Check out this informative and fun new documentary about the different ways in which beer has affected individual lives and the world.
Co-written and co-directed by David Swift and Scott Owen, Beers of Joy follows four characters, all with different backgrounds who have one thing in common, their love for beer. This documentary follows Ryan and Joe, two peers competing to be Master Cicerones, Tonya, a thriving brewmaster and Sean, an innovative beer chef and respected home brewer. While Ryan and Joe compete for the highest beer certification, Master Cicerone, a title which only 18 people in the world hold, they challenge and push each other in surprising ways.
The two men are shown as somewhat polar opposites, although the documentary shows both training and prepping constantly throughout the film, Ryan is presented as the more long-winded and less intense counter to Joe’s type A, studious Joe. What’s both unfair and absolutely brilliant about this film is that it truly surprises you and has you underestimating the wrong people. Brewmaster Tonya travels to Italy and Germany in search of ancient brewing techniques as well as in the hopes of perfecting her own Berliner Weisse and Sean goes in search of the historical origins of Beer in preparation for a historic feast inspired by his journey. These four are united by their love for beer and innovation and without giving away too many spoilers, one of the people shown in the film does achieve the honor of becoming Master Cicerone! Watch the film to find out who!
