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Location: Asheville, North Carolina

Dates: June 19-20, 2026*

*Preceded by Final Round Judging of National Homebrew Competition on June 18

Homebrew Con is homebrewing’s best party on the planet, hosted by the American Homebrewers Association. 2026 will be the event’s 46th year.

Here’s a sneak peek at what’s on tap:

We’re bringing back Club Night, the Holy Grail of homebrew nights, Homebrew Expo with top suppliers and educators, HBC seminar sessions, and once again pairing the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) Final Round Judging and Awards Ceremony with the conference… And more!

Homebrew Con is about you, your fellow AHA members, and the community that makes our hobby of brewing and fermenting so amazing. We’re excited to see you there!

Stay tuned for registration dates, hotel info, and more

Get the latest updates via AHA emails and Zymurgy magazine.

See you in June!

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Happy November! As the weather cools and our fermenters warm up, we’re raising a glass to YOU—the members who power the American Homebrewers Association (AHA).

2025 has been a watershed year as we are now fully independent. With independence to become our own stand-alone nonprofit comes significant progress and even bigger plans.

✅ A Sample of Accomplishments Since our April Board Update

A Clear Vision for Growth

Did you catch the AHA’s new Strategic Plan, including our new vision?

✅ A homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community.

A Strong Start as an Independent Association

• We’re this close to announcing Homebrew Con 2026, scheduled for June 19–20 (with Final Round Judging of the National Homebrew Competition on June 18). We’ll share the U.S. location and venue once contracts are finalized. Keep an eye on your email!

We’ve Also…

• Built a new dedicated AHA team partnering with Strategic Association Management, with continued leadership from Julia Herz as AHA executive director and Amahl Turczyn as editor-in-chief of Zymurgy Magazine.
• Launched five volunteer committees with 30+ passionate volunteers to brew the AHA’s magic sauce.

Greater Opportunity as an Independent Nonprofit

• We’ve filed for both 501(c)(6) and 501(c)(3) status
  • Yeah, you read that right. We filed for both!
  • 501(c)(6) allows us to continue as a dedicated ‘membership’ organization.
  • 501(c)(3) will expand our ‘public’ focused work to promote homebrewing to the masses as a culturally significant hobby—plus it opens the doors to grants and donations.
  • The IRS approval is underway. Anticipate updates in 2026 as the process takes many months.

Community & Celebration

This Year, we Proudly:

• Hosted the 47th National Homebrew Competition (NHC), driven by seven first-round sites with the Kansas City Bier Meisters homebrew club expertly hosting final-round judging.🙌
• Continue to publish medal-validated recipes from the NHC (an exclusive for members). See 2025’s gold medal winners in the latest issue of Zymurgy, the world’s only print magazine dedicated to homebrewers.
• Published a call for a new leadership position: NHC competition chair.
  • Wanna be the face of the world’s largest homebrew competition? Check out the volunteer chair description here (applications due November 10).
• Offered members access to presale and discount tickets to the Great American Beer Festival, once again. And the AHA exhibited at the fest.
• Launched the new AHA Happy Hour organized by the Community & Education Committee. October featured a Q&A with John Palmer!
• Increased homebrewing’s visibility with coast-to-coast keynote presentations from Julia Herz, including to Brülosophy, the Colorado Homebrewers Conference, and from AHA board member Drew Beechum to the Foam Ranger’s Dixie Cup Competition.
• Fielded numerous media interviews. Check out this Denver Post article ‘Homebrewing is Poised for a Resurgence’.

🔥 What’s Simmering Next

Here’s what’s brewing for 2026:

• AHA Board Elections in Q1
• 2026 NHC entry info + first-round locations (January)
• AHA’s Annual Homebrew Holidays: Big Brew (May), Home Fermentation Day (August), and Learn to Homebrew Day (November)
• Publication of AHA Advocacy Statements starting with legalization of homebrew shipping to competitions (coming soon)
• Meetings with global homebrewing organizations and suppliers. Wanna schedule a call? Email Julia at ed@homebrewersassociation.org.
• Publish a policy on artificial intelligence (AI) and member/AHA usage
• And much, much more

💡 Better Benefits Ahead

We’re investing in member service upgrades:

• New website search and virtual brewing assistant (member exclusive!)
• Evolving AHA Member Deals + Club and Shop directories—the most extensive listings in the world for homebrewers
• Saved recipe access—email info@homebrewersassociation.org to retrieve your previously saved recipes (relevant only for members who used this before July 2025).

Your patience fuels progress—thank you for giving us time to tackle all the above.

