[And therein lies the rub. You see, I always did intend to be famous. Charlie Papazian and I have been friends for about 45 years. In the beginning–we’re talking about the beginning of the craft beer movement– there were three of us. Michael “The Other” Jackson, the “beer isn’t just a beverage for slobs wearing wife-beaters” guy; Charlie, the “you can make your own beer” guy; and me the “know-your-beer/know-your-nation” guy. We were all working on books in the late 1970s, not as competitors so much as co-conspirators. Michael and Charlie became famous as a result of their beer associations and expertise.
Me? Not so much, although I am happily ensconced in a mythical Jungle ringleading a bunch of human apes. And I still have a good supply of homebrew in the basement. SB SM]
January 1, 2024
by Charlie Papazian, published on Facebook
The words and spirit of my book, The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, have changed the beer world more than I ever could have imagined. I know that it has changed millions of lives for the better. I never anticipated this, nor did I ever imagine the cultural and economic impact that homebrewing and subsequently commercial craft brewing would have in the world. In the early days of the “better beer” renaissance we celebrated with our tiny batches of homemade beer, often enjoying them, leading us to intoxicated and irrational visions of greatness. While we celebrated, there had always been unbelievers, demeaning our achievements and branding me as a whacked-out novelty cheerleader. I never considered myself a cheerleader, nor a revolutionary or disrupter.
40 Years
I self-published the original small editions of The Joy of Brewing and The New Revised Joy of Brewing in 1976 and 1980. In 1982 I was subsequently contracted with a New York publisher to write a “how to” book on homebrewing. Back then it was an extremely quirky idea. Just before being printed, it almost got cancelled by the publisher, but an inside team argued that it was worth a shot. It’s been 40 years since my big volume edition of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing was released in 1984. I recall how content I was that day in October 1983 when I submitted my manuscript.
I never intended to be famous.
With each edition of every edition of “Joy” I wanted to share my knowledge of beer, and more importantly to convey the important sense of joy expressed through the responsible enjoyment of beer and brewing. I ended up embedding beer humanity on every page. With every batch of beer brewed, I wanted to inspire others. I wanted great beer to take on a life of its own.
The humanity of beer had been lost. In the 1970s and in the world’s eye, beer had become disconnected from its roots. While there were passionate people making beer, what they had to manufacture did not convey the passion and essence of what beer had historically been all about. After thousands of years beer drinkers had become disconnected from the cultural past. Beer had lost its soul.
Through homebrewed beer and camaraderie, beer’s essence, energy and legacy emerged. Every glass of homebrewed beer spoke to me. That, I am very certain of! It took hold of my thoughts and begged to be celebrated. It cried to be respected and shared.
I have always been astonished at the unusual and high degree of conviviality that homebrewed beer generates. In later years I realized what I was observing wasn’t necessarily about “homebrewed” beer, but about beer that had been nurtured, respected, loved, and brewed with a sense of joy. Sometimes we call it passion. But really, the fundamental context has always been joy.
When joy goes missing, the things we do and the things we create fall short of reflecting the positive attributes of our humanity and what we seek.
I’ve always observed that anyone can learn how to make beer. If you pick up any book on how to make beer, yes, you can make beer. But more importantly for me, with The Complete Joy of Homebrewing was the message that it was okay to celebrate both your successes and failures. I wanted to encourage individuals to overcome their uncertainty, to explore paths not yet taken, to reconcile values and priorities. Some of the best ways to improve the quality of your life are sharing successes, failures, experiences, knowledge and yes, sharing your beer. There were also life lessons to convey – that you can do anything you set your mind to do? Don’t take yourself too seriously. Overcome the intimidation of “I can’t…” It’s okay to feel anxious. Laugh at yourself. Relax. Don’t worry. Make mistakes, create your own rules, enjoy your accomplishments every small step and epic stride of the way. Be open. Be aware. Learn and keep learning from experiences. Connect with family, friends, daughters, mother, father, sons, neighbors, and community.
Back in my early years and even now, I can tell the difference between beer brewed with joy and beer brewed joylessly, naked without humanity. It’s a difference reflected in the way the beer looks, smells, feels, tastes, sounds… as well as how, when and where it is served. Joyous people migrate to joyful beer. They serve it, they make it, they surround the beer with care, respect, and pride. They drink it.
I continue to homebrew. My celebration continues.
Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew.
Charlie Papazian
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10211045887358311&set=a.1544617050564&tn=%3C
Charlie Papazian today … Doesn’t this look like a happy guy?
