MICROBREWERS: 1981-1996: A Photo History

In this homage to American microbrewers, international photojournalist David Alexander Bjorkman has created a photo gallery of brewers and breweries from 1981 to 1996. This collection of rare photos captures the early years of specialty brewing as the industry began its meteoric rise into the hearts of admiring beer-lovers nationwide.

Those were heady years filled with the pure joy of brewing. Brewers with big dreams opened their microbreweries, brewpubs and contract brewing companies on shoestring budgets, and succeeded in establishing their unique place in the history of American brewing. "Hand-crafted," "fresh," "flavorful" were how they described their beers, and it was the start of something special.

David Alexander Bjorkman's photos document the pioneers and players who came to brewing from different backgrounds and disciplines, but who all had a passion for beer. Some became industry leaders, with their names, faces and beers known to beer connoisseurs across the nation. Some shot to fame, but for lack of money or know-how fell into history. But all were dynamic and visionary, intense and driven to give beer their best.

Here are over 300 photos of the first microbrewers in the United States: of the very first microbrewer's panel held anywhere: of early Great American Beer Festivals: of batch #176 being brewed at the Widmer Brewing Co.: of the Mendocino brewing Co. executive team: and of hundreds of brewers across the country.

These photos provide a veritable "who's who of the early microbrewing industry, a history worthy of a place on every beer-lovers bookshelf.

David Alexander Bjorkman, an award-winning international photojournalist, co-founded The New Brewer magazine in 1983 with Victoria Thomas and Charlie Papazian. He documented the microbrewing industry from 1981 to 1996 before he relocated to Merida, Yucatan, Mexico.

This limited edition photo book can only be purchased online at the Blurb.com Bookstore. www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/539175.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Microbrewers
• beer
• Michael
• Jackson
• Paul
• Shipman
• Mendocino
• Brewing
• Co.
• Sierra
• Nevada
• Widmer
• Fritz
• Maytag
• Jim
• Koch
• Pete
• Slosberg
• Charlie
• Papazian
• The
• Great
• American
• Beer
• Festival
• Bert
• Grant
• Doug
• Odell
• Jeff
• Lebesch
• Bill
• Owens
• Randy
• Sprecher
• Daniel
• Bradford
• Brian
• Hunt

[bill5758]

My name is Bill Horton, I first met your uncle on Cape Cod when I was 12. He and my father Fred Horton were friends. I remember when he move back to Colorado

[BlackHoleBrew42]

@max2zero99 Beer Beer Beer! thats the name!

[max2zero99]

@zavatone that is amazing!!! anyone know the name of this song?

[zavatone]

AWESOME! Otto Zavatone is my uncle. I was there in 1981 drinking Boulder Beer when it was brewed on a goat farm in Hygiene, Colorado. I still have one of the wooden cases in my attic. Loved that sweet bitter!

[chucktriplett]

Thanks for the memories!