Jimmy Carter is not regarded as one of America’s better presidents. However, regardless of your personal opinion on the former commander in chief, in the late 1970’s he made a decision to allow the home brewing of beer. This provided millions of people with a new hobby, and even better, careers. This decision inspired the craft beer movement that has continued up until the present and is more prominent than ever. Fast forward to the year 1996, in Escondido, California, where two men, Greg Koch and Steve Wagner, developed Stone Brewing. The craft brewery eventually grew so big that Koch decided to take the company overseas to Berlin, Germany, with high hopes, having locals dub him The Beer Jesus from America. With certain obstacles on the horizon, Greg will do whatever he can to ensure his beer’s success.
Craft beer appears to be one of the fastest growing industries in the world. With that, the sentiment that Greg is risking everything to bring a craft brewery to Germany seems a bit dramatic. Sure, construction, local consumption, and funds pose a threat to any business idea, but given the fact that Stone Brewing has been so successful in the past, the idea that these things pose a real threat to the bigger picture of Greg’s company feels moot. The Beer Jesus from America makes it a point to present this idea to viewers and provide them with an understanding that there is so much at risk. Knowing that the majority of this documentary is dedicated to that, the attitude toward the doc can’t help but become a bit skewed.
That discrepancy in writer-director-cinematographer Matt Sweetwood’s approach toward The Beer Jesus from America does not ruin the film, however. As much as the film is about beer and the beauty behind what Greg wanted to bring to life in Germany, it feels more about perseverance and making dreams come true. I stand firm on my idea that fiscally, regardless of what happened in Germany, Greg Koch was going to be well off, but the idea that emotionally Greg had a lot to lose does resonate with me. It seems that an inordinate amount of time was spent prepping, developing, and building what would eventually become one of the more significant craft breweries in Europe (and it seems that most--if not all--of the issues were someone else’s fault). Yes, a lot of time and effort is expected to go into a project of this magnitude, but as it expressed throughout The Beer Jesus from America, things didn’t necessarily go as planned, and it seems that Greg’s psyche and his fortitude were tested on a regular basis throughout the process of bringing the Stone Brewing Tap Room - Berlin to life. His ability to remain sane throughout the process of seeing his vision play out is what is ultimately on the line.
The idea that perseverance is the most prominent idea throughout The Beer Jesus from America rings true, regardless of what takes place. Greg remains optimistic during the most trying times, possibly even more optimistic than I’ve seen in a scripted film. He seems like a genuine person who has the best of intentions regarding his brewery and his tenacity is infectious. Like filmmaker Matt Sweetwood says (and I’m paraphrasing), there aren’t many documentaries, or even pictures, about the development of beer-related entities around the world. Regardless of the why behind this issue, and regardless of the fact that both Matt and Greg overanalyze certain aspects of the development, The Beer Jesus from America presents viewers with an understanding of fighting for what you believe in, and pursuing your dreams. I don’t believe that Greg, Matt, or any other person connected to the film ever outright says this, but The Beer Jesus from America is more about refusing to give up than it is about beer.
While the documentary is watered down by the over exaggeration of what is on the line for Greg, its saving grace is the fact that there is a lesson to be learned. In a very concise and succinct way, Greg once says, you don’t worry about the what or the how, you simply do it. He is speaking, of course, specifically to the idea of his tap room, but that message applies in all walks of life. The Beer Jesus from America isn’t all it claims to be, but I genuinely believe that there are momentous aspects of the film that allow for authentic appreciation of what Greg hopes to do for himself, for beer, and for the people of Berlin.
Directed by Matt Sweetwood.
Written by Dominique Siegmann & Matt Sweetwood.
Starring Greg Koch, Christopher Engler, Mike Kaiserauer, Randy Pruitt, Sara Tobin, Thomas Tyrell, Steve Wagner & Matt Sweetwood.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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