Alex Kidd has done a lot of unusual things to beer: baked a pie with rare barleywine filling, filtered Stouts through McDonalds’ McRibs, concocted a Sierra Nevada/Swisher Sweets/pizza hybrid.
Kidd, known for his Don’t Drink Beer social accounts, “Barleywine is Life” movement, and Malt Couture podcast, has also had an unusual impact on beer. This year, he sharpened his always playful, often critical mirror on the industry, including a takedown of pricey Sam Adams Utopias barrel-aged coffee beans, prescient reviews of non-alcoholic options (“anything to keep the krausen tubes bubbling”) and pointed callouts of trends in brewing.
When Kidd was diagnosed with stage IV metastatic colon cancer in May, he brought something else out in beer: generosity. A GoFundMe to help Kidd pay his medical bills, focus on recovery, and support his family (Kidd and his wife have a toddler and a newborn) has brought in nearly $400,000. Breweries have released beers in his name and donated hundreds of bottles to his raffles to contribute to the cause.
Throughout it all, Kidd has characteristically used the attention to shine a spotlight on donors, unsung breweries, and quality non-alcoholic products (Kidd can’t drink alcohol while he’s undergoing treatment), and encouraged others to be screened for colorectal cancer.
For an industry that can’t seem to agree on much, it sure seems like Kidd’s illness has inspired a consensus: We love this guy and want to keep him around.
“Without everyone’s support, I don’t know how people get through this,” Kidd said. “It’s been humbling to see the outpouring of help, and it’s gotten me second consults, psychiatric therapy, and a night nurse for the newborn since I can't help that much, sadly. It really has been life-changing.”
It seems like Kidd has barely slowed down, and he has plenty of plans to keep the beer world on its toes next year.
“I am going to fight hard in 2024, review NA beers, pivot to all types of luxury goods—from coffee to Michelin star restaurants—and, in June, I have rented a Malt Mansion in Paso Robles for the Firestone Walker Invitational,” he said. “So there's a lot to be hopeful for, including, hopefully, two lung surgeries to kick this cancer's ass.”
Words,Ren LaForme