The Lost Abbey
The Lost Abbey is a craft brewery founded in 2006 in San Marcos, California, producing Belgian-inspired ales, barrel-aged sours, and wild beers for individual craft beer enthusiasts and wholesale accounts across California and Washington, operating five themed tasting rooms in San Diego County and an online bottle store.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersSan Marcos, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What The Lost Abbey does
The Lost Abbey is a craft brewery founded in 2006 in San Marcos, California, operating as The Lost Abbey Brewing LLC, that specializes in Belgian-inspired ales and barrel-aged sour and wild beers. Its brewing program is anchored by an extended barrel aging process using approximately 130 oak barrels (French Oak, Brandy, and Bourbon) along with oak foeders, and by proprietary house Brettanomyces cultures that produce signature flavor profiles across the Veritas experimental series, Cuvée de Tomme, Duck Duck Gooze, Framboise de Amorosa, and other fruited sours. Under co-founder and COO Tomme Arthur, the brewery has earned multiple industry honors including 2007 GABF Small Brewery of the Year, 2008 World Beer Cup Champion Small Brewery, and the 2018 Russell Scherer Award for Brewing Innovation.
The company makes money through four primary streams: (1) direct-to-consumer pour and bottle sales across five themed, company-owned tasting rooms in the San Diego area — Vista "Mother Ship," San Marcos "Sanctuary," Miralani District "Monastery," Cardiff "Confessional," and downtown San Diego "Church"; (2) online direct bottle sales via shop.lostabbey.com with California shipping for select products; (3) wholesale distribution throughout California (including a longstanding Russian River Brewing partnership covering Northern California) and into Washington state; and (4) ticketed events such as Barrel Night ($150-$225), Carnevale ($30), and anniversary celebrations ($40). Specialty 750ml bottles are priced at $41 with strict per-customer allocations, and the lineup has expanded into adjacent categories with Kharisma hard teas and Holy Water non-alcoholic sparkling hop water.
The customer base is primarily individual craft beer enthusiasts seeking high-end barrel-aged and sour beers, supplemented by event hosts booking private functions and by wholesale accounts (bottle shops, taprooms, restaurants). Distribution is concentrated in California with nascent wholesale expansion into Washington, and the company has remained independent with no disclosed institutional funding or parent entity.
The Lost Abbey firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Lost Abbey
- Legal name
- The Lost Abbey Brewing LLC
- Website
- https://lostabbey.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Lost Abbey is a craft brewery founded in 2006 in San Marcos, California, producing Belgian-inspired ales, barrel-aged sours, and wild beers for individual craft beer enthusiasts and wholesale accounts across California and Washington, operating five themed tasting rooms in San Diego County and an online bottle store.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Lost Abbey industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer
- NAICS
- Breweries (31212)
- SIC
- Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings (THAJAGAE)
Keywords
Where The Lost Abbey is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Marcos
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
The Lost Abbey business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer Tasting Room Sales: On-site beer sales at five tasting room locations. Core and seasonal beers available for pours. Food service partnerships at select locations.
- Online Bottle Sales: Specialty and limited-release beers sold online with pickup at tasting rooms. California shipping available for select products. Online sales platform at shop.lostabbey.com.
- Wholesale Distribution: Draft and bottle distribution through distributor network across California. Northern California distribution through Russian River Brewing partnership. Expansion into Washington state and other markets.
- Event Revenue: Ticketed events including Barrel Night ($150-$225), anniversary parties ($40), and Carnevale celebrations. Food and merchandise sales at events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Specialty Release Bottles - $41 each |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Barrel Night Event - $150-$225 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Anniversary Party - $40 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Carnevale Event - $30 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Lost Abbey product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Lost Abbey is a craft brewery that produces Belgian-inspired ales and barrel-aged specialty beers, including fruited sours, strong ales, and saisons fermented with house Brettanomyces cultures. The company operates five company-owned tasting rooms across San Diego County and sells specialty releases online and through wholesale distribution partnerships in California and beyond.