🎉 Stay Involved—Your Community Awaits

Explore & participate:

• April 2025 Board Update
• AHA Forum—connect, ask questions, and get answers on one of the web’s longest-existing online homebrewing communities
• Tag AHA @homebrewassoc on Facebook and Instagram and follow us along with 200K+ others!
• Volunteer roles that shape the movement. We look to seat more committee members in December.
• Request a speaker presentation from the AHA

And don’t miss:

📺 Special Zymurgy Live on November 5

This special Zym Live is open to everyone—it’s usually a member-only exclusive! Hear directly from your founding board (us) about the future. Join live or catch the recording.

🍺 The AHA Exists for You—and Because of You

You make this all possible. Thank YOU. More members will bring more advocacy, resources, innovation, community, and more homebrewing. 👉 Join or renew today, and invite another brewer to do the same. Together, we’ll ensure homebrewing thrives for generations.

Your AHA team is honored to continue delivering unmatched reasons (Zymurgy Magazine), recipes (NHC validated), resources (HomebrewersAssociation.org), and rewards (AHA Member Deals, Annual Recognition Awards, and National Homebrew Competition Awards).

The AHA Founding Board

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Summary

Volunteer Chair Position, December 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is seeking a volunteer National Homebrew Competition (NHC) competition chair to lead the world’s largest and most respected homebrewing competition. Duration of the post will be December 1, 2025—July 31, 2026.

This is a high-visibility volunteer leadership role. It is ideal for a passionate community leader who wants to influence the future of homebrewing and positively impact thousands of AHA members and volunteers.

The competition chair will receive a stipend to defray travel expenses and global recognition for their service as the face of NHC awards and judging.

Why This Role Matters

The NHC recognizes the pinnacle of brewing achievement, honoring the very best homebrewed beer, mead, and cider worldwide. The NHC competition chair ensures that the competition reflects the AHA’s mission to inspire, educate, and celebrate homebrewers and stewards the world’s top competition.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead NHC judging, entries, winner analysis, medals, and prize selection
• Serve as the primary point of contact for entrants, judges, and organizers
• Build and inspire a diverse network of competition volunteer leaders and Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) judges, and has the option to seat a deputy chair to support
• Author, update, and communicate rules, categories, and deadlines
• Partner with AHA staff on logistics, entrant and judging technology platforms, and promotion
• Champion diversity by recruiting and supporting women and BIPOC judges
• Represent the NHC at Homebrew Con 2026, including announcing winners on the main stage
• Sit on the AHA Events Committee, with this group serving as a sounding board and supporting the team on NHC success
• Lead as the AHA’s liaison to the Beer Awards Platform (BAP) NHC’s competition software for judging

Key Milestone Responsibilities by Month

• December: Secure first-round sites, publish the competition schedule, and establish initial competition deadlines
• December to January: Secure NHC prizes for medal winners
• January: Open registration and begin judge recruiting
• February to March: Regularly communicate competition details to entrants and judges
• March to April: Conduct first-round judging at 7 to 9 locations in the U.S.
• June: Conduct final-round judging and announce awards at Homebrew Con
• June to July: Disburse medals, allocate prizes, complete entrant communications, and conduct post-event analysis.

Competition Chair Participation Details

• Classification: Volunteer
• Title: NHC Competition Chair
• Travel Stipend: Compensation for travel to two first-round location visits and to Homebrew Con for attendance at the NHC Awards Ceremony in June or July 2026

About the American Homebrewers Association (AHA)

The AHA, founded in 1978, is built and directed by members while we deliver unmatched reasons (Zymurgy Magazine), recipes (NHC validated), resources (HomebrewersAssociation.org), and rewards (AHA Member Deals, Annual Recognition Awards, and National Homebrew Competition Awards). The association serves a community of 20,000 members, and connects and celebrates homebrewers worldwide. Our vision is simple yet powerful: A homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community. Join us.

About the National Homebrew Competition (NHC)

Founded in 1979 with just 34 entries, the NHC is now the largest homebrew competition in the world, honoring world-class beer, mead, and cider created by homebrewers everywhere. Since 2025, close to 170,000 entries have been evaluated annually, gathering beer’s best homebrewers, fermenters, top beer judges, stewards, and volunteer competition leaders.

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We also tapped some MAJOR new talent devoted to Zymurgy with Amahl Turczyn continuing as Zymurgy editor-in-chief, Adriana Torres staying with us as copyeditor, and bringing back Dave Harford as art director.

Overseen by the AHA’s founding board the above group, with me as your fearless, fermenting executive director, we are actively making moves to guide your newly independent organization to a better, member-driven future. These include:

• The return of Homebrew Con in 2026;
• Expanding educational programs and resources—Stay tuned!
• Growing volunteer leadership and committees; and
• Planning for the AHA’s 50th Anniversary in 2028.

What is an AMC, you might ask, and why do we need one? AMCs provide professional, best-practice, accredited support for thousands of associations. Simply put, SAM will help serve you as one of our 20,000 members more efficiently than we could achieve on our own, plus give us room to pursue the big, lofty, hell-yeah kinda goals on behalf of homebrewing.

