I guess we knew something was up when we saw him on Conan late last year, and it sounds like he is doing really well to keep it all under control.
Heres to wishing the Beer Hunter all the best. :beerbang:
Beers,
Doc
Beer Hunter reveals his battle with Parkinsons
On December 18 2006 Rob Imeson, President of The Michael Jackson Rare Beer Club, sent out the following letter on behalf of Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter and leading authority on beer and whiskey:
I have been asked to write to you by Michael Jackson who is currently travelling and researching on behalf of the Rare Beer Club.
Michael is notorious among his friends for his passionate commitment to his work, and for the fearsome schedule he sets himself. What he has kept from us is the fact that he has been suffering from Parkinsons disease for at least a decade and perhaps twice as long.
During that time he has written several thousand tasting notes and several hundred articles and has also presented scores of tutored tastings, speeches and book-signings around the world. Further, Michael has produced new books such as Ultimate Beer, The Great Beer Guide, Scotland and its Whiskies, and Whisky The Definitive World Guide which, incidentally, was named best drinks book of 2006 in the James Beard Award and also the recipient of three other international honours. He has this fall compiled an anthology of his writing for Slow Food and completed a further revision of the fifth edition of The Great Beers of Belgium; his Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch is also in its fifth edition.
Michael has great praise for the work of the medical profession in the development of treatments to combat Parkinsons. He has recently been prescribed some new medication, and the calibration of doses has caused some problems, which are gradually being ironed out.
He tells us: When everything is in place, I can run almost as well as I did when I played Rugby League. The problems arise when I become absorbed in writing, or in a conversation, and forget my medication. Even the slightest delay can make me very unsteady on my feet unable to walk at times and slurred in my speech. Understandably, people think I am drunk, especially given my profession. I am not. My wild days were long ago. My writing has always fostered the notion of tasting more and drinking less, and I am true to that philosophy. The Gods have a sense of irony in making me look drunk when at my intake of alcohol is at its most modest.
As you can tell, Michael is in excellent spirits and very much looks forward to the next chapter of his life which he obviously expects to be productive. In addition to being a great example by the way he has lived with this disease, Michael is already talking about projects that will benefit others with Parkinsons disease and you can be assured that we will be hearing a lot more from him in that regard in the future.
I know that you will all join us in wishing Michael the best during this holiday season and into 2007 and beyond as he continues to lead the discovery of exciting new beers!
Heres to wishing the Beer Hunter all the best. :beerbang:
Beers,
Doc
Beer Hunter reveals his battle with Parkinsons
On December 18 2006 Rob Imeson, President of The Michael Jackson Rare Beer Club, sent out the following letter on behalf of Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter and leading authority on beer and whiskey:
I have been asked to write to you by Michael Jackson who is currently travelling and researching on behalf of the Rare Beer Club.
Michael is notorious among his friends for his passionate commitment to his work, and for the fearsome schedule he sets himself. What he has kept from us is the fact that he has been suffering from Parkinsons disease for at least a decade and perhaps twice as long.
During that time he has written several thousand tasting notes and several hundred articles and has also presented scores of tutored tastings, speeches and book-signings around the world. Further, Michael has produced new books such as Ultimate Beer, The Great Beer Guide, Scotland and its Whiskies, and Whisky The Definitive World Guide which, incidentally, was named best drinks book of 2006 in the James Beard Award and also the recipient of three other international honours. He has this fall compiled an anthology of his writing for Slow Food and completed a further revision of the fifth edition of The Great Beers of Belgium; his Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch is also in its fifth edition.
Michael has great praise for the work of the medical profession in the development of treatments to combat Parkinsons. He has recently been prescribed some new medication, and the calibration of doses has caused some problems, which are gradually being ironed out.
He tells us: When everything is in place, I can run almost as well as I did when I played Rugby League. The problems arise when I become absorbed in writing, or in a conversation, and forget my medication. Even the slightest delay can make me very unsteady on my feet unable to walk at times and slurred in my speech. Understandably, people think I am drunk, especially given my profession. I am not. My wild days were long ago. My writing has always fostered the notion of tasting more and drinking less, and I am true to that philosophy. The Gods have a sense of irony in making me look drunk when at my intake of alcohol is at its most modest.
As you can tell, Michael is in excellent spirits and very much looks forward to the next chapter of his life which he obviously expects to be productive. In addition to being a great example by the way he has lived with this disease, Michael is already talking about projects that will benefit others with Parkinsons disease and you can be assured that we will be hearing a lot more from him in that regard in the future.
I know that you will all join us in wishing Michael the best during this holiday season and into 2007 and beyond as he continues to lead the discovery of exciting new beers!
