He died in August at age 65, his irrepressible (and on occasion, mildly intoxicated) stumping on behalf of the noble, nonindustrial beers of the world already legendary.
So the fact that this city will be the scene, starting tomorrow, of its first, and unexpectedly sprawling, Beer Week is, well, it's sort of Michael Jackson's fault - and a salute to him, as well.
His presence did a lot to get Philadelphia's craft beer barrel rolling.
And his sudden absence? Don Russell, Philadelphia's own beer bard, argues that Beer Week - with close to 150 tastings, pub crawls, and meet-the-brewer sessions - was inspired to fill the vacuum left by Jackson's departure.
His visits were typically timed for this time of year, as part of the Book and the Cook. But even as that dinner-promotion has shriveled, the star of local brewers and gastropubs has been inexorably rising.
What goes around, comes around: Farmer's markets had to fade in order for farm-fresh food to regain its panache. Cheese had to be industrialized before local cheese-makers found an unsatisfied hunger. Ditto for chocolate and artisan bread.
The upside of the artisan brewing movement is that it lets 1,000 flowers bloom. Last Saturday's Philly Craft Beer Festival at the Navy Yard showcased the personalities of 80 small-scale brews - from Belgian-esque Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, N.Y., to Harrisburg's Appalachian Brewing, to contenders from greater Philadelphia: Sly Fox, Victory, Stoudt's, Flying Fish, Dogfish Head and Triumph.
Talk about stars rising: An estimated 5,000 drinkers showed up, buying out the $40 tickets a week ahead, then lining up at the taps, sipping four-ounce pours (at first), and a few hours later, tossing them down willy-nilly.
It was a young, well-mannered, good-time crowd - at least in the afternoon session - jammed over-tightly into the cavernous cruise terminal.
