Michael Jackson, R.I.P.

[Rich Pawlak]

I thought you might like to read Lew Bryson's eloquent TRIBUTE to Michael Jackson on Bryson's website today.

A sad day for any one who loves and appreciates beer.

[oneidaone]

Aloha & Mahalo for bringing up a most important passing. We shall toast to him and the work he did this weekend. Maybe every bar should turn a glass/pint whatever upside down in his dear honor and memory. A hui hou Michael Jackson, you did good!

[SBonner]

I remember meeting him in Vancouver five years ago. Great gent with a great palate and wit. He will be missed. I hope he passed with a dram of something special in his hand.

Stephen Bonner

Edited August 31, 2007 by SBonner (log)

[Rich Pawlak]

My favorite memory of JAckson is from almost 10 years ago, when I attended the Press Breakfast for the annual Book and The Cook festival in Philly. I do a beer tour during the festival, and Jackson conducts what is the festival's largest attended event, a tutored beer tasting that draws thousands every year to the Univ of Pennsylvania's museum.

So we've just sat down to breakfast and Jackson strolls in in a tweed sportcoat in whose pockets he has carried two bottles of Heineken. He sits down at OUR table, the only one with available seats, puts the Heinekens on the table and grabs some scrambled eggs, sausages and toast from the nearby buffet, and opens one of the beers, pours it into a tall glass. It is 8:30 in the morning, BTW.

We make small talk with him, as the other culianry people at the table are just too shocked to say anything to him.

"So do you always drink beer for breakfast?" I finally ask him.

"Not at all," he replies, "but I found some Heinekens in my hotel room fridge, and it's a good beer with scrambled eggs and sausage. That's all Heineken is good for anyway, in my opinion."

[feedmec00kies]

Here is the last column he wrote for All About Beer magazine ("Did I Cheat Mort Subite?" Michael Jackson, August 22, 2007). It is quite poignant to read, especially in light of his passing.

[Rich Pawlak]

Wow. Terrific exit column, don't you think?

[feedmec00kies]

Yeah, it really was. I hope he is at peace now; he certainly will be missed.

(Btw, I didn't realize it was linked in Lew Bryson's tribute that appeared in the OP.. sorry!)

[eje]

A Toast to Michael Jackson

"At 9:00 pm EST on Sunday, September 30, beer drinkers across the continent will raise a glass to the memory of the man who did more than anyone to further the cause of good beer, the one and only Beer Hunter, Michael Jackson. And your establishment can play a part!

Some of the venues can be found via Yahoo Events:

List of Venues

Edited September 13, 2007 by eje (log)