San Diego craft beer aficionados get ready, because coming to KPBS this spring is a new six part documentary series focused on San Diego’s thriving beer industry. Kings of the Craft will showcase and celebrate the culture, beauty and cooperation of an industry that is undeniably a part of this city's blood, introducing audiences to the unique people and businesses behind San Diego’s craft brewing boom. The series was selected from more than 43 entries in the KPBS Explore local programming contest and will air Thursday nights starting in May 2015 as part of the Explore lineup. With more than 80 local breweries and 30 plus on the way there has never been a better time to dissect this phenomenon in San Diego.
The six episode documentary will give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at the movement that has become part of the lifestyle of America's finest city. Episodes will delve into the history, diversity among the breweries, and the future of craft beer in San Diego, to name a few themes. How do new breweries break ground in a competitive market? How are established breweries responding to their new neighbors? These are all questions that four San Diego State University film graduates wish to answer.
Emmy award winning director Ben Moxley and cinematographer/editor Steven Moyer join forces once again with producer Raeanne DuPont to expand on their highly acclaimed documentary short film, Of Beaches & Beer, which won two Emmy Awards in the Student Programming category earlier this year. New to the team is also Emmy award winning producer Eduardo Castro Fonseca who left Europe to call San Diego home three years ago.
The series new title, Kings of the Craft, comes from the team's desire to focus on the brewers and their passion for their craft. Of Beaches & Beer, the documentary that served as pilot for this series, featured some of the most recognizable names in the industry. Stone Brewing Company, Ballast Point, and Pizza Port are just some of the breweries viewers could expect to see when the new series debuts in May 2015. Those interested in meeting the Kings of the Craft production team can do so at the San Diego Beer Week Brewers' Guild Fests, taking place at the Broadway Pier in Downtown San Diego on November 7 and 8.
“Kings of the Craft was selected because it captures the pride and dedication employed by every brew master in San Diego,” said KPBS Director of Programming John Decker. “San Diego is a craft city. This series will tell the unusual story of how the local microbrew industry has become so successful.”
In addition to Kings of the Craft, KPBS will present a third season of the popular local food and travel show, Savor San Diego, in May 2015. For more more information on Kings of theCraft, visit kingsofthecraft.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
