I spent most of my college years waiting tables and bartending, which can make for some interesting lecture participation when it comes to analyzing the phenomenon of automatic writing as it relates to the application of split-line poetry. Anyway, I was fortunate enough to spend a few of these formative years at a restaurant that was forward-thinking enough to recognize the microbrew movement and work hard to stay at the forefront of the growing trend of offering specialty brews on draught.
Not only did this experience feed my lifelong love affair with beer, but it helped me cultivate an understanding of what I was imbibing, on a level somewhat deeper than how much a case of Colders 29 might cost or how long it would take to make a keg of Beast Light disappear. From porters to stouts, from IPAs to ambers, I began to develop an appreciation for the art that goes into the brewing process, the misunderstood and oft-ignored pieces of the puzzle that can help a brew go from good to great, or from skunky to sublime.
Years of attending regional microbreweries and taking advantage of relationships with local brewmasters who offered seasonal offering and varietal brews helped me cement a discerning eye and a refined palate when it came to the suds. This borderline obsession culminated in last year's visit to the Guinness Storehouse, a mecca of beerdom that has been known to make grown men cry.
That recognition of brewing as art is one of the factors that has led director Anat Baron to release a documentary titled "Beer Wars," which can be viewed as part of a one-night event on Thursday, April 16. Billed as a no-holds-barred look at the David vs. Goliath nature of the battle between small, independent brewers and vicious beer corporations, "Beer Wars" is working hard to mount a grassroots campaign to both market the flick and establish a following of beer geeks. In the trailer, one man notes that "Most Americans have never had a real beer," while another says, "Everything in America that's important is around beer." The video goes on to detail the uphill battle that microbreweries face in gaining a foothold in the ruthless and cutthroat battle for the consumer six-pack dollar. Myself, I'm hoping for a Michael Moore-style hard look at the jungle warfare employed by "the man" to keep down the startup beer-trepreneur.
On top of all that, Ben Stein is involved … so how can it miss?
Check it out for yourself -- and bottoms up!
No comments:
Post a Comment