Who was that Man?

If I were to ask you about the first American craft beer you ever tried, can you remember it? Tough question, I realize. If you’re anything like me, you have had many many craft beers over many many many years. Yet, I still remember my first American craft beer-a Sam Adams Boston Ale.
It was the summer after my senior year of high school. It was a hot day, the beer was ice cold. I still hated it. Too strong, too thick, too sweet yet bitter? Gross, give me a Natural Light, that tastes like nothing…ok, maybe aluminum and grain.
Fast forward two decades and the craft beer world has definitely changed for the better. But, it was not long ago that we were not so lucky. Let us take a moment to thank the radicals that changed the landscape of what we drink and how we think about just what beer can and should be.
Likely, prior to the last year, you had never heard of New Albion Ale, much less Jack McAullife. You see, Jack had been in the Navy, and during his days as a sailor, he traveled the world, sampling many of the fantastic beers beyond America. Settling in Sonoma, California, Jack took his homebrewing setup and created New Albion Brewing Company, the name being a nod toSir Francis Drake’s original California moniker.
Beginning in 1975, New Albion Brewing made an ale, a porter and a stout, beer styles quite hard to find at the time. Most believe this to be the first ever microbrewery in the USA.
The brewery went under in 1983, well before the craft beer boom of the late 80’s and early 90’s. However, the spark leapt forth and the uprising had begun. Along with Anchor Brewing, from which the brewery got its malt, New Albion set a blueprint and a pattern that nearly all microbreweries to come would follow.
In 2009, the Napa-Smith brewery recreated New Albion Ale, this classic American pale ale (APA) for San Francisco beer week. And the beer has been reintroduced on a mass scale this year. Say what you will about Sam Adams, aka The Boston Beer Company, but they certainly believe in American beer and American brewers. And they have brewed New Albion Ale for the mass market.
Look for an old timey light blue label, almost as if you expect to see a ship in the bottle. The script and picture look oddly placed amongst the bright and lively modern craft artwork labels. Do not expect your modern, hopped out APA. If you’re expecting to compare New Albion Ale with the likes of Sierra Nevada pale ale and its contemporaries, you’ll be disappointed. No, this beer must be reviewed on its own, with an understanding that this is likely how it was in the old days.
My first thoughts are of lager. There is a grainyness to this beer that you don’t find in pale ale, but this slightly sweet bread flavor is quite nice. The feel in the mouth is just above thin, but it is very carbonated. Where I am shown that this is no lager is with a hint of minimal spicy lemon hop and a grassy finish. To say this is an easy drinker is an understatement.
You should try this beer. It’s not fantastic; but that’s relative. Compared to almost any other quality APA, sure, you would take the others. Yet 30 years ago, having this beer was probably earth shattering. There were no other craft beers in America, made in America. This beer is a history lesson in and of itself. With so many amazing options at our fingertips, you will likely not go back to it. Still, it’s amazing to think that this beer started a revolution. Enjoy the brews … Cheers.
 
Gene’s Haufbrau has at more than 200 beers in bottles or on tap. While they don’t have every beer the Beer Snob writes about, they probably have most. Gene’s is located at 817 Savannah Hwy. 225-GENE. E-mail the Beer Snob at publisher@westof.net.