Beer Pioneer: Man’s Ale To Be Rereleased

Jack McAuliffe established New Albion in 1976 in California and built the first craft micro-brewery in the country. After closing in 1982 due to lack of funding, Sam Adams is preparing to brew his New Albion beer and give McAuliffe all the profit. The beer will have a limited run and comes out in January.
Jack McAuliffe established New Albion in 1976 in California and built the first craft micro-brewery in the country. After closing in 1982 due to lack of funding, Sam Adams is preparing to brew his New Albion beer and give McAuliffe all the profit. The beer will have a limited run and comes out in January.

Jack McAuliffe decided he wanted to make craft beer on a small scale in 1976, but the odds were against him. Only a handful of brewing companies existed at the time and no one made equipment for small operations. Times were tough.

After some early success, he reluctantly closed the doors of his New Albion Brewing Company in 1982. He eventually moved to Northwest Arkansas to be close to family. But he had already charted the course for future brewmasters and a new industry.

According to the Brewers Association, the number of craft breweries in the U.S. has grown from 537 in 1980 to 1,940 in 2011.

“Now is the golden age of brewing in America,” McAuliffe said.

Thirty years after shutting down his brewery, he’s become a rock star in the craft beer community. In recognition of McAuliffe’s early contributions, the makers of Samuel Adams will rerelease his signature beer next year and local brewers plan to celebrate along with him.

“He was not getting the credit back when he was doing it,” said Heath Sutherlin, general manager of Premium Brands of NWA, a wholesale beer and Red Bull distributor in Fayetteville. “He was a man before his time and he opened a lot of eyes.”

Bit By The Beer Bug

McAuliffe sipped his first craft beer when he was in the Navy and stationed in Scotland in the 1960s.

He had a trouble finding craft beer near his base so he bought a book on brewing, a kit and four quarts of ale. He brewed when he was off duty.

When he returned to the states he never lost the desire to open his own brewery. He went to school on the G.I. Bill and majored in physics. He worked in the private sector as an electronics technician and engineer for years before moving to California to help a friend build a house. That’s when he devised a business plan.

Unable to find brewing equipment to purchase, he built it himself.

The brewery started production in late 1977 and at full capacity he was able to brew 450 barrels a year. One barrel holds 31 gallons.

“It would take Anheuser-Busch up the road a half hour to make that amount,” he said.

James Spencer, host of Basic Brewing podcasts and home brewing DVDs, said McAuliffe is responsible for creating the American classic pale ale.

“Back then if you bought hops you had to buy them by the train load,” he said.

McAuliffe discovered cascade hops and was able to buy it in smaller quantities.

“He was using a different ale and now other brewers are using it and it is very popular,” Spencer said.

McAuliffe lived at the brewery, literally. He worked long days and had an apartment upstairs.

“We had to get bigger. We had a positive cash flow after a while and decided to build a bigger brewery,” he said.

The problem with his plan is he couldn’t find any investors.

“We ran out of money. We couldn’t buy any more supplies and we had to shut it down,” McAuliffe said.

Sharing the Tradition

New Albion Brewing Company caught the eye of fellow brewmasters.

Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., toured the brewery in the late 1970s.

“He said, ‘I can do this,’” McAuliffe said.

In November 1980 Grossman brewed the first batch of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Grossman honored McAuliffe in 2010, his company’s 30th anniversary, with Jack and Ken’s Ale.

Jim Koch also points to McAuliffe as being a pioneer. Koch started The Boston Beer Company in 1984. His first beer was Samuel Adams Boston Lager, now a nationally known brand.

Today The Boston Beer Company brews more than 50 styles of beer. New Albion Ale will be added to the mix beginning in January 2013.

The ale was unveiled Oct. 13 during the 2012 Great American Beer Festival in Denver.

All profit from the ale’s sale will go directly to McAuliffe.

“We wanted the proceeds to go to Jack for his contribution to jumpstarting the craft beer revolution with his idea to brew a full-flavored beer influenced by his travels abroad,” Koch said. “Without him, we might not have the craft beer revolution we have today and we want to recognize him for this.”

Plans are currently to brew McAuliffe’s beer for a limited release.

“I don’t know what’s down the line yet, but you never know,” Koch said.

Sutherlin said he plans to buy as much of the ale as possible.

“It’s a really good beer. I would expect a lot of sales,” he said. “Jim and his team will take good care of Jack.”

The beer will be launched locally at Tanglewood Branch Beer Co. in south Fayetteville owned by brewmaster J.T. Wampler.

“We are planning a nice big celebration. I want to pack this place for Jack,” Wampler said.

Renee DeLuca, McAuliffe’s daughter, attended the Denver festival with her father and said it was wonderful to see him honored.

“He couldn’t walk a few feet without someone stopping him and talking to him,” she said. “It seems like as more people get interested in craft beer Jack has become more well known.”

Beer In The Blood

DeLuca shares her father’s love of craft beers. She had that love before she knew who her father was. She was adopted and didn’t connect with McAuliffe until 12 years ago.

“When I found out what he was famous for, I knew beer was in my blood,” DeLuca said.

McAuliffe never knew he had a daughter until DeLuca tracked him down.

A writer at heart, DeLuca started a blog three years ago aptly named “The Brewer’s Daughter.” A year ago she started a marketing and public relations business for the craft brewing industry under the same name.

“I found my niche,” she said.

Beer has helped them form a stronger bond.

“We’ve grown closer over the beer thing,” DeLuca said.

McAuliffe doesn’t brew anymore but stays connected through the local brew club. FLOPS: Fayetteville Lovers of Pure Suds.

Andy Sparks, owner of The Home Brewery, said the club has been around for almost 20 years, and he started his business 16 years ago. The Home Brewery is a supplier of home beer and wine making supplies based in Fayetteville.

Sparks said he home brewed a batch of McAuliffe’s beer that is about to be rereleased.

“It was a fantastic experience,” Sparks said.

At A Glance

New Albion Ale

The Boston Beer Company will rerelease New Albion Ale nationwide beginning in January 2013. Quantities are limited, and customers will be able to locate via the beer finder at samueladams.com.

New Albion Ale will be available in six-packs for a suggested retail price of $7.99.

Source: The Boston Beer Company

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