The blog celebrates its six-month anniversary today, but rather than go into any of that, it seems more fitting to pay my first proper tribute to Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter, who passed away one year ago, today. I was late into the game, having first stumbled onto craft beers a few years ago. As such, I unfortunately, never had the opportunity to meet Michael. Others who have met him are blogging about him today as well sharing their stories: Brookston Beer Bulletin,
Yours for Good Fermentables.

It seems as though many tributes that happened at the time of his death ignored the fact that he suffered from Parkinson’s Disease in his later years. PD is a motor system disorder, a common symptom for which is slight to severe trembling. I have been fortunate to have not come across the disorder in any of my family or among my friends. I have only encountered it once, having worked with an older woman with PD who wanted to send out a book of poems that she had written to friends and family. Helping her gave me a better appreciation for something easily taken for granted: one’s good health and well-being. For those who would like to know more, I am by no means an expert, though the NINDS could be a good place to start learning more about the subject.

Michael lived in London, England, a city where I enjoyed residency for a very short three months. In honor of Michael and fond memories of London, I looked around my place for any English Ales I could find. The closest thing to an English brew (proximity-wise) that I could find is a recently purchased Traquair Jacobite Ale brewed in Scotland. Michael has written about it in his Great Beer Guide. I will be raising a glass in his memory.