Best flavored whiskeys for Father's Day, including ... salty watermelon
Don't overthink it. Flavored whiskeys are totally fine.
Sometimes you need a break from big, barrel-influenced flavors. One of the truest pleasures in life is an occasional coffee mug filled with ice and Fireball. And though Fireball remains the oft-criticized king when it comes to mashed-up whiskey, there are several contenders for its throne.
Thus, I'm kicking off our Father's Day week-long whiskey extravaganza with these gateway spirits to the harsher (but rewarding) world of bourbons, ryes and Scotches. Let's give some pre-mixed cocktails and various infused whiskeys a test drive and see what's worthy of drinking (or gifting). These are the flavored whiskeys I drank this year, ranging from forgettable to "not bad."
Jack Daniel's & Coca-Cola ready-to-drink cocktails
I was concerned about the carbonation in a pre-mixed cocktail. Fortunately, this can roars open with the familiar crack of a typical Coke and pours with the big, quickly dissipating head you'd expect from the unadulterated thing. I'm opting for the vanilla here, because that's always been my personal favorite.
The smell off the top is more vanilla extract than vanilla syrup, owing to the seven percent alcohol by volume within. It's still appealing, but you know right away this isn't your typical midday caffeine boost. In fact, there's no caffeine at all -- reasonable, given the Kyle-shaped crater Four Loko left outside frat houses across the nation. (Which Kyle? Judging by the puka shell fragments around the rim, it was Kyle S. Services were held at the Quiksilver in the mall. Not the good one.)
The first sip is boozy, but never burns. The whiskey works naturally with the vanilla, heightening the minor flavor you'd get from Jack Daniel's barrel aging. It works in sequences, going Coke-Jack-Coke, leaving you with sugary sweetness and carbonation to finish each sip. That's a bit rich, but it's also possible I'm not used to full-bodied Coca-Cola after spending the last two decades drinking whatever sugar-free version they had (I write about booze for a living, I need to conserve calories where I can).
The downside is the lack of flexibility. This is a little too strong to taste primarily like Coke. It's a little too weak to taste like the cola and bourbons I'd make for myself at home. Jack Daniel's is going for a sweet spot with the greatest possible appeal and probably hit it. But there's a benefit to being able to mix your drink your way -- especially with a two-step cocktail like this.
Even so, it's better than expected. The soda is full-bodied, the carbonation is crisp and the whiskey is apparent but not overpowering. Ol' Jacky D could have half-assed this one. He didn't.
Five Springs Vanilla Maple Infused Bourbon
The bottle is mysterious. We don't know what the ingredients are, what the origin of the infused flavors are, if there's been any color added or much else. We do get that it's 70 proof and from Bardstown, Kentucky, which is a nice start (there is a QR code on the neck. I am a lazy man, so I'm just gonna jump in instead).
It smells like a fancy, boozy waffle. It tastes... like a boozy waffle. I have no idea what the aging on this is, but it's tremendously smooth and zero burn to speak of. That also means it's not especially complex. It's a scoop of ice cream on top of a warm stack of pancakes, not quite decadent but still very much leaning into its dessert roots.
That sweetness is the headliner, but you get some roasted malt and a little oak later in the sip. That reminds you you're dealing with a little booze, though it doesn't feel like it clocks in at 70 proof. There's a little cinnamon lingering underneath but, yeah, the bottle promises vanilla and maple. The spirit delivers vanilla and maple. Heaps and heaps of it.
It's lovely to sip over ice. It lacks the spice and snappy finish of a Fireball, but it's still an easy win.
Duke & Dame Salted Caramel Whiskey
I like a little salt in my whiskey. Granted, that's normally from a bit of sea spray in a coastal Scotch, but hey, I'm open minded. Same with the caramel; it's not too much of a stretch to bring these two whiskey-related flavors to the forefront. But it might be a stretch to lean heavily on them, because a little dab will do when it comes to either.
The smell from the top of the pour (over ice) is like a Werther's Original hard candy. It's familiar in a 99 cent mini bottle sort of way. That's not necessarily a bad thing -- some of those cheap lil weirdos are awesome -- but that's where your mind goes.
