New Albion Pale Ale, the beer that launched the craft beer movement, is back. First brewed by Jack McAuliffe in 1976 – one year before Boulder Beer, two before Sierra Nevada and six before Boston Beer – the Sonoma County beer is widely acknowledged as the first microbrew of the modern era.
New Albion’s story ended unceremoniously back in 1982, but it has been revived and kept alive thanks to McAuliffe’s daughter Renee DeLuca, who retains all rights and trademarks. The beer briefly was brewed and distributed by Platform Beer a handful of years ago.
But now, DeLuca, a Northeast Ohio resident, has partnered with BrewDog USA to once again revive the pioneering brew. The beer, based on McAuliffe’s original recipe, is brewed with traditional ingredients like C-hops and two-row malt.
It hits the store shelves of Heinen’s this Friday. The golden Pale Ale, says DeLuca, “has a delightful hop note and slight piney body. One sip is a taste of history!”
This article appears in Sep 22 – Oct 5, 2021.
