The Lost Abbey built its name on Belgian-inspired and barrel-aged beers, so a tropical rye IPA might sound like a curveball. It is not. Unseen Things is one of the best arguments that this San Marcos brewery can do anything it wants, and it earned one of the highest scores we have ever given.

The basics

• Brewery: The Lost Abbey (San Marcos, CA)
• Style: Tropical Rye IPA
• ABV: 6.2%

What to expect

Unseen Things pours a bright gold with a sturdy white head. The rye malt is doing real work here: it adds a peppery, slightly spicy backbone that you feel as much as taste, giving the beer a dry snap that keeps it refreshing.

Layered over that is a genuinely tropical hop character. Think passionfruit, citrus, and ripe fruit notes riding on top of the rye spice rather than fighting it. The combination is what makes this beer stand out in a crowded IPA field. It is not the softest or juiciest IPA out there, and it does not try to be. It is sharp, flavorful, and confident, with a clean bitter finish that invites the next sip.

Our rating

8.75/10

Rated by Alex (8.5) and Nick (9). Nick’s 9 is one of his highest scores on the entire spreadsheet, and Alex is right there with him. When the two of them agree this strongly, pay attention. If you only know Lost Abbey for the Belgian stuff, Unseen Things will recalibrate what you think they can do.