Michael Jackson

Michael James Jackson (27 March 1942 – 30 August 2007) was an English beer and whiskey writer. He was a regular contributor to a number of broadsheets, particularly The Independent and The Observer.

Jackson's books have sold over three million copies worldwide and have been translated into 18 languages. He is credited with helping to start a renaissance of interest in beer and breweries worldwide in the 1970s, particularly in the United States. He is also widely credited with popularising the idea of beer styles. His influential television series The Beer Hunter was shown in fifteen countries.

He was as well-versed in malt whisky as he was in beer, and his book Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion (1989) was the best-selling book on the subject in the world. His father had his Lithuanian Jewish surname Jakowitz to Jackson. The family moved to Leeds after World War II. The modern theory of beer style is largely derived from this book, in which Jackson categorised a variety of beers from around the world in local style groups suggested by local customs and names.

His work had a particular influence on the popularisation of the brewing culture in North America, and in 1989 he hosted a television series entitled The Beer Hunter, which was shown on Channel 4 in the UK and on the Discovery Channel. It involved several episodes in which Jackson would visit a different country. Episodes featured beer barrels being lined with pitch, and iron foundry workers drinking "light" beer while they worked in hot conditions to quench thirst, practices which he knew were likely to be ended soon.

Jackson was a reviewer of whiskies, in his book The Malt Whisky Companion, he reviewed a large number of whiskies and gave them marks from 0–100, considering only those with a score above seventy-five worth purchasing. He received the award of "Master of the Quaich".

Apart from his work as a journalist and a critic, he was also a fan of rugby league.

Jackson disclosed in December 2006 that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over a decade earlier. He also had diabetes.

Jackson died of a heart attack in his home on the morning of 30 August 2007 at the age of 65. He was survived by his girlfriend of 26 years, Paddy Gunningham, and her daughter and grandchildren.

Awards André Simon Award Glenfiddich Trophy, a British prize for culinary writers Honorary officer of the , a Belgian award Gold Tankard of the British Guild of Beer Writers, given for his CD-ROMs Columnist of the Year, from the North American Guild of Beer Writers James Beard Award, 2006 Keeper of the Quaich and Master of the Quaich, Scotch whisky industry awards Holder of the Haarikka 1995, Sahti Association award Achievement Award of the Institute for Fermentation Studies (US); first recipient Honorary Master beer judge, of the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP)

Selected bibliography The English Pub (1976) The World Guide to Beer (1977) Exploring England. The Nationwide Touring Guide (1979) Pocket Guide to Beer; (1986) The World Guide to Whisky (1987) New World Guide to Beer (1988) Michael Jackson's Great Beers of Belgium; (1991) Michael Jackson's Beer Companion; (1997) Ultimate Beer (1998) Little Book on Beer (1998) Michael Jackson's Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, 4th ed.; editor: Sharon Lucas; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Running Press; (1999) Michael Jackson's Great Beer Guide; ed.: Sharon Lucas; DK; (2000) Scotland and Its Whiskies (2001) The Malt Whisky Companion, Penguin Books; (2004) Bar and Cocktail Party Book (2005) Whisky; (2005)

Multimedia The Beer Hunter (1989), set of two VHS tapes A Journey of Discovery: Tasting the Classic Malts with Michael Jackson (1992), VHS tapes The Beer Hunter (1995), CD-ROM about American beer culture World Beer Hunter (1996), CD-ROM about beer cultures around the world Beer Hunter: The Movie (2013), documentary film about Jackson's life