The Michael Jackson Beer Education Scholarship is named for the British beer writer whose articles and books have aroused public awareness about brewing history and culture and helped popularize the world's classic beer styles and breweries.   

Jackson's writing has initiated many aspiring brewers into the history of the brewer's art and defined the styles and categories of beer that are now routinely judged at national and international beer competitions. Many brewers credit Jackson with saving some classic breweries from oblivion.   

Jackson, a rumpled Briton with tousled hair and goatee and a droll sense of humor, is the star of Discovery Channel's "Beer Hunter" television series and author of DK Publishing's Ultimate Beer; Running Press's Beer Companion, and World Guide to Beer, and Simon and Schuster's Pocket Guide to Beer. He has done beer tastings and dinners at Windows on the World, The Waldorf Astoria, and the James Beard House. He writes regular columns in many beer publications and has also written for "The Guardian","Esquire" and "The Washington Post." 

The scholarship is awarded each year to a working brewer from the metropolitan New York area who is expanding his or her horizon by attending brewing school. Past winners include Todd Hare, now an assistant brewer at Magic Hat Brewing Co. in Burlington, Vermont, and Jim Simpson, an award winning homebrewer from New York. 

If you would like to make a donation to The Michael Jackson Beer Education Scholarship Fund please make your check payable to the AIWF New York Chapter and write Jackson Scholarship in the memo. 

The American Institute of Wine & Food, NY Chapter 
c/o Bear Dallis Associates 
505 Court Street, suite 2E 
Brooklyn, NY 11231 

In 2007 the funds were transferred to the AIWF NY Chapter for distribution.  In 2008 the funds were donated to the AIWF Foundation for distribution.