Mac Meda Destruction Company

Silverback Ale – Mac Meda Postcards With Albert

Twenty-five percent of profits are given to the Save A Gorilla fund.

Back when Jack MacPherson was tending bar at the West End, some dorky beer salesperson stopped in promoting a new type of Ale.

Normally these people would get their asses reamed and  run out.  As far as Jack was concern, there were only a handful of beers worth drinking. However, this one sparked his attention for the obvious.

“Silverback Ale,” the salesperson pitched, plopping a six-pack on the bar.

Hummm … Albert,  Silverback Gorilla, or Ale – sounds like an appropriated beverage that would fit perfect for Mac Meda. And of all things, brewed by the Wynkoop Brewing Company …  in Colorado, United States since 1858 …  another humm … is that not the same state that Coors is brewed, another Mac Meda beach favorite?  Read more... (382 words, 2 images, estimated 1:32 mins reading time)

La Jolla High Alumni – Mac Meda Style Reunion

At any given day many La Jolla High Alumni stopped to have a few cold ones with Jack at the West End - Photo by Percy Turner

When Jack took the early morning shift at the West End in Pacific Beach/La Jolla on just about any given day there would have been a bunch of La Jolla High Alumni there. Makes sense, since Jack was a La Jolla High Alumni.

Many of his closest friends would stop by and shoot the shit over a few beers and cocktails. One day, Jack glazed down the bar and noticed that the bar has become a mini-reunion and someone had a camera.

So they rounded up the gang and took this photo in 1996.  Read more... (190 words, 1 image, estimated 46 secs reading time)

Brewery Collectibles Club of Mac Meda

Jon Sarrett and Jack standing in front of Jacks beer collection - Photo by Dave Osborn

Dave Osborn comment on the Brown Derby post was correct. Jack Macpherson was one of the first people to start collecting beer cans. Frankly I believe he idolized his favorite organization, the Brewery Collectibles Club of America (BCCA).

With the early 1935 introduction of the first U.S. beer can by the Krueger Brewing Co., that was generally available to the public, there were a number of persons who had fun collecting the “new” beer cans with often colorful labels printed on the metal container rather than having an attached paper label.  Read more... (287 words, 2 images, estimated 1:09 mins reading time)

Gargle and EMB Padre Game Bus Trips – CKs Bar

In the early 1970s, CKs bar in Pacific Beach continued with the infamous Gargle (My Balls)  and EMB (Eat My Butt) bus trips to the San Diego Padre Games at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium. As noted below, by Doug, the trips were first organized at La Jolla High School.

The concept was simple;  hire a bus, charge $10  for all the booze you could drink and a Padre ticket,  get a bunch of people, get them primed with massive amounts of alcohol at the bar first, and have the bus take them out to the ball game and drink all the way there and back.  Read more... (543 words, 1 image, estimated 2:10 mins reading time)

La Jolla’s Bird Rock Sip n Surf or Hungry Horse Bar

La Jolla's, Bird Rock, Sip n Surf or nicknamed, Slurp and Burp had a array of characters and owners that patronized and ran the joint in 20 years. Photo by Brian Munoz

When Maynard Heatherly was asked, “What he thought of the Sip n Surf?” all he could do was shake his head. Fact remains, he hated the joint, even though he was friends with the owner, Burt Alderson.

“Its not the competition,” he said, God knows he already had a ton of customers, he hated the place adding, “If you can’t find a place at the bar, or even be able to rest your arms on the bar rail, why bother.”  Read more... (764 words, 2 images, estimated 3:03 mins reading time)

Tijuana – The Long Bar – Heaven For the Underaged

Mac Meda Invades the Long Bar - Larry Cornellius(RIP), Richard Krug, Roger Johnson (RIP), The Whale, Bill Decker, Micheal Chicon(RIP), Steve Callaway, Kelly Medogovich, Ed Selby, Bartlett and someone help me out with the rest ...

During the roaring twenties, Tijuana became non-stop action. Americans flooded the tiny border town during probation to gamble and drink. By the 50s and 60s its reputation was known all over for it strip joints, floor shows and cheap bars and beer. It became folklore of wide reputations and spawned many wild stories of bars like Sans Souci, Redd Fox (the place where the comedian Redd Fox started) Clubs Unicorn, Aloha and Bambi.  The Donkey Show was born in TJ …  and yes, it is true. However, drinks were outrageous  in these places. A 6-ounce bottled ‘unknown’ beer cost $1 and it always came open.  Gee … could it be they kept refilling the empties?  Read more... (667 words, 3 images, estimated 2:40 mins reading time)