Product overview
The Lost Abbey is an award-winning craft brewery founded in 2006 in San Marcos, California, producing Belgian-inspired ales and American craft beers. The company's portfolio includes core products like Duck Duck Gooze (blended oak-aged sour), the Veritas series (experimental fruited sours), Cuvée de Tomme (barrel-aged quad), The Angel's Share (brandy barrel-aged strong ale), and seasonal releases including Framboise de Amorosa, Carnevale Ale, and Madonna and Child. Non-alcoholic offerings include Holy Water sparkling hop water, while Kharisma Hard Teas provide alternative alcoholic options. The company operates five tasting rooms across San Diego County (Vista, San Marcos, Miralani District, Cardiff, and San Diego) and offers private event hosting. Beers are distributed throughout California with limited specialty releases available through online sales.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Port Brewing: American ales and lagers line produced alongside The Lost Abbey Belgian-inspired beers.
- The Hop Concept
Products and services
- Duck Duck Gooze Blended oak-aged sour beer combining 1, 2, and 3 year old beers aged in French Oak barrels, targeted at craft beer enthusiasts seeking complex, aged sour ales.
- Veritas Series Annual experimental series of fruited sours aged in oak with various fruits (raspberries, blackberries, peaches, nectarines, apricots), exploring fruit, Brettanomyces, and barrel aging.
- Ex Cathedra Barrel-aged quad ale brewed with orange peel, ginger, and spices, then aged in Bourbon barrels for over 12 months. Available in 375ml caged and corked bottles and draft.
- Cuvée de Tomme Blended beer starting with Judgment Day quad brewed with raisins, aged with Brettanomyces in bourbon, brandy and red wine barrels, featuring notes of tart cherries, vanilla, oak and tannins.
- The Angel's Share Strong ale at 12.5% ABV aged in brandy barrels for 6-8 months, with port wine-like flavor and aroma profile.
- Framboise de Amorosa Sour ale brewed with 30lbs of raspberries, aged in French oak barrels with house Brettanomyces, featuring intense raspberry character and tart acidity.
- Madonna and Child Ale Tequila barrel-aged dark sour ale brewed with lime and salt, inspired by Southern California's love for margaritas.
- Carnevale Ale Blonde Saison ale accented with American hops and bottle conditioned with Brettanomyces. Gold Medal winner at 2008 Great American Beer Festival.
- AD IDEM French oak-aged golden sour ale with peaches and Brettanomyces, a collaboration brew with Wicked Weed Brewing.
- Santa's Little Helper (Bourbon Barrel-Aged) Bourbon barrel-aged Imperial Stout released annually since 2009, featuring tones of sweet malt, dark cocoa and bourbon notes.
- Santo Ron Diego Dark strong ale aged in rum barrels for 14 months, then rested on cherries, vanilla beans, and cacao nibs at 13.5% ABV.
- Kharisma Hard Teas Line of hard teas featuring real tea leaves, cold-brew craft, and natural flavors including Rossa (hibiscus), Nero (chai), Bianca (white tea/peach), and Verde (green tea/mango) variants.
- Holy Water Non-alcoholic sparkling hop water made with Simcoe hops, featuring herbal pine, floral citrus, and carbonation at 0.0% ABV.
- The Lost Abbey Vista Tasting Room Vista tasting room (the Mother Ship) offering on-site pours of core and seasonal beers, vintage offerings, heated patio, and event space.
- The Sanctuary - San Marcos Family-friendly tasting room in the North County hills of San Marcos offering fresh pours and food trucks Wednesday through Sunday.
- The Monastery - Miralani District Intimate tasting room in Miralani Makers' District offering an English pub-inspired atmosphere with sofas, darts, and thoughtfully crafted beers.
- The Confessional - Cardiff Coastal tasting room near the ocean in Cardiff with 24-tap system, pet-friendly patio, and confessional booth experience.
- The Church - San Diego Tasting room located in a historic 1906 church in downtown San Diego with a 32-tap system, large deck, and on-site food by Doggos Gus.
