Sam Adams recently paid homage to the beginnings of the American craft beer industry with the release of its New Albion Pale Ale. New Albion was a famed California brewery begun by Jack McAuliffe in 1976 -- the dawn of the modern day craft beer movement. To celebrate where we came from, Boston Brewing returned to the very beginning -- borrowing even the original label art for its latest beer.
Poured into a tulip glass at the home office on a recent work night. New Albion appeared a goldish-orange with a thick white head that dissipated fairly quickly.
The beer smelled of mild grains and yeast. It was mildly fruity on first taste, with a mellow, floral finish. It was clean and fairly well carbonated.
As the first craft beer, New Albion was a long way from the extreme beers that have dominated the headlines in the beer world recently. Drinking this beverage in a world filled with extreme beers was like being harkened back to older and gentler times, when all someone wanted was a good, clean-tasting, well-made beer that didn't get in the way of the moment. New Albion succeeded then, and it does now, as well. B
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