Michael Jackson (writer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Jackson
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Jackson at the 2004 Helsinki Beer Festival
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| Born | 27 March 1942 Wetherby, West Riding of Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 30 August 2007 (aged 65) London, England
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| Known for | Beer and whisky reviewing and journalism |
| Partner(s) | Paddy Gunningham (1981—2007) |
Michael James Jackson (born March 27, 1942 – died August 30, 2007) was a famous English writer and journalist. He wrote many important books about beer and whisky. He also wrote for major newspapers like The Independent and The Observer.
Michael Jackson's books sold over three million copies around the world and were translated into 18 languages. He is known for helping to bring back interest in beer and breweries in the 1970s, especially in the United States. He also made the idea of beer styles very popular. His TV show, The Beer Hunter, was shown in 15 countries.
He knew a lot about malt whisky too. His book Michael Jackson's Malt Whisky Companion (1989) is the best-selling book about whisky in the world. Michael Jackson had been unwell for some time before he passed away.
Contents
About Michael Jackson's Life
Michael Jackson was born in Wetherby, England. His family moved to Leeds after a big war. He went to King James's Grammar School, Almondbury and later became a journalist. He spent time in Edinburgh, Scotland, where he first learned about whisky.
How He Became the "Beer Hunter"
Michael Jackson became well-known in the world of beer in 1977. That's when his book The World Guide To Beer was first published. This book was translated into more than ten languages and is still seen as one of the most important books about beer. The modern idea of beer styles comes mostly from this book. In it, Jackson put different beers from around the world into groups based on local traditions and names.
His work really helped make brewing culture popular in North America. In 1989, he hosted a TV show called The Beer Hunter. It was shown on Channel 4 in the UK and the Discovery Channel. In each episode, Jackson visited a different country. He showed unique brewing practices that were soon going to disappear.
Jackson saw beer as a part of a country's culture. He described beers by explaining their cultural background. He traveled all over the world to discover different beer cultures. He especially loved Belgian beers. In 1997, he was given a special honor called the Ridderschap van de Roerstok for his big help in making Belgian beers famous worldwide. This award was usually only given to brewers. In 1998, Jackson also launched his own line of beer glasses. He later helped create and supported the Rare Beer Club.
His Work with Whisky
Jackson was also a very important reviewer of whiskies. In his book The Malt Whisky Companion, he reviewed many whiskies. He gave them scores from 0 to 100. He thought only whiskies with a score above 75 were worth buying.
Many people believe his work on whisky was even more important than his beer writing. He was one of the most important writers on whisky since the Victorian times. He was given the "Master of the Quaich" award for his work. His whisky books sold very well, and his whisky tasting events were always full. He had a big impact on how single malt whisky grew around the world.
Other Interests
Besides his work as a writer, Michael Jackson was also a big fan of rugby league.
Michael Jackson passed away from a heart attack at his home on August 30, 2007. He was 65 years old. He was survived by his girlfriend of 26 years, Paddy Gunningham, and her family.
Awards and Honors
Michael Jackson received many awards for his work:
- André Simon Award
- Winner of the Glenfiddich Trophy, a British award for food writers.
- Honorary officer of the Ridderschap van de Roerstok, a Belgian award.
- The Gold Tankard of the British Guild of Beer Writers, for his CD-Roms.
- Columnist of the Year from the North American Guild of Beer Writers.
- Winner James Beard Award, 2006.
- Keeper of the Quaich; Master of the Quaich (a top award in the Scotch Whisky industry).
- Holder of the Haarikka (1995) (a Finnish Sahti Association award).
- First person to receive the US Achievement Award of the Institute for Fermentation Studies.
- Honorary Master beer judge; Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP).
Multimedia Projects
Michael Jackson also created or was featured in several multimedia projects:
- The Beer Hunter (1989), a set of two VHS video tapes.
- A Journey of Discovery – Tasting the Classic Malts with Michael Jackson (1992), a VHS video tape.
- The Beer Hunter (1995), a CD-ROM about American beer culture.
- World Beer Hunter (1996), a CD-ROM about beer cultures worldwide.
- Beer Hunter The Movie (2013), a documentary film about Michael's life.
See also
In Spanish: Michael Jackson (escritor) para niños
- Jim Murray (whisky writer)
