Documentary Review: ‘Brewmaster’

Review by James Lindorf

Coming November 20th, from Writer/Director Douglas Tirola and 4th Row Films, Brewmaster is a new documentary that explores the world of brewing. The film features interviews with some of the most well-known members of the beer community, including Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn Brewery), Jim Koch, Vaclav Berka, Ray Daniels, Charles Papazian and Randy Mosher. In between the interviews, we follow Drew, a New York based lawyer who is chasing his dream of being a brewmaster, and Brian, a Milwaukee-based professional beer educator, as he attempts to become a Master Cicerone, a title that less than 20 people in the world have earned.

Tirola focused his film more on the vastness of the world of beer than on beer itself, so don’t tune in if you are hoping to learn how to tell the difference between a pale ale, a porter and a gose. However, he did fill his film with people who are truly passionate about beer and are capable of sharing how they found their way to the top of the industry in entertaining ways.

Unfortunately, the film’s editing style left their stories a bit choppy. They would start their story, then there would be bit of the story about becoming a brewmaster or the Cicerone, then another interview, and then maybe back to them. The film would have been more impactful overall if it gave the stories time to exist, instead of losing impact by being spread too thin. The stories of Drew and Brian are the most emotionally impactful as the film follows their journeys, and the audience becomes invested in their triumphs and letdowns. They may lack the charisma of some of the interviewees, but their passion and determination is what makes them endearing.

Brewmaster is exciting in the way it captures the craftsmanship, passion and innovation within the beer industry. The film explores the complexity of the world of beer while never diving too deep and alienating its audience. There are nearly 6,000 breweries in the United States, and on average, 2 and half new ones open every day. If you’ve ever considered jumping into this realm, Brewmaster and its stories of success and failure are a great place to begin your journey.