Saturday, September 1 2007
Ave atque vale, Beerhunter
Michael Jackson (the Michael Jackson, not that singer fellow) passed away August 31st.
For those who aren't familiar with his writing, Jackson was considered the world authority on beer styles. At a time when generic lager threatened to wipe our beer diversity, Jackson began writing eloquently and lucidly about exotic and historic beers, treating them with the same respect that other writers gave wine. In his book, The Beer Companion, he said,
"No one goes into a restaurant and requests 'a plate of food, please'. People do not simply ask for 'a glass of wine', without specifying, at the very least, whether they fancy red or white, dry or sweet, perhaps sparkling or still ... when their mood switches from the grape to the grain, these same discerning people folk often ask simply for 'a beer', or perhaps name a brand, without thinking of its suitability for the mood or the moment ... beer is by far the more extensively consumed, but less adequately honoured. In a small way, I want to help put right that injustice."
He is credited with saving styles of beer that were nearly extinct, and inspiring tens of thousands of beer enthusiasts (myself included) into trying the exotic, even if they had to make it themselves. From where I sit I can see four of his books on my shelf, three of which are autographed. I was lucky enough to have dinner with him on several occasions, and he was a magnificent speaker and in his low-key Yorkshire way, a great raconteur, with beer stories and anecdotes that went on forever.
I know that he felt like one of the luckiest people in the world, and I feel very lucky for having known him.
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