OK, so it smells... artificial. It tastes sweet up front, but the salt clocks in toward the end to help the finish clock in at not quite dry, but not as sloppy as you'd expect. There's a little warmth befitting a 70 proof spirit -- Duke & Dame doesn't hide its booze as well as some of the others on this list -- but there's nothing you'd consider a burn.
That gives it utility as a change-of-pace sipper or a chilled shot. There isn't much do it besides caramel up front and a little salt in the back. But that's fine; you're not drinking it for depth and complexity. You're drinking it because it's easy and fun. That's probably not gonna impress your boss or rich friends, but it's still nice.
Mash & Mallow S'mores Whiskey
Well, we did it. We finally made the South Park Civil War reenactment liquor a reality. Granted, Mash & Mallow *isn't* S'mores Schnapps or 151 proof, but what possibly could be?
Regardless, there's potential here -- the oaky, warm base of a bourbon could bring a little snap and balance to the sweet-on-sweet of a s'more. The smell off the top leans into this -- there's a little smoke, a little marshmallow and some graham cracker elements that... sorta come across as stale.
I'm sipping this one over ice, which helps space out the big flavors within and thin out a denser spirit. And with some ice, this is actually pretty decent. There's a sweetness that lingers long after it leaves your lips, but you do get a little charred marshmallow and cracker before getting there. Despite what's effectively a blank check to dial up the boozy burn at the end in a flavored whiskey, Mash & Mallow never tastes like a 70 proof spirit. In terms of sting, it's closer to a 30 proof Rumchata than, say, a pull off a cheap Fireball knockoff.
Your tolerance will come down to how much sweet you can handle -- and how much hangover you're willing to risk the next day, since I have to think this will take a ghastly toll. Mash & Mallow is a dumb idea executed smartly. It's nice to sit and sip with. It's a remarkably easy shooter. It's an easy win to bring to a tailgate. Despite all the ways this could have gone wrong, Mash & Mallow found a way to do it right.
Old Smoky Whiskeys
Old Smoky is best known for its moonshine, but the Tennessee-based distiller is honing in on that Fireball market for chilled shots that don't really taste like whiskey. I gave three of their new-ish offshoots a try, to varying effect.
Salty Watermelon:
The mint chocolate chip cream was the first Ole Smoky I drank -- passed around as a chilled shot during March Madness. But salty watermelon got the call to be the first one I reviewed because, well, salty watermelon. That's a hook right there. A whiskey that tastes like a summer cookout? Alright, I'm in.
I'm drinking this (and all of these) over ice. With all respect to Ole Smoky, I feel like this lovely bottle does not clamor for the strict adherence of drinking it neat. Even with the ice, it smells absolutely potent with watermelon candy odors and a nice little ring of brine. It's incredibly appealing.
And, yep, this is like drinking candy. The watermelon washes out any of the oak or mash. Which is fine, because the label assures me the lovely mahogany of the bottle is the result of caramel coloring. So that artificial flavor is doing a lot of work, but it's not like you didn't know what you were getting into. You're drinking salted watermelon whiskey from a moonshine company.
There's a little harshness underneath, but that slips away under the distinct impression you're drinking a thin, boozy Jolly Rancher. That is a compliment. It is not good, but it is great.
Salty Caramel
Well, this one smells half like melted Snickers and half like... well, some off-brand flavored booze mini bottle I crushed in college or far too long after college to proudly admit. It's aggressively chemical and sweet. There's a bit of a maple syrup/antifreeze vibe that wafts through the room. It's a lot.
Even with ice, it's a bit syrupy. With the caramel in tow there's a certain melted ice cream vibe in play. Which would probably go great in a big, boozy shake. On the rocks, it's overpowered and much less enjoyable than the salty watermelon.
You start off with some low key sugar (substitute). Then, wham, that's a lot of caramel flavoring all at once. It's like pouring the crumbs from a box of Fiddle Faddle into your mouth, except with a little boozy aftertaste. It's probably fine as a shot, but might be a tough mixer in anything but a dessert drink.
