Beer: Crafting a Better Economy

In our latest documentary Upstream explores beer from the perspective of the new economy movement. What is the deep history of beer? How was it sucked dry by the vampire-like processes of 20th century global industrial capitalism? And how has it emerged in the new craft beer revolution, with a new potential to build stronger communities, inspire cooperative workplaces, and fight against injustice? How could we build a new economy and attract folks to it simply by making it taste better?

Tune in for great stories, interviews, and music spanning from London to California.

Once an important life-force of early civilization and an ancient crafter of community, beer was, like many things under our current economic system, disfigured and twisted by the forces of the market and the drive for profit.

In this episode, we take a close look at this story, starting in ancient Mesopotamia and tracing the history of beer up through the giant consolidations of the 20th century to the birth of the craft beer revolution in the 1970s and 80s. Brew expert and award-winning author Randy Mosher guides us through this history, telling great stories and exploring ancient beer mythology along the way.

But the story doesn’t end there — the beer revolution is really just beginning. Craft beer has begun to bring back many of the most important values and characteristics of beer that were lost for so long, going far beyond just taste.

How is the new economy embodied in a pint of beer? This is an important theme that Rob Hopkins, the co-founder of the Transition Town movement and founder of New Lion Brewery, explores throughout the episode. How is craft beer beginning to stitch back together the economies of towns and cities that have been torn apart by globalization and an obsession with growth? How can beer demonstrate the concept of the circular economy? These are important questions explored in depth through Robs expertise.

There are many other incredible stories of brewers and breweries that are radically changing the landscape of the beer industry. Throughout the episode youll meet a wide variety of folks, from a brewery in London that makes beer out of surplus bread, to the first cooperatively owned brewery in California. After listening to this episode, you may never look at a bottle of beer in the same way.

Disclaimer: listening to this episode may cause you to crave a dark, chocolatey stout. Or a piney, hoppy IPA. Or a nutty brown ale. Or a fruity saison. Or a tangy farmhouse ale. Or…well you get the point: you may want to listen to this episode over a pint.

Featuring
Rob Hopkins – Founder of New Lion Brewery, Co-Initator of the Transition Town Movement
Randy Mosher – Author of Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink
Bart Watson – Chief Economist, Brewers Association
Tom Stainer – Head of Communications, CAMRA
Julie Prebble – Business Development Manager, Toast Ale
Vanessa – Brewer, Toast Ale
Andrew Gilhespy – Grower at The Almond Thief
Emy Mendoza – Umunhum Brewing

Music by:
Maude Gun
Lanterns
Antwon
Pele

Many thanks to Bethan Mure for the background/cover art.

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