Whether it’s the alcohol, the message, or the constant talk about government roadblocks, by the end of the film you’ll want a beer yourself.
Beerocracy is the first feature-length project of Manatee co-creators and St. Thomas University graduates Alex Vietinghoff and Shauna Chase. Kicking off the Silver Wave Film Festival, the documentary was shown on Nov. 3 to an eager crowd at University of New Brunswick’s Tilley Hall. It showcased the rising craft beer industry in New Brunswick, along with its shaky relationship with government and the impact it has on the community.
The title Beerocracy says it all. It discusses the politics of alcohol manufacturing in the Maritimes, which is entertaining if you have an interest in beer or public policy. If you don’t share those interests, however, the documentary may fall flat.
Chase and Vietinghoff described themselves as “craft-beer enthusiasts,” which was evident in the detail they put into the documentary. However, the film had one shortcoming. While it was very informative, and somewhat entertaining in and of itself, Beerocracy only seemed to really hit home if the viewer is interested in brewing, travelling or how the government works with businesses.
Regardless, the film is quite interesting to watch, if for no other reason than the novelty of the subject. Though it lacked the comedy some might expect from the Manatee writers, the shots of Fredericton would give anyone in the area the urge to find these places and shop for a brew.
The historical aspects were interesting, albeit choppily sprinkled throughout the piece, and though the parts about government restrictions might seem a little dry to some I found the methodology of brewing surprisingly entertaining.
Beerocracy ends with a clear message: Buy from your local brewery, know your rights and support small businesses. While it took a little while to reach this message, viewers may feel oddly motivated by the end to go downtown and have a drink at a local brewery.
