New Albion Ale

The New Albion Brewing Company is a defunct American brewery. Founded in 1976 by Jack McAuliffe in Sonoma, California, New Albion is acknowledged as the first United States microbrewery of the modern era, as well as a heavy influence on the subsequent microbrewery and craft beer movements of the late 20th century. (From the Wikipedia article on New Albion Brewing Co.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Albion_Brewing_Company

As part of their 30th Anniversary, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company released "Jack & Ken's Ale", a collaboration between Jack McAuliffe and Ken Grossman. The ale was released by Sierra Nevada as a tribute to McAuliffe's influence on the brewing of Grossman and his company, and was based on a barleywine seasonal brewed by New Albion entitled "Old Toe Sucker".The Marin Brewing Company in Larkspur, California brews an amber ale named Albion, which it claims is "named in recognition and memory of Sonoma’s New Albion Brewing Co."

The original signage from New Albion Brewery is displayed at the Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, and has been signed by Jack McAuliffe.

On August 1, 2012, Jim Koch, brewer and founder of Samuel Adams announced they would be brewing the New Albion Ale for the first time in 30 years. The beer was served at special events at the Great American Beer Festival and will be available nationwide beginning January 2013.

New Albion Ale, as the article above states, was brewed by the Boston Beer Company, brewer of Samuel Adams. Pours a bright golden hue with an immediate hoppy bite. Some evidence of Belgian type yeast strains. Nice floral hop flavor, with a buttery edge. Apples on the backside. I just had a flash of inspiration and ran out to the kitchen to cut a few cubes of sharp cheddar, and voila (French for Eureka) it pairs up pretty well with our subject for the evening. Sam Adams did a good thing bringing New Albion back to life; I'd invest in a six-pack and not be sorry.