The People's Brewer - Anna-Lise Bjerager

Are patriotism and globalism mutually exclusive? Nowadays, many people certainly perceive a conflict of interests in the two positions. But this was not the case in J.C. Jacobsen's time, the 1800's, when the modern nation states were created. The legendary founder of the Carlsberg breweries had no problems whatsoever being both a patriot and a globalist. The People's Brewer tells the story of one of the great industrial pioneers of the nineteenth century who combined the seemingly incompatible and was completely his own man. The Brewer loved his country,Denmark, and gave away a large proportion of the money he made from beer to Danish society through the Carlsberg Foundation. Yet he was also a globalist who eagerly took to the newly built railways and headed out into Europe to swap experiences with other brewers. Today, when politicians are seeking cohesion in society, J.C. Jacobsen, who was concerned with what binds people together and makes them citizens, is more relevant than ever.