Mint Chocolate Chip Cream
I love a good, dumb dessert shot. Living in Wisconsin has led me to Travis Hasse's pie liquors (which originated at the Missouri Tavern, one of the best bars in the state). This one, pouring thick out of the freezer and in need of refrigeration after opening, lends all the promise of melted ice cream.
It smells like a two scoop cone dropped on the sidewalk on a hot summer day. Before the ants arrive, naturally. The first sip is, yep, melted ice cream. There's a little bit of spice toward the end, but nothing that would really tip you off to the booze inside until you get to a slightly warm aftertaste. It's minimal -- this is a 35 proof spirit, after all -- but it's there.
The drink is dense and sweet and, honestly, a lot. That's a plus if you're looking for a quick dessert shot or adding it to a shake. In a cocktail it's a tougher sell. That aftertaste coats your tongue with sugary sweetness and artificial flavor, weighing you down afterward.
If you've got a sweet tooth? It's probably not a problem. But it's a lot to handle as a sipper.
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Buzz Feed
28-07-2025
- Buzz Feed
36 Incredibly Stupid Jokes That Are Funny
Over on Quora, people are sharing their absolute favorite stupid joke — you know, the kind that makes you laugh even though you know you shouldn't. Did I laugh at these? Yes. Yes, I did. What? You think they've got Mensa members working here at BuzzFeed? Anyway, here are the funniest ones: "I still remember the last words my grandpa said before he kicked the bucket. He said, 'Hey, how far do you reckon I could kick this bucket?'" "A man decides to become a monk. He meets with the head monk, who tells him, 'If you agree to enter here, you must take a vow of silence. After each year, you are allowed to speak just two words.' The man agrees and becomes a monk. A year later, he goes in to see the administrator. 'Bed hard,' the man says. The administrator nods and sends him away. Another year passes. The man returns. 'Food cold,' he says. The administrator nods and sends him away. A year later, the man comes in and says, 'I quit.' The administrator replies, 'I'm not surprised. You've done nothing but complain since you got here.'" "A BOOB, a VAGINA, and an ASSHOLE are debating as to who is the greatest of them all." "I went to the doctors and got a vasectomy because I didn't want kids. When I got home they were still there." "There was an old priest who got tired of hearing confessions about adultery. One Sunday, he said, 'If I hear one more person confess to adultery, I'm quitting!' So the parishioners started using a code word: Instead of saying they'd committed adultery, they'd say they had 'fallen.' The system worked fine — until the priest passed away and a new one arrived. A week in, the new priest visited the mayor, very concerned, and said, 'You need to fix the sidewalks. People keep coming in saying they've fallen.' The mayor laughed, realizing the misunderstanding — but before he could explain, the priest said, 'I don't know why you're laughing. Your wife fell three times this week.'" "What did O say to Q? 'Hey, put that thing back into your trousers!'" "A ditz walks into a library and says, 'Hi! I'd like a hamburger, large fry, and a Coke.' The librarian replies, 'Ma'am…this is a library.' The ditz laughs and says, 'Oh I'm sorry! Silly me.' She then leans toward the librarian and whispers, 'I'd like to order a hamburger…a large fry…..and a Coke.'" "What is the best day to have a parade? March 4th." "A pirate walks into a bar. He has a huge steering wheel sticking out of his pants. He orders a beer. The bartender pours his beer, slides it over, and then just has to ask: 'Um sir, couldn't help but notice, but…are you aware that you have a steering wheel sticking out of your pants?' The pirate says, 'Aye, matey! I knows! And it's driving me nuts!'" "Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn't seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy calls 911 and gasps, 'My friend is dead! What can I do?' The operator says, 'Calm down, I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead.' There is a silence on the line, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says, 'OK, now what?'" "It's really confusing when a sentence doesn't end the way you think it octopus." "Why is it terrible to be a penis? Because your nearest neighbor is an asshole, your two best