M u l t i m e d i a

Beer Pioneers: The American Craft Brewing Revolution
Craft Beer
Before the 1970s, American beer was "just beer," a big-brand industrially produced effervescent pale lager. However, from the mid-70s through the 1990s American beer witnessed a revolution: full-flavored "boutique" ales and lagers appeared on the landscape-- hand-crafted in small batches, by artisans in tiny breweries.
This new craft beer wasn't an easy sell. Early craft brewers struggled to change the public's perception of American beer and the big breweries protected their territory. Even so, craft brewers fought the uphill battle, and found their audience. During this craft beer revolution: microbreweries were reborn, homebrewing was legalized, brewpubs resurged, and flavorful craft beer was re-introduced to the consumer in nearly one hundred different styles.
Now after 45 years of being on the scene, craft beer and microbreweries have fully integrated within our culture. But what do we really know about them? Who brought them from relative obscurity to the masses? Who are these beer pioneers?
The Documentary
Beer Pioneers™ explores the history and evolution of craft beer in America, from Anchor Brewing and New Albion to Merchant du Vin and the Maltose Falcons. The documentary takes an in-depth look at the people, places and events behind the early craft beer renaissance and today's craft brewing revolution.
Filmed over an 18 year period, director Jay Sheveck interviews many of the early pioneers and revisits dozens of historic breweries and events that helped shape the modern day craft brewing industry. Archival photos, films and breweriana compliment the narrative, shedding even more light upon the earliest days.
Beer Pioneers reveals the story of the American craft brewing revolution unlike any other documentary to date. The final feature-length documentary will debut in late 2013 on the film festival circuit.
It's about the beer.
The Cast
Final billing is still pending, but so far interviews include:
Frederick "Fritz" Maytag III, Jack McAuliffe, Charlie Papazian, Charles Finkel, William Newman, A. John Mitchell, Herbert "Bert" Grant, Ken Grossman, Jim Koch, James D. Robertson, Bill Owens, Donald Barkley, Fred Eckhardt, Michael Jackson, Don Younger, Greg Koch and many more.
Quick Sheet
| Title: | Beer Pioneers: The American Craft Brewing Revolution |
|---|---|
| TRT: | Approx. 150 minutes |
| About: | Beer Pioneers is a documentary film about the history of craft beer in North America and the stories behind the resurgence of microbreweries as told by the pioneers themselves. |
| Status: | In Post-Production |
| Delivery Date: | September 2013 |
| Format: | HD Video |
| Produced by: | Beer Guppy Multimedia, Burbank, Calif. |
| Written by: | Jay Sheveck |
| Directed by: | Jay Sheveck |
| Web Site: | www.BeerPioneersMovie.com |
| Fan Sites: | |
©1994-2013 Jay Sheveck, d/b/a Beer Guppy Multimedia. All Rights Reserved.
©1999 Jay Sheveck, d/b/a Earthbound Entertainment, Inc.
™ "Beer Pioneers" and the alternate title "The American Craft Brewing Revolution" are trademarks of Beer Guppy Multimedia
WGAw Registered 1997, 1999, 2003, 2009