In Production: The Beer Traveler
What does the historic Mayflower ship and Sam Adams brewer Jim Koch have in common?
Both are prominently featured in the pilot of The Beer Traveler, our new series-in-development celebrating the world's most fascinating beer cultures, destinations and traditions.
The Traveler, a.k.a. two-time North American "Beer Writer of the Year" Kerry J. Byrne, is shown below sampling some fresh hops with Mr. Koch at his research and development facility.
Sam Adams pays homage to the brews of Colonial America, but if we go back a century further, the Pilgrims' love for beer might surprise you.
Many people associate the first settlers of Plymouth with those traditional Thanksgiving foods -- some of which were not even part of the original feast. What few realize is that the crew and passengers of the Mayflower drank beer as their primary source of hydration (water quickly went rancid) and that even young Pilgrim children consumed massive quantities.
The Mayflower crew actually chose to land at Plymouth when their beer supplies were getting too low. Unfortunately for them, growing hops was extremely challenging and it would take a decade until they figured out how to make beer in the New World.
Here the Beer Traveler clinks drinks and shares stories with the legendary Gov. William Bradford:
To learn more about The Beer Traveler, click here. Where should our camera crews go next?