Entering 2020, Tomme Arthur had grand aspirations of introducing the beer-drinking world to the fun-loving antics of a character of his joyous design, Brutus T. Bubbles. The co-founder of San Marcos’ multi-brand entity, which includes The Lost Abbey, Port Brewing and The Hop Concept, planned for the lovable mascot for his new line of sessionable, Brettanomyces-inoculated probiotic beers, Tiny Bubbles, to rule the summer, making appearances at beer fests, backyard cookouts and other beer-friendly outdoor events. COVID-19 may have eliminated those situational-drinking opportunities, but the many months of research and development that went into Tiny Bubbles weren’t for naught.
Arthur reports many consumers have ordered Tiny Bubbles beers online and at the company’s tasting rooms. This makes sense, given a larger percentage of those purchasers are regular patrons familiar with The Lost Abbey’s long, award-winning history where Brett beers are concerned. The company has garnered numerous local, national and international awards for such creations, including its Carnevale Brett saison, Duck Duck Gooze American gueuze and various barrel-aged sour ales. Those offerings are high in science and less accessible to the casual beer drinker. Meanwhile, Tiny Bubbles beers are designed for everyday drinking versus cellaring and popping on a special occasion. They come in four-packs of slender 12-ounce cans similar in look and end-use to canned wines. And, of course, they have Brutus’ round, playfully expressive face further driving home their unpretentiousness.
The public has responded well to this whimsy, something rarely associated with Brett beers and wild ales, in general. So have local retailers, including grocery stores, which see Tiny Bubbles’ potential and are preparing to feature the brand very soon.
“Vons and Albertson’s stores are going to slot Tiny Bubbles Brut in some of their spring resets. We expect 20 to 30 stores to start, which should represent a good case study for them,” says Arthur. “Given the brand is new, we hope it attracts the beer drinker who seeks new, fun opportunities. That said, we feel we have a nice range of flavors that many consumers will enjoy and find accessible no matter when the occasion strikes.”
Tiny Bubbles’ Original Brut Ale was the first of the line to debut and is the unadulterated Brett- and sea-salt-infused beverage that is also the base of three fruited variants. Two of those spin-offs, Blood Orange-Guava and Key Lime, were released last year, with the latter debuting in special brown-and-gold cans coinciding with the Slam Diego-era Padres’ postseason campaign. Both have proven successful for the company, leading to hopeful anticipation over a soon-to-debut, raspberry-infused Rosé iteration Arthur says is “designed for the serious Sunday morning drinker.”
And if sparkling rosé isn’t your brunch option of choice, Arthur has another line of beverages that may well fit the bill: Khárisma Teas. Gluten-free and 125 calories per 12-ounce serving, they are also a comparable alternative to hard seltzers, something the company is not interested in producing. But tea-inspired ales…that’s an entirely different situation.
“I drink a ton of iced tea and have always thought that the flavors would meld with dry-hop aromas. As we approached this project in R&D land, we found that barley-based teas would precipitate out some flakes and couldn’t solve that riddle, so we agreed that a gluten-free base and using agave nectar was a suitable solution. The resulting tea base is bone dry,” says Arthur. “Unlike hard seltzers, which have crystal-clear bases, fruited infusions and similar flavor-profile intensities, our Khárisma teas rely on the tea and the adjuncts to build varying levels of intensity. In that way, their production involves more techniques associated with brewing and dry-hopping of ales.”
Two Khárisma varieties have been released so far, Rossa (red) brewed with lemongrass, hibiscus and orange peel that is dry-hopped with Simcoe, and Nero (black) brewed with black tea, chai spice and coconut that is dry-hopped with Loral hops. Both were produced as part of a collaborative contract-brewing partnership with Carlsbad’s Rouleur Brewing, and have been released on draft and in cans. A pilot batch of a third offering dubbed Bianca (white) with white-peach tea and peach concentrate then dry-hopped with Amarillo hops, is scheduled to be brewed at Rouleur later this month. If all goes to plan, they will can 100 cases and keg the rest to tap at The Lost Abbey’s tasting rooms in San Marcos, San Elijo and Cardiff by the Sea.
When asked about his approach to selecting hop varietals for the Khárisma teas, Arthur explains. “As there is no bitterness, we expect the hops to add aromatic interests and be part of a layered and inviting nose. Simcoe hops are citrusy and they work incredibly well in the Rossa, as they play off the lemongrass and orange peel. Loral has a soft hop character with light fruit, herbal and spicy edges, so that seemed like a no-brainer with our black chai tea, Nero.”
Arthur and company are pleased with the initial traction gained by Tiny Bubbles and Khárisma, particularly in the midst of a pandemic, and eager to see how those brands will perform beyond COVID-19. They know both have legs and potential to appeal to the growing percentage of consumers craving alternative alcoholic beverages.
“We try not to put any pressure on the ideal situation. We know that these alternatives really shine in grab-and-go settings and with those who might not favor heavier and bitter things,” says Arthur. “Ultimately, we know there are a ton of people who are into exploring and these two brands give us free range and a platform for doing something not singularly beery.”
Port Brewing / The Lost Abbey is located at 155 Mata Way in San Marcos