It’s about fucking time. BREW MASTERS starring Sam Calagione starts tonight on Discovery Channel.

I first met Sam at the Great American Beer Festival in September of 2005. I told him then that he was going to be a star. He seemed embarrassed. But it was easy to see from our very first interview that here was a guy who was the real deal and a natural in front of the camera.

I got to know Sam over the 3 years it took to make the film. He allowed my crew into his home, his business, and into his head. I shot over 35 hours of footage with him in multiple locations across the country. And the rule of thumb worked – about one minute per hour made it into the film. There are so many gems that didn’t fit into the bigger story. Someday I hope to open the “vault” and share.

And Sam has been very gracious since the film came out. He showed up on premiere night in Los Angeles to be with a panel of his peers and at film festivals since then to help promote the film.

And yet he gets flak from “beer geeks” for being overexposed. Seriously, it’s time to stop. Yes, he’s a rock star. Celebrate it. He’s the guy Discovery picked to be the face of BREW MASTERS. And since it’s a positive message he’s espousing, he’s having no problem getting media attention. And that can only help craft beer.

I hope the show does well. I hope Discovery gives the wider TV audience a chance to well, discover it. I haven’t seen any episodes yet but since the show’s producers are also behind Anthony Bourdain’s NO RESERVATIONS, I think it’s safe to go in with high expectations.

So break a leg Sam. I hope you remember me when…

So much to be grateful for. Especially the supporters who believed in the film from the start (before they even saw it) and stood by it despite the naysayers. A big thanks to (in no particular order):

• Dogfish Head — especially Sam and Mariah Calagione.
• Stone Brewing — especially Greg Koch who is the epitome of walking the talk.
• Brewers Association — especially Charlie Papazian for believing in the big picture.
• Beer Advocate — especially Todd Alstrom who not only promoted the film but invited me to be a part of the American Craft Beer Festival.
• Yelp — for taking a chance on this indie movie and engaging the Yelp community through its super enthusiastic community managers.
• Reason Foundation/Reason TV –- especially Jon Graff for all the exposure.
• Maureen Ogle -– for her support and smarts.
• Jay Brooks — for telling it like it is.
• Shaun O’Sullivan and Brock Wagner –- for helping to promote the film despite the fact that their brewery isn’t in it. They embody the collaborative spirit of craft brewers. I wish more would follow suit.
• On a personal note, thank you to my number one supporter and social media guru, my sister — Ayelet Baron.

And a heartfelt thank you to all the bloggers, journalists, Facebook fans and Twitter followers who helped promote the film. I couldn’t have done it without you.

The journey continues. I’m glad to have you on my side.

Happy Turkey Day!

• Gift baskets like the “Drinky Stinky Cigars & Brews” or the “Golf & Beer Gift Basket” or the perfectly named “Arrogant Bastard Beer Gift”
• A membership in the Beer of the Month Club. You can customize this from 2-12 months. 12 microbrews arrive each month. This is the gift that keeps on giving.
• If your dad is the DIY type, how about an entry-level homebrewing kit?
• If dad’s a “foodie” then he may enjoy Garrett Oliver’s The Brewmaster’s Table : Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food
• If dad’s a history buff, I recommend Maureen Ogle’s Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer
• If dad is into lists, 300 Beers to Try Before You Die! by Roger Protz
• For the craft beer fanatic, how about a subscription to BeerAdvocate Magazine?
• Even macho men may appreciate Dogfish Head Shampoo Bar or Dogfish Head Lip Balm Festina Peche
• While I have no affiliation with any of the above, I can’t help but recommend the newly released Beer Wars DVD.

And feel free to suggest your own. Just add a comment.

I’m looking forward to joining Greg Koch (Stone) in Austin, Claus Hagelman (Dogfish Head) in Houston, and to finally meeting Brock Wagner (St. Arnold) in San Antonio, all at the Alamo Drafthouse who have been waiting patiently for the film’s release for quite a while. I’m expecting the Q&A to be quite lively and I look forward to hearing what’s on people’s minds and sharing my experiences and perspective on the issues.

And I look forward to meeting the 10 brewers on the panels set up by the Todd and Jason Alstrom at the American Craft Beer Festival. And of course the many attendees who will hopefully show up to participate in the conversation.

Finally, the conversation that I’ve been longing for will continue.