‘United Crafts of America’ Taps Into the Heart of American Brewing
Director Sergio Camacho’s new documentary series pilot “United Crafts of America” serves up a refreshing look at the nation’s craft beer movement, beginning with an intimate portrait of Brooklyn’s Interboro Spirits & Ales.
The 47-minute episode skillfully ferments together elements of culture, community, and craftsmanship to create a compelling narrative that reaches beyond the brewing kettle.
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The series opener focuses on Interboro co-owners Laura Dierks and Jesse Ferguson, whose unique approach of blending hip-hop culture with craft brewing exemplifies the innovation driving America’s contemporary beer scene. Through Camacho’s lens, their story becomes more than just another brewery tale – it’s a testament to how craft beer has become a powerful medium for cultural expression and community-building in modern urban spaces.
Director Sergio Camacho’s new documentary series pilot “United Crafts of America”
“…transforming the industrial landscape of tanks and tubes into visual storytelling.”
Cinematographer Joel Froome captures the brewing process with an artisan’s eye, transforming the industrial landscape of tanks and tubes into visual storytelling. The documentary’s technical excellence extends to Greg Johnson’s original music complementing the tone of the brewery’s operations.
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Director Sergio Camacho’s “United Crafts of America”
What sets this pilot apart is its balance in depicting multiple narratives. While the brewing process itself is well-documented, the film is equally interested in the human elements that make craft beer culture distinct. Through interviews with industry experts like John Holl and Joshua M. Bernstein, alongside intimate moments with the Interboro team, the documentary builds a compelling case for craft beer as a reflection of broader American values: innovation, independence, and community.
The film’s exploration of New York City’s brewing heritage provides valuable historical context, using archival materials from the Library of Congress and Brooklyn Eagle to trace how today’s craft beer movement connects to America’s pre-Prohibition brewing traditions. This historical foundation depicts how contemporary craftspeople like Dierks and Ferguson are both innovators and preservationists at once, maintaining brewing traditions while pushing the industry in new directions.
“The 47-minute episode skillfully ferments together elements of culture, community, and craftsmanship.”
Camacho, whose 25-year career spans television and sports documentation, brings a seasoned storyteller’s touch to the material. His background in visual design is evident in the film’s polished aesthetic, while his experience in sports coverage helps capture the competitive and collaborative spirit of the craft beer industry.
The documentary’s only shortcoming might be its brevity – viewers will likely be left thirsty for more details about the featured brewery and its contemporaries. It could also benefit from expanding its inclusivity by featuring more than one brewery which would add to the documentary vibe and eliminate the subtle hints of feeling like a commercial. However, as a pilot episode, it successfully establishes the series’ premise and suggests rich potential for future explorations of America’s contemporary brewing landscape.
“…viewers will likely be left thirsty for more…”
“United Crafts of America” manages to be both locally specific and nationally relevant, using Interboro’s story to illuminate larger trends in American craft culture. It presents craft beer not just as a beverage, but as a lens through which to view contemporary American culture.
The film’s merits make it a meaningful contribution to both food documentary and American cultural studies, appealing to audiences beyond beer enthusiasts, offering insights into how artisanal crafts can energize communities while preserving cultural ties.
For viewers interested in American culture, entrepreneurship, or the craft beer movement, “United Crafts of America” offers a well-crafted introduction to a subject that proves to be surprisingly complex and deeply rooted in the American experience.