friends are nuts, and you throw up when you get excited." "A man walks into a bar and pauses — at the far end, there's a guy with a big orange head, just sitting there, staring into his drink. He asks the bartender, 'Hey, what's up with the guy with the big orange head?' The bartender replies, 'It's a wild story. Buy him a drink, maybe he'll tell you.' So the man walks over, introduces himself, and offers to buy a round. The guy with the big orange head says, 'Yeah, I bet you want to hear the story, huh?' The man says, 'Sure, if you don't mind.'' "Why do gorillas have big nostrils? Because gorillas have big fingers." "The word 'Diputseromneve' may look ridiculous, but backwards it's even more stupid." "A woman goes to her boyfriend's parents' house for dinner — her first time meeting them, and she's very nervous. As they sit down to eat, the nerves and broccoli casserole start to hit. The gas pains are brutal. Trying to ease the pressure, she lets out a dainty little fart. Not loud, but definitely noticeable. Before she can panic, the boyfriend's dad glances at the dog lying under the table and says sternly, 'Skippy!'' "What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back to you? A stick." "An 85-year-old man was asked by his doctor for a sperm sample. The doctor handed him a jar and said, 'Take this home and bring back a sample tomorrow.' The next day, the man returned with the jar — still empty and spotless. The doctor asked what happened. The man said, 'Well, first I tried with my right hand, but nothing. Then I tried with my left hand, but still nothing. Then I asked my wife for help. 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Is it because your name is Stanley?' Stanley replies, 'No. When I'm driving down the road, I want everyone to say 'Look at that S car go!'' "A married man is at the bar and accidentally spills his drink all over himself. He freaks out because his wife didn't want him to go to the bar, so his buddy tells him to go to the ATM and take out $20, then put it in his shirt pocket. If his wife asks about his shirt, tell her that someone spilled their drink on him and gave him $20 to get it cleaned." "Rocky was a little slow, but his mother's cousin's brother needed a favor, so county supervisor Bubba Joe hired him to paint the stripes on the road heading north out of town. Rocky was thrilled to have a real job and promised to work hard. On day one, Rocky painted two miles. 'Ya done real good, Rocky,' Bubba Joe said." "Why can't a bicycle stand on its own? Because it's two-tired." If you're still in the mood for more stupidly funny jokes, here's some from our own BuzzFeed Community: "A man walks into the therapist's office and says, 'I think I might be a dog.' The therapist offers him a seat, and the man responds, 'Oh I'm not allowed on the furniture.'" "My parrot recently died. Its last words were, 'Fuck, I think my parrot's about to die.'" "My favorite joke of all time: A man goes to the zoo, but there's only one animal there. The animal is a dog. It's a Shih Tzu." "An elephant walked up to a man on a nudist beach and asked, 'How do you eat with that?'" "Three old ladies sitting on a bench in the park. A completely naked man runs past them. Two of them had a stroke. One wasn't fast enough." "A lady goes to the doctor with a lettuce leaf sticking out of her knickers. The doctor says, 'Oh, this is a strange one.' ... The lady says, 'And that's just the tip of the iceberg.'' "Has your doctor talked to you about the benefits of adding dried fruit to your diet? I'm just raisin awareness." "What do you call a guy laying by the door? Matt. What do you call a guy hanging on the wall? Art. What do you call a guy floating in a pool? Bob. And my favorite: What do you call a guy with a seagull on his head? Cliff!" "What's the difference between an oral and a rectal thermometer? The taste." "My friend Joe went on the Dolly Parton diet. It made Joe lean, Joe lean, Joe lean, Joe leeean." "A magician was walking down the street and turned into a drug store." "Two muffins are in the oven. One says to the other, 'Wow, it's hot in here!' The other muffin says, 'Hey, a talking muffin!'" Got a favorite stupid joke? Tell us in the comments or via the anonymous form below and it could be featured in a future BuzzFeed post!
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Yahoo
I Finally Found My Happy Place After My Husband Left Me. There's Just One Problem.
