Beer is a cultural phenomenon. Add beer to any gathering and adversaries become less antagonistic, total strangers suddenly become friends, and people overall become happier than before. Beer brings utter joy to so many people and makes the world a better place and it is precisely this ability to bring people together in a spirit of unity that makes beer such an amazing beverage. It is also the basis for Beers of Joy, a documentary about beer and the people behind the scenes who have labored in the past and present to brew this amazing liquid and bring its healing properties to the masses.
Beers of Joy is a movie that focuses primarily on four individuals: Joe Vogelbacher of Sugar Creek Brewing; Ryan Daley of Goose Island Brewing; Tonya Cornett of 10 Barrel Brewing; and Sean Paxton, who is better known as the Homebrew Chef. Joe and Ryan, two men who are well- versed in the world of beer, spend their time in the documentary prepping for the most difficult test of their lives: The Master Cicerone exam. Tonya Cornett spends time in Europe, learning more about the German legacy of brewing and rubbing elbows with some of the biggest names in German beer. Sean devotes his time to learning more about the history of beer, brewing, and food and how they came together to influence the early days of the American republic.
This documentary is educational in nature and those who watch are bound to come away with beer knowledge they didn’t possess before. The focus on the Master Cicerone exam introduces viewers to all sorts of terminology and tasting notes that even the most die- hard craft beer fan has likely never heard previously. The tours that Tonya takes of Europe introduce viewers to several of the world’s oldest breweries and Sean’s examination of early American history and the role beer in our nation’s founding are certain to arouse the intellectual curiosity in most anyone who watches.
The educational aspects alone would be reason to add Beers of Joy to your viewing list, but this documentary’s value goes far beyond its ability to expand your beer vocabulary and sharpen your knowledge of history. Beers of Joy also has a distinctly human element. You get to know Ryan Daley as a man with extensive beer knowledge, yes, but also as a man with a supportive wife and young children. You get to learn about Joe and his sister’s battle with cancer. These human elements, and others like them, are what set Beers of Joy apart from the typical beer documentary. These are ordinary people like you and me; people who share the same hopes and dreams that we all share, but who happen to work in the business of beer.
Documentaries and movies in general are often predictable, but this isn’t the case with Beers of Joy. I found myself cheering on Ryan Daley and Joe Vogelbacher as they studied for the Master Cicerone exam. I also found myself hoping that Joe’s sister would win her fight against cancer and I waited patiently for the documentary to provide answers. Most documentaries end happily with every situation turning out the way the viewer hopes they will turn out. Beers of Joy, on the other hand, keeps things real.
Beer brings joy to so many people. Here at Great Beer Now, our focus is primarily on the entertainment and recreational value of beer and it is through these avenues that we experience the ecstasy, the jubilation, the thrill, and the absolute wonderment that only beer can bring. Beers of Joy captures the amazing experience of beer through other, different lenses, showing how this amazing beverage has done so much to make life better for all of us. It’s an excellent documentary about the beverage we love, and one you need to add to your must- view documentary list.
Leave a Reply