- Private Events Private event hosting service including rehearsal dinners, milestone celebrations, tasting room takeovers, and private performances at Vista, The Confessional, The Church, and The Sanctuary locations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2007 Great American Beer Festival Small Brewery of the Year
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Lost Abbey
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Lost Abbey technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
The Lost Abbey partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Russian River Brewing CompanycoreDistribution partnership for Northern California markets. Russian River distributes Port/Lost Abbey beers to draft and bottle accounts in San Francisco, East Bay, Marin, Napa, and Sonoma counties. Deliveries began March 2008. Longstanding friendship between founders Vinnie Cilurzo and Tomme Arthur.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Lost Abbey competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stone Brewing: One of the largest San Diego craft breweries; competes for on-premise draft placements and shelf space across the same regional wholesale and tasting-room markets as The Lost Abbey.
- New Belgium Brewing Company: Large U.S. craft brewery (now part of Kirin-owned Little World Beverages) with a portfolio that includes wood-aged and sour programs (e.g., La Folie); broadly competitive in the same craft channels with deeper distribution.
- Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Large, established California craft brewery with broad national distribution; competes in wholesale accounts and represents the broader craft incumbent that regional specialists like The Lost Abbey must differentiate against.
Direct peers
- Russian River Brewing Company: Santa Rosa/Placentia-based craft brewery specializing in barrel-aged sours, Belgian-inspired ales, and IPAs; both a direct product peer and The Lost Abbey's distribution partner in Northern California, making it the most comparable operator.
- Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales: Michigan-based wild/sour and barrel-aged specialist with rustic farmhouse and Brett-forward beers; comparable in Brettanomyces-led fermentation approach and oak-aged sour program.
- Allagash Brewing Company: Portland, Maine brewery renowned for Belgian-inspired ales and barrel-aged wild/sour programs; comparable in cellarable specialty positioning and Belgian-influence portfolio.
- The Bruery: Placentia, CA craft brewery focused on barrel-aged experimental and Belgian-inspired ales with a strong tasting-room and allocation-based DTC model — highly comparable in product style, premium pricing, and direct-to-consumer release strategy.
Emerging players
- Wicked Weed Brewing: Asheville, NC brewery with a strong sour/wild and barrel-aged program; collaboration partner on AD IDEM and directly comparable in wild ale and fruited sour portfolio.
Regional players
- AleSmith Brewing Company: San Diego craft brewery with award-winning ales and a comparable specialty/craft positioning; same regional market as The Lost Abbey with overlapping on-premise and wholesale channels.
- Green Flash Brewing Company: San Diego craft brewery with overlapping specialty and IPA portfolio and similar regional distribution footprint; comparable on wholesale and tasting-room competition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Lost Abbey social profiles
Digital presenceThe Lost Abbey financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Lost Abbey leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
The Lost Abbey funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Lost Abbey M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Lost Abbey
What does The Lost Abbey do?
The Lost Abbey is a craft brewery that produces Belgian-inspired ales and barrel-aged specialty beers, including fruited sours, strong ales, and saisons fermented with house Brettanomyces cultures. The company operates five company-owned tasting rooms across San Diego County and sells specialty releases online and through wholesale distribution partnerships in California and beyond.
Is The Lost Abbey a public or private company?
The Lost Abbey is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was The Lost Abbey founded?
The Lost Abbey was founded in 2006. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Lost Abbey based?
The Lost Abbey is headquartered in San Marcos, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Lost Abbey make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer Tasting Room Sales are the primary driver. The others are online Bottle Sales, wholesale Distribution and event Revenue.
Who are The Lost Abbey's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stone Brewing, New Belgium Brewing Company and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. Direct peers are Russian River Brewing Company, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Allagash Brewing Company and The Bruery. Wicked Weed Brewing is listed as an emerging player. Regional players are AleSmith Brewing Company and Green Flash Brewing Company.
Does The Lost Abbey have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Lost Abbey.
What industry is The Lost Abbey in?
The Lost Abbey's product category is Craft Beer. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAGAE, Beer, Brewery & Craft Beverage Tastings. Its NAICS code is 31212 and its SIC code is 5180.