and we expect to continue the narrative that great beer can be found here.”
Arthur foresees opening the new tasting to the public in the next 60 days. Right now he describes its look as “business-park chic”, but he intends to repaint the space, install updated fixtures and a new bar top, introduce dark and natural wood elements, and bring in varying pieces of The Lost Abbey’s iconic, Catholicism-steeped bottle art so the taproom matches its sister satellites in downtown’s East Village, Cardiff-by-the-Sea and San Marcos’ San Elijo community. Additionally, a section of the unit that once housed Thunderhawk Alements’ production area will be converted into a space with open seating, darts and other games, as Arthur does not plan to brew at the new location.
“The Miramar area has always hosted some of San Diego’s best breweries, and we look forward to being in the neighborhood with AleSmith Brewing, Fall Brewing, White Labs and more,” says Arthur. “It’s fun to think about making the connections to those who work nearby or call the area home.”
The launch of the Miramar tasting room figures to take place around the same time as another significant event for The Lost Abbey, the company’s 20-year anniversary celebration. That party will take place at the company’s Vista location on May 9 from 12 to 5 p.m. and revolve around the release of Duck Duck Kriek. A Belgian-style sour ale infused with cherries, it is based on the same barrel-aged base beer as The Lost Abbey’s incredibly popular American gueuze, Duck Duck Gooze. A public presale of the beer will take place online starting at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 2.
The Lost Abbey Brewing’s headquarters is located at 1347 Keystone Way, Suite C in Vista, and its new tasting room will be located at 8675 Miralani Drive, Suite 100 in Miramar