Dawn of Adventure
Some insight by co-Director Scott Owen:
Accompanying Sean Z. Paxton, aka "The Homebrew Chef", on his quest to discover the lost brewing and culinary traditions of America we thought, or at least I thought it was going to be a sort of typical tour of America… a kind of traveling cooking show bent towards all things beer. One of the true joys of touring America in the way we did with Sean Paxton was not just seeing the sights that we've all read about in our 5th grade history classes but actually experiencing a little bit of what those times and periods were like in our young country's history. Most of that amazing history is only there for us to enjoy because the dedication and devotion to preservation by the hands of a small group of people that are intent on keep the traditions and culture of the past alive.
Homebrew Chef Sean Z. Paxton with Historian Frank Clark, both sweating to the oldies in Williamsburg, VA
When I tell people that we traveled to places like Germany, Europe and Italy for Beers of Joy their eyes light up with the romance and idea of these incredible places. And they were amazing. Yet, when I bring up other places we traveled to like Plymouth, Massachusetts or Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia there is noticeably less excitement. I cannot fault them, and indeed, I agree with peoples initial assessment, as I am or was the same. The fact of the matter is: You think you know... but you don't know. Places like Colonial Williamsburg and Plimoth Plantation are every bit of awesome as any travels we took across the pond.
Sean Z. Paxton and Historian (and YouTuber) Jon Townsend approach the old fort in Fort Wayne, IN
The people we met along the way with Sean were so kind and generous. It was refreshing. I don't want to give too much away about the incredible journey Master Chef Sean Paxton takes in Beers of Joy but it is a test of all of his research, skills, and determination, and a little bit more... You'll see. I was again and again reminded on our journey with Sean of just what an incredible country we have. We truly are a country for everyone to come and build themselves a free life, a place where we are at liberty to pretty much be what we want to be and are supported by a judicial system that supports us. We may be the oldest democratic republic, but as a society we are young. 1776 was not that long ago when we look at other countries who are not counting years but centuries and some millennia. We are still figuring it out but we will get there because this country is full of good people from all cultures and that is the TRUTH of it. The beauty of this nation is that it is a free nation and all of its many colors make it what it is. If we forget the cultures of any one of it's many colors we will become less vibrant. The beauty of a flower is in its vibrant colors, and so our many cultures make us beautiful and vibrant, regardless of where your culture comes from our how we got here, it's important to keep the culture you brought with you alive.
The first morning we set upon Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts.