Mac Meda Destruction Company

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)

Brown Derby Cheap Beer and WindanSea Sunset

David Osborn sits between cases of Brown Derby Beer in 1963

Artist and Red Mountain Inn owner, Dave Osborn relaxes surrounded by cases of Brown Derby beer. Now I bet he wishes he kept some of the cans and/or bottles.

Brown Derby?  What the hell is that?

For those kids who have stumbled upon this website, Mac Meda (obviously experts on beer consumption), Brown Derby was a store brand, something that was more common after Prohibition than before. Once Prohibition ended in 1933 brewers looked for new markets to replace the old, discredited saloon model with saloons “tied” to specific breweries.  Read more... (551 words, 2 images, estimated 2:12 mins reading time)

Conventions – Keg Party – Drunken Beer Orgies and Wild Women

The first Mac Meda Convention in Sorrento Valley in 1963 - Photo by David Osborn

A Los Angeles Times reporter once wrote, “ … drunken beer orgies and wild women” when referring to a Mac Meda Convention.

No doubt, Mac Meda perfected the keg party, if not invented it.  And the greatest technical advancement to the keg party was the invention of the plastic trash can. Lightweight, somewhat strong, could hold a keg perfect and most important; it provided the right size container to pack about 100lbs of ice to keep the keg cold on a hot Sorrento or Carmel Valley or WindanSea day.  Read more... (610 words, 3 images, estimated 2:26 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)

Butch Van Artsdalen – Legendary Surfer – WindanSea Lot

Legendary surfer Butch Van Artsdalen trades gash in head for keg of beer. Photo taken by Jon Sarrett,WindanSea Parking lot

Recently I attended a memorial service for Harry Phillips, the former owner of Flowers by Adelaide in La Jolla.  I was having a conversation with some of the former delivery boys who worked for Harry over the years.  Randy Miller, Harry’s nephew, told a Windansea Tale.

Legendary surfer Butch Van Artsdalen was holding court at the Windansea lot and Randy was with Charlie Broan in one of the Adelaide’s delivery trucks.  Read more... (318 words, 1 image, estimated 1:16 mins reading time)

Jack and his Burgie Beer – 44 mag

Jack drinking a beer in Borrego Springs ... at Sunrise

Here is the photo of Jack in Borrego at sunrise (yes my friends that is sunrise, not sunset), explaining to Brian Munoz why he drank Burgie beer.

Jack explained, “So he didn’t have to worry about anyone taking or asking for any of his beer”

As far as the the reason for the 44 mag suicide look, Brian said, “We had spent the day before getting shit-faced, it ended up with Lee Bakken shooting at his wife’s feet to make her dance.”

Everyone was getting a little Meda crazy, even for us.

When Brian asked, “Why the gun to your head?”