Background: In 2024, we underwent a deliberate and thorough transition process to become independent of the Brewers Association (BA), after considered all options for a brighter and impact-driven AHA future. After all, the AHA has been in existence since 1978 but has only, in one form  or another, been affiliated with the BA since 1982.  With independence, I’ll say it again and again, we have BIG work ahead to evolve and be successful as a stand-alone nonprofit. The hobby of homebrewing also faces real challenges. But with your help, we can and will address them.

Julia Herz is executive director of the American Homebrewers Association. You can follow Julia’s homebrew talks and travels on Instagram @ImmaculateFermentation.

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Submit a photo and short description by Friday, November 7, and your creation could be featured in the Jan/Feb 2026 Gadgets issue! Membership required.

Not a member? Join the AHA and share your invention with us.

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In the article, published October 10, Julia shares her lifelong love of brewing, the new AHA vision—a homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community—and why she believes homebrewing is “poised for another resurgence.”

Homebrewing, she explains, is more than just beer—it’s a connection to the community, agriculture, and each other.

“Homebrewing connects you not only to the process but to the community,” Julia said. “Whether you brew with people or not, you’re almost always going to share it.”

It’s this spirit of creativity, sharing, and connection that fuels the AHA’s mission as an independent nonprofit dedicated to celebrating the art, science, and joy of fermentation and championing a united and knowledgeable community of today and tomorrow’s homebrewers.

Read the full feature in the Denver Post (subscription may be required). To learn more about the AHA’s mission or how to become a member, visit our membership page, where you’ll gain access to unmatched benefits, including validated recipes, expert resources, and more.

Photo credit: Cliff Grassmick / Denver Post

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Hello, Planet Homebrewing! We homebrewers are a special group. We have a knack for irreverence. We don’t like being pigeonholed. We don’t like being thought of as one-size-fits-all, and we don’t subscribe to predefined rules. Am I right?

For individuals who choose to practice this hobby we are so passionate about, it’s an exciting time for the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). We’re charting a new course to represent, support, and fuel homebrewing. On June 27, 2025, your new AHA Founding Board of Directors (see Zymurgy March/April 2025) announced the new AHA 2025 Strategic Plan. This plan directly relates to the AHA becoming an independent organization no longer managed by, or existing under, the 501(c)(6) Brewers Association.

Elements of the strategic plan came together over the last few months, following multiple meetings with your AHA Board, the AHA Strategic Planning Task Force—chaired by Shawna Cormier with vice-chair Drew Beechum, Cody Matkin, Paulina van Eeden Hill, and myself representing AHA staff. The group accounted for member input on AHA’s proposed vision collected in February 2025, too. Best practices and grounding concepts were kept in mind as we finalized the 2025 plan.

What is Strategic Planning?

• Defining an organization’s priorities and allocating people, technology, and other resources to achieve its vision and goals.
• Evaluating the organization’s vision and mission and determining the best ways to achieve them by establishing defined priorities with metrics.

Why Create a Strategic Plan?

• Organizations guided by strategy have long-term goals that describe the desired end-state of impact they aim to create for their members and the public.
• A strategic plan acts as a communication device that functions like a GPS, providing guidance.
• Plans live and breathe. Strategy merits ongoing reference, regular review, and adjustment to keep pace with change.

Members should be aware of the organization’s vision, priorities, and goals. Staff and volunteers need to know the big picture of what they are trying to accomplish.

Definitions:

• Vision – Where we want to go and what the world will look like based on our impact, commitment, and staff and volunteer performance.
• Mission – Why the AHA exists and what we intend to do.
• Purpose – Declares an organization’s intention to act consistently with its nonprofit, tax-exempt status. Appears in the bylaws and/or articles of incorporation.
• Strategic Priorities – Measurable goals guiding resource allocation and the direction of the organization.
• Targets – Quantifiable benchmarks to reach to meet goals.
• Values – Commonly held beliefs that shape an organization. Critical to trust, ethics, beliefs, and attitudes within the organization and the community it creates.

We hope you share our enthusiasm for the opportunities our new independence brings. It’s essential to acknowledge that future AHA volunteer leaders will build on the historic changes made in 2025. In 2026, we will conduct AHA Board of Director elections to build upon the work of your new founding board. Board candidates will benefit from being on an AHA committee first. So throw your hat in the ring to be a committee volunteer.

Julia Herz is executive director of the American Homebrewers Association. You can follow Julia’s homebrew talks and travels on Instagram @ImmaculateFermentation.

2025 STRATEGIC PLAN

Strategic Priorities

1. Organizational Strength and Health
   • Business: Stabilize finances, produce a valid 3-year plan, and transition staff as needed.
   • Operations: Hire an