Michael Jackson (2) (1942–2007)
Author of Malt Whisky Companion
For other authors named Michael Jackson, see the disambiguation page.
About the Author
Author and journalist Michael Jackson was born in Yorkshire, England on March 27, 1942. He wrote numerous books about beer and whiskey and was considered an authority in the area. He suffered from Parkinson's disease and died on August 30, 2007. (Bowker Author Biography)
Image credit: Crop from bigger picture. Taken by Päivi Kuusjärvi, Helsinki Beer Festival, April 2004.
Works by Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson's Complete Guide To Single Malt Scotch (5th Revised Edition) (1990) 333 copies, 2 reviews
Michael Jackson's Beer Companion: The World's Great Beer Styles, Gastronomy, and Traditions (1993) 266 copies, 4 reviews
Scotland and Its Whiskies: The Great Whiskies and Their Landscapes (1999) — Author — 115 copies, 1 review
The SIMON SCHUSTER POCKET GUIDE TO BEER 5TH EDITION: THE CONNOISSEUR'S COMPANION TO OVER 1,500 BEERS OF THE WORLD (1996) 34 copies
The Running Press Pocket Guide to Beer : The Connoisseur's Companion to More than 2,000 Beers of the World (2000) 31 copies, 1 review
The Simon & Shuster Pocket Guide to Beer: The Connossieur's Companion to Almost 2,000 Beers of the World, 6th Edition (1997) 14 copies
The Beer Hunter 4 copies
Michael Jackson's Beer Companion - Stouts, Lagers, Wheat Beers, Fruit Beers, Ales, Porters - Second Revised (1997) 4 copies
Whisky Atlas 1 copy
MICHAEL JACKSON'S MALT WHISKY COMPANION - A Connoisseur's Guide to the Malt Whiskies of Scotland (1990) 1 copy
Whisky O Melhor Guia Mundial 1 copy
Los cócteles 1 copy
Les Bières (Guide mondial) 1 copy
Associated Works
Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass (2004) — Foreword, some editions — 278 copies, 5 reviews
Zymurgy for the Homebrewer and Beer Lover: The Best Articles and Advice (1998) — Contributor — 24 copies, 1 review
The Beer Lover's Guide to the USA: Brewpubs, Taverns, and Good Beer Bars (2000) — Foreword, some editions — 9 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Canonical name
- Jackson, Michael
- Legal name
- Jackson, Michael James
- Birthdate
- 1942-03-27
- Date of death
- 2007-08-30
- Gender
- male
- Occupations
- writer
beer critic - Relationships
- Gunningham, Paddy (partner)
- Cause of death
- heart attack
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- Wetherby, West Yorkshire, England, UK
- Places of residence
- London, England, UK
- Place of death
- London, England, UK
- Map Location
- England, UK
Members
Discussions
Michael Jackson in Pro and Con (June 2009)
Reviews
Michael Jackson's Beer Companion: The World's Great Beer Styles, Gastronomy, and Traditions by Michael Jackson
Exhaustive, beautifully illustrated, and lovingly written companion to the world's beers. Sadly, the author is no more, and some of the beers are no more as well. Books like this tend to be a bit frustrating, however, since it would be virtually impossible to actually drink all of these, as much as you might like to!
Jackson was the great beer writer. As a means of introducing standards to his own ratings and writings, he pioneered the use of stylistic categories withing which to judge beer. But his own palette, not arbitrary categories, was always the ultimate judge of a beer--was it any good? Unfortunately far too many of those who have come after him have been unable ever to shake the tyranny of style. There question is always does it fit within its purported style. Not do I like this. Jackson, on the show more other hand, was willing to invent new styles to accommodate beers that were superior but sui generis. And his ability to describe the taste of a unique beer in prose (rather than lists of words cribbed from scoring sheets) was unsurpassed. show less
Michael Jackson's Beer Companion: The World's Great Beer Styles, Gastronomy, and Traditions by Michael Jackson
I found this in an antique shop and the cool thing was it was signed by the author (“To Eden and Kevin, Cheers!, 10 Nov, ,99”… so I haven’t decided if I’m going to change my name to Eden or Kevin). Jackson was quite the researcher. I’d heard of him but not read any of his books. This is the second edition, 1997, full of beers of the times. Jackson died in 2007 and might well have been surprised at the explosion of crafts in America. Details on styles - the history of the style, show more origins, regions historically produced and and section for selected noted producers of the style, some quite detailed. Cool book.
Sticky notes:
In his introductory section - Never ask for a "beer" - Jackson said
And on barleywine, or, rather barley wine, Jackson recalls
One funny truism, on "The uses of beer": "Some people drink beer to get drunk, though it is an inefficient means of doing so." Quite inefficient, though there are some higher gravity beers out there now that rival the wine levels.
The rest of the sticky notes are for my use (producers to look up, regions to investigate someday) and of little value in a "review" so cheers and here's to beer! show less
Sticky notes:
In his introductory section - Never ask for a "beer" - Jackson said
"Do you ever drink wine?" people ask me, as though beer were a prison rather than a playground [...] Whatever is argued about other pleasures, it is not necessary to be monogamous in the choice of drink. Beer is by far the more extensively consumed, but less adequately honored. In a small way, I want to help put right that injustice."as though beer were a prison"! I really like a good red wine, but beer is so much more varied in flavor and experience, so ... I choose the experience!
And on barleywine, or, rather barley wine, Jackson recalls
When the style became popular among revivalist brewers in the United States in the 1980s, the various authorities governing labeling were uncomfortable about a beer being described as a wine. This led to the cumbersome description "barley wine-style ale" on some labelsSome Puritans are still in charge of the label approvals and the cumbersome practice continues.
One funny truism, on "The uses of beer": "Some people drink beer to get drunk, though it is an inefficient means of doing so." Quite inefficient, though there are some higher gravity beers out there now that rival the wine levels.
The rest of the sticky notes are for my use (producers to look up, regions to investigate someday) and of little value in a "review" so cheers and here's to beer! show less
I almost hesitate to critique this book, since it is so old and so clearly revered by whisky fans.
I can see why it is such a classic of the field. It's beautifully made, and must have been trying comprehensive for its day. It goes without saying, of course, that the whisky world has changed immensely over the last 15 or so years. That is no fault of the book.
The intense reverence for Scotland is inevitable, I suppose, but there are clear factual errors and exaggerations that are simply eye show more roll inducing. No, Scotland is not the world's biggest barley producer...
The rest of the world is treated largely as a footnote, or as an exercise in tired cliche (American pioneer spirit, or "losing face, a fate worse than death" in Japan).
There may not be more beautiful whisky books, but there are plenty of ones with all the same information, without the outdated attitudes. show less
I can see why it is such a classic of the field. It's beautifully made, and must have been trying comprehensive for its day. It goes without saying, of course, that the whisky world has changed immensely over the last 15 or so years. That is no fault of the book.
The intense reverence for Scotland is inevitable, I suppose, but there are clear factual errors and exaggerations that are simply eye show more roll inducing. No, Scotland is not the world's biggest barley producer...
The rest of the world is treated largely as a footnote, or as an exercise in tired cliche (American pioneer spirit, or "losing face, a fate worse than death" in Japan).
There may not be more beautiful whisky books, but there are plenty of ones with all the same information, without the outdated attitudes. show less
Awards
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Associated Authors
Statistics
- Works
- 58
- Also by
- 7
- Members
- 2,984
- Popularity
- #8,551
- Rating
- 4.0
- Reviews
- 27
- ISBNs
- 497
- Languages
- 19
- Favorited
- 2