Michael Jackson's World-Class Beers

Quite an enjoyable thread!!! Personally I feel all of the beers listed still retain their place, although I would agree with hopfenunmaltz that maybe the Jever is questionable, but I disagree that "The German list would be very much the same" as Germany has been slowly improving, and there are now quite a few new "craft" breweries open.

 

I'd be curious how Michael Jackson would view today's craft beers and their distinction of World Class status. Would he consider Heady Topper a World Class based on the DIPA style? Would barrel aged stouts like BCBS be looked at as torch-bearers? It would be a fascinating discussion.

 

I'll not begin to argue that beer and brewing hasn't changed substantially in the last few decades since his list was initially published, with mega-consolidations, price pressures, quality trade-offs and the rebirth of small, quality brewing; but what I take from Mr. Jackson's list is that, while he undoubtedly had as refined a palette and understanding of the complexity of beer flavors as perhaps any person since, he was much more open minded towards all styles and sources than today's beer hobbyist. His approach toward enjoying beer has been a personal inspiration for nearly twenty years.

 

That's pretty much how I see it as well. Well before the craft beer scene really kicked off as it has now Michael Jackson frequently said that America was making the best and most innovative beer in the world. And he loved Expedition Stout too. I'm pretty sure he would have been all over the latest trends we're seeing now.

 

I'm typing from memory here and I have a funny feeling what you've brought up is quite possibly closer to the truth . I think his Beer Hunter website, which I believe is still up and running, is where he wrote about his American beer experiences.

 

I'm glad that's all that changed, if you haven't, have the Grand Cru on tap.

 

One aspect of the American beer scene circa 2002 that Michael Jackson appreciated was the selection of beer available.

Some quotes from Michael Jackson:

“The U.S. has the world's best selection of beers, and that's the truth.”

“In articles for the consumer press, it is hard to communicate the point that the U.S. makes some of the world's greatest beers, and augments them with a wider range of imports than can be found anywhere else.”

“The bigger American cities now offer a diversity of beer-styles far greater than that to be found in any single European country.”

With the ‘expansion’ of the US craft beer movement, the selection of beer in the US right now (2015) is even greater than what Michael Jackson reported on in 2002.

Cheers!

http://beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001742.html

 

Also from Michael Jackson (2001):

“The astonishing diversity of styles today produced in the U.S. issues from more than 1,500 breweries. The United States has the most breweries, the strongest beer (Samuel Adams' Millennium, at 20 percent), but - much more important - the greatest diversity.

Scarcely anywhere in Europe, perhaps nowhere, is it as easy to find under one roof beers brewed in the Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium and the British Isles as it is in New York, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C, Chicago, Seattle, Portland or San Francisco. No country in Europe could remotely approach the 50-odd styles of beer that are judged each year at the Great American Beer Festival. Remember, all of those are brewed in the U.S.

I know of no brewery in Europe that matches skill and adventurousness in the manner of the Southampton Publick House (with its Eisbock and Saison, for example) or classic styles and an individual touch as Brooklyn or Victory do. I don't think any European brewery is as committed to eclecticism as Dogfish Head or Hair of the Dog. If anyone in Europe is as enthusiastic about big, bold, flavors as Great Lakes or as stout-hearted as Kalamazoo, it is an extraordinarily well-kept secret. No European city has as many breweries as Seattle or Portland, Oregon

And where in Europe can I find Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Celebration or Big Foot?

I fly to America every other month on average. I have been doing this for more than 20 years, and have visited every state. I come here for the beer...and interviewers still don't believe me.”

http://beerhunter.com/documents/19133-001608.html

Cheers!

 

"He was as equally versed in the world of malt whisky as well as beer, and his book, Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion (1989) is the best-selling book on the subject in the world"

He may have fueled the "BA everything!" mentality more than posters on this forum. Not to abandon non-wood aged beers, but to keep experimenting. He loved the burton aging system. I can't imagine he wouldn't have loved what's going on right now (ie same Bruery beers aged in various spirit barrels).

 

Times have changed, fads have come and gone, some things remain the same.

Always know your roots and appreciate them for what they were, and to some degree... still are... I say.

 

That sounds an awful lot like respecting tradition -- how un-mod of you.

 

The US list appears to be a little light and outdated, not that the beers are bad, just not up to date...

 

I think your sarcasm is on full, or maybe not?

 

He did die in 2007.