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No, not that Michael Jackson.
The other Michael Jackson, the world's leading beer critic/scholar/historian/writer, was found dead in his London home last night.
Likely, not many of you have heard of the anti-child molesting Michael Jackson. He was possibly the most important driving force in the world-wide beer community over the past 30 years. Starting with his first publication of "World Guide to Beer" in 1977, he has always been a strong voice for the beer community. He helped to bring good beer into the mainstream press, and he has studied the history of beer like no other. He started out as a newspaper reporter, and eventually combined his love of reporting with his love of beer.
Maybe you remember him from his television show called "The Beer Hunter", which aired on PBS during the early 90's. Or, maybe you saw his talk show appearances on either David Letterman or Conan O'Brien. If you are a beer lover, perhaps you have read one of his books or one of the many articles he published.
Over the years, his appearance had become more and more eccentric. His friends thought that maybe his profession was finally getting to him. People often just wrote off his erratic behavior to his being drunk. He revealed the truth in December of 2006; that he had been dealing with Parkinson's Disease for the past 10 years.
His last published article, titled "Did I Cheat Mort Subite?", is a bit of a chilling read after today's news.
This is a sad day, as this is a huge loss for the beer community. He will be missed by his friends and by beer lovers that never had the pleasure of meeting him. For those of us that take pleasure in writing about beer, he is about as good of a role model as one could imagine.
Seattlest will definitely be drinking a good beer in honor of Mr. Jackson this evening.
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Though perhaps less well known than his beer writing, Mr. Jackon's writing on whisky/whiskey has also been highly influential. RIP.
Michael's passing saddens me. I'm lucky to have met the man and enjoyed his books and beer tastings. Cheers, Michael.
I have a fine book of his regarding single malt scotch distilleries that I picked up sometime in the early 90's before it was chic/snooty/parvenuistic...
I'll tip a glass to this noble scholar.
Jackson spent time in Seattle some 25 years ago. His visit was underwritten by Mick McHugh and Tim Firnstahl, then partners in a group of popular drinking establishments (F.X. McRory's, Jake O'Shaughnessy's, etc.). Jackson was brought in to advise them on the proper service and enjoyment of brews and malts, so in fact all of us today benefit from his wisdom.
I got into home-brewing back in the early '90's in large part because of his "New World Beer Guide". The notion that one could actually, with practice and diligence, make some of the ales he cited was a rather exciting prospect, and his appreciation of beer as an aesthetic, culinary and cultural equal to wine has stayed with me to this day.
I'll be hoisting a chilly glass of some suitable libation in your honor tonight, Mr. Jackson, as wiil your many friends and admirers, no doubt. Thank you for making us love it as much as you did.
After all, that really is the reason "why we drink it here".