Care and Feeding is Slate's parenting advice column. Have a question for Care and Feeding? Submit it here. Dear Care and Feeding, My ex-husband and I were together for decades. We have two kids, 20-year-old 'Jack' and 22-year-old 'Jill.' I thought my marriage was happy; I thought my ex and I were deeply in love. But last spring, he disappeared without a word. At first I feared he'd been hit by a car (I even called the police) but then money started being taken out of our joint account. After a month of this, he reappeared and said he was 'finding' himself and wanted a divorce. When we sold the house, I decided to buy a condo. I ended up buying a two-bedroom place—I couldn't afford a bigger one. Both Jack and Jill have apartments near their colleges and come home only for visits, but I wanted them to feel they have a home base (their father now travels continuously and doesn't keep a place of his own). I've made it a space I love, very different from our family home. It's got loud, bright paint, wood floors so I don't have to vacuum dog fur out of the carpet, stupid art by friends, and a living room dedicated to my hobbies. With the exception of the second bedroom, the entire condo is decorated in a way that Jill describes as 'violently femme-feeling.' And why shouldn't it be? I live there alone and am decorating just for me! The second bedroom is neutral: dark green walls, furniture from our old house—kind of boring. Jill visits regularly and stays in that room. She has rejected my offer to help decorate it to feel more like hers when she's there. She says it's fine. The trouble is, my son hates my condo. Jack says he feels unwelcome in the condo because of the way it's decorated. I offered to let him pick new stuff for the second bedroom and he declined. I'm wondering if his attitude/behavior isn't really about the condo, but I have no idea how to bring this up with him. He has never been a 'feelings talker.' He wasn't interested when I offered to help pay for therapy during the divorce and its aftermath, and he won't talk to me about it either. When he visits, he stays with friends or with someone in our extended family. He does want to spend time with me, and we spend a lot of time together whenever he comes home, but he refuses to set foot in the condo. What do I do? —It's Not Really About the Condo Dear Condo, Well, sure, it's not really (all) about the condo. But you yourself have made the condo a metaphor—or, to be more precise, two conflicting metaphors. It's a 'home base' for your kids (you wanted this for them, you say—by which I assume you mean you want them to feel they still have a home). But you live alone, you point out: Why should you decorate for anyone but yourself? (In this latter formulation, the condo is all about you.) I hasten to say that I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting your new home (in which, as you say, you live alone) to be all about you. But that comes with a cost, and it sends a message to your college-age children that directly contradicts what I bet you've told them (i.e., that this is their home, too). Your younger child is particularly sensitive to this message ('jk—it's not really your home') and what it implies: that he is not a priority, but something of an afterthought, and that you have moved on not only from his father, but from the family as a whole, and specifically from him. Have a conversation with your son! Actually, have a conversation with both kids. Your daughter, a little older, may be readier than he is to let go of the idea of a true home base, but that doesn't mean she is without feelings about all of these changes. Acknowledge that your divorce has been hard on them and continues to be hard on them. Acknowledge that the loss of the house that was their home may be painful for them. Encourage them to talk to you about how they feel and what this all means to them. And be honest with them about the condo, which you bought for yourself and have decorated as you see fit. I suspect the second bedroom, which you counted on their taking turns using and decorated to be'neutral' and 'boring'—rather than attempting to make it a space in which they'd both feel at home—added insult to injury. Were there no touches to its decor you could have made that would be inviting to them and demonstrate that you meant this to be their room? And no, offering to let them pick out some things themselves to make the room more appealing to them is not the equivalent to that. Finally: Don't lose sight of what matters more than the condo or either of its metaphorical meanings. Your son wants to spend time with you! When he returns from college on visits, you and he spend a lot of time together. Isn't that more important than where he sleeps? The fact is, you may have to let go of the idea of him thinking of your condo as his home (you've made it your home, and perhaps that's enough) and focus on a new sort of relationship with your son as he edges into adulthood. Dear Care and Feeding, My