Don Barkley, micro pioneer, returns to his roots

Don Barkley, arguably the closest active link to America’s original microbrewery, is returning to small-scale brewing. The North Bay Business Journal has the scoop.

Visionaries from Mendocino County are looking to break down the walls between fine wine and craft beer in wine country. Don Barkley, a legend in U.S. craft brewing, left his post as master brewer at Ukiah-based Mendocino Brewing Co. in November and is preparing the inaugural releases this spring from a rare winery-brewery in south Napa.

Barkley worked for Jack McAuliffe in the 1970s at New Albion Brewing in Sonoma County shortly after McAuliffe started the first “built new” (it wasn’t really new) microbrewery. Last April when the Brewers Association honored the reclusive McAuliffe it was Barkley who accepted the award.

Barkley retired from Mendocino Brewing in November after nearly 25 years at the brewery. Mendocino acquired much of the new Albion equipment as well as the house yeast after New Albion closed.

He said he is looking forward to returning to smaller batch brewing, working in a 15-barrel brewhouse instead of with a 100-barrel system.

“Jack McAuliffe’s favorite comment was winemakers are poets and beer makers are industrialists,” Barkley said. “We’re going to see whether an industrialist can become a poet.”

This sounds like a discussion we’ve already had.

5 thoughts on “Don Barkley, micro pioneer, returns to his roots”

  3. Yo Yo SUZY!!! Where are you, still up north? I stumbled on this page today and there you were:) hope to hear from you, send an email to the brewery.
    CHEERS!!
    db

    PS: thanks to Appellation Beer page for connecting us, Suzy Denison (one of the original founders of New Albion)

  4. Hi Don – It’s been over twenty years since we’ve spoken. I remember the many visits to the brewery and the great conversations about hops, beer and brewing. Contact me to catch up! vince

  5. — Don —

    Jack worked for us back in 2003. I just discover from a colleague that Jack has been in a serious car accident somewhere in Nevada, and his current employeer is trying to locate his next of kin. If you could be of help I can email you the contact info.

    Thanks

    Cliff

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