Michael Jackson, RIP

Michael Jackson, a leading world beer critic died yesterday. He was 65.

Jackson, known as "the beer hunter," died Thursday of a heart attack at his home in west London.

His books "The Great Beers of Belgium" and "World Guide to Beer" introduced Belgian beer to the United States.

By identifying beers by their flavors and styles, and by pairing them with particular foods and dishes, Jackson helped give birth to a renaissance of interest in beer and breweries worldwide that began in the 1970s, including the North American microbrewery movement.

His TV documentary series, "The Beer Hunter" -- which popularized his nickname -- was filmed around the world and shown in 15 countries.

He worked as a beer critic for more than 30 years, writing in newspapers and gastronomic magazines, holding seminars and giving speeches, appearing on U.S. talk shows and writing books about beer and whiskeys published in 18 languages.