wife 'Carla' and I have a 3-year-old son, 'Andy.' Andy became a big brother last month when we had our daughter, 'Isabelle.' Andy had been reliably potty-trained for four months before Isabelle was born, but within days of bringing Isabelle home from the hospital, Andy began having accidents. Carla's solution has been to put him back in pull-ups. I don't think allowing him to regress like this is a wise idea. She says to let him do it for the time being if it makes him feel better. It seems to me that taking a firm approach (making him go back to using the toilet or face punishment) would be in his best interest. Who is right? —We're Not Going Backward Dear Backward, Your wife. (I was tempted to write that in all caps.)Andy is only 3, and he is having a hard time right now. Why would you make it harder on him? (And I promise he will not be in pull-ups forever. What difference does it make if potty-training takes a backseat just now to his adjustment to being a big brother?) Dear Care and Feeding, My son recently arrived stillborn at 30 weeks, and I have no living children. My colleagues at work know about this and have mostly been compassionate and mindful. My next-door office neighbor, though, is a mom with young kids and complains about her children often. This is really painful for me, but I don't know if there is any good way to ask her to tone that down around me. My son's death doesn't negate the fact that she might be having a difficult time parenting, I know, but it hurts a lot when people who have kids seem to dislike them, when I'd do anything to have a kid of my own. How do you suggest I handle this? —Bereaved Mom Dear Bereaved, I am very sorry for your loss. And I am also deeply sympathetic to the situation you find yourself in at work. I know it's little consolation, but your work-neighbor doesn't mean you any harm. Her thoughtlessness is literally thought-lessness. She is so wrapped up in her own life, she isn't thinking about how her complaints are making you feel. (She isn't thinking about you at all.) I'll tell you what I wish I'd done, over a decade ago, when my elderly father was dying and someone I'd thought was my friend talked incessantly about how her elderly father was driving her crazy. I remember how close I came, again and again, to interrupting her to say, 'For godsakes, shut up. I'd give anything to have my father around to drive me crazy.' I remember hanging up the phone after every conversation shaking with rage and grief and the effort not to snap at her. I'm not sorry I didn't snap. But I am sorry I didn't tell her that it was painful to listen to her complaints when I was struggling so. I'm sorry I didn't say, 'I know you don't mean to cause me pain, and I know you're having a rough time with your dad, but it's hard for me to hear this when my own father will soon be gone.' She might not have taken that well—I suppose, in fact, that she would not have—but I'm sorry I suffered in silence for so long. Even if our friendship had ended then and there, it would have been better for me to speak up. (And the friendship didn't last much longer, anyway.) Can you gently, thoughtfully tell your colleague that although you know she's having a hard time with her kids, and you feel for her, right at this moment it's painful to hear about it? You're grieving. It's OK to ask the people you regularly interact with not to add to your grief. (And if she doesn't like it? What's the worst that could happen? She'd stop talking to you at all?) Chances are, it has never occurred to her that what she's doing is hurtful. Give her the opportunity to do better by letting her know. You have nothing to lose. —Michelle My sister 'Jasmine' recently got married. The wedding was held in the town Jasmine and I grew up in (where my family and I live). Jasmine and her fiancé, 'Tyler,' arrived a few days beforehand. On the day before the wedding, they went with most of the family to the county fair. Tyler is hardcore MAGA and was making obnoxious comments about everything from women and LGBTQ+ people to the physical traits and appearance of random passersby. My 13-year-old daughter 'Josie' was getting increasingly uncomfortable and angry. Then Tyler spotted the old-school bumper cars ride. Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
25-07-2025
- Boston Globe
Jack McAuliffe, who brewed a craft beer revolution, dies at 80
New Albion offered something profoundly different: handmade ales using just water, barley, hops, and yeast. Mr. McAuliffe and his partners, Suzy Denison and Jane Zimmerman, ran the label out of a rundown warehouse in Sonoma, Calif., making just 400 barrels a year, about as much as Coors could produce in a few minutes. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up The very idea of small-batch beer was such an anomaly that Mr. McAuliffe struggled to find equipment and ingredients. Instead, he fashioned much of the production line himself from materials he had scavenged from a junkyard. Advertisement Unable to buy traditional hops in small quantities, he opted for a new variety, cascade, whose notes of fruit and pine didn't appeal to the big breweries -- but which, thanks to Mr. McAuliffe, became a prized part of the craft brewing repertoire. His DIY ethic likewise became a defining characteristic of craft brewing, said Theresa McCulla, a former curator at the National Museum of American History who documented the history of beer in America. Advertisement 'He really showed Americans that if you can build it and sheetrock it, and weld it, then you can brew your own great beer,' she said in an interview. Mr. McAuliffe called his brewery New Albion as an homage to a long-closed predecessor in the Bay Area, as well as to the name Sir Francis Drake gave the region when he sailed along the coast of Northern California in 1579. A drawing of Drake's flagship, the Golden Hind, appeared on New Albion's labels. New Albion was profiled in The New York Times and The Washington Post, and demand for its beers grew rapidly. Still, Mr. McAuliffe was unable to secure bank loans to fund expansion, and the brewery closed in 1982. Though New Albion lasted less than six years, practically every craft pioneer who came along afterward has cited the brewery as an inspiration, among them Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada, Jim Koch of Sam Adams, and Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head. 'They say that when the Ramones first played in England, members of the Clash were in the audience, members of the Sex Pistols were in the audience, then away they went,' Calagione said in an interview. 'While the Ramones launched a million bands, Jack McAuliffe launched 10,000 American craft breweries.' John Robert McAuliffe was born May 11, 1945, in Caracas, Venezuela, where his father, John James McAuliffe, was a code breaker for the US government. His mother, Margaret (Quigley) McAuliffe, was a teacher. After World War II, Jack's father joined the State Department. The family lived in Medellín, Colombia, and later in Northern Virginia while his father taught at American University in Washington. Advertisement In high school, Jack became enthralled with welding and worked in a shop as an apprentice. He enrolled at Michigan Technological University but quit to join the Navy. He was posted to a base in Scotland, where he repaired submarine antennas. In his free time, he developed a fondness for British ales -- especially full-bodied porters and stouts -- and began brewing his own at home. After he was honorably discharged from a base in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mr. McAuliffe decided to stay. He received an associate degree from the City College of San Francisco and worked for an engineering company in Sunnyvale, Calif., all the while dreaming of making his beloved British-style ales in the United States. Finally, in 1975, he met Denison and Zimmerman, who each put in $1,500 in seed money to start New Albion. Mr. McAuliffe was a demanding brewmaster, and Zimmerman left the company. But Denison stayed on, eventually running most of the daily operations. 'He totally trusted me,' she said in an interview. 'He might go into San Francisco to pick up hops or something and leave me completely in charge.' After the brewery closed, Mr. McAuliffe sold his equipment to a new brewery, the Mendocino Brewing Co., where he worked for a time as a brewmaster. He soon quit, he said, because after being a captain, he couldn't stomach working as a deckhand. But he continued supporting the craft brewing movement, in one instance working with Fritz Maytag, the owner of the Anchor Brewing Co. in San Francisco, on securing legislation to allow brew pubs to serve food. Advertisement Mr. McAuliffe later lived in Nevada and Texas before settling in Arkansas. Along with his daughter, he leaves his sisters, Cathy and Margarita McAuliffe; his brother, Tom; two grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Craft beer did not take off as a national phenomenon until the late 1990s, and many in the new generation of drinkers had never heard of New Albion. That began to change in 2012. Koch, of Sam Adams, contacted Mr. McAuliffe to tell him that not only had he bought the trademark to New Albion, but he also wanted to resurrect the beer as a limited release. After leading a nationwide tour reintroducing New Albion to craft-beer fans, Koch gave the proceeds from the beer and the rights to the New Albion name to Mr. McAuliffe. And in 2019, the National Museum of American History, part of the Smithsonian Institution, featured items related to New Albion in a permanent exhibit on craft brewing, including an original bottle of its ale and a photograph of Mr. McAuliffe. McCulla, who designed the exhibit, interviewed Mr. McAuliffe for an oral history of craft brewing in 2019. She asked him what he thought of his legacy. 'Damnedest thing I ever saw,' he said. 'It's really hard to believe that this happened.' This article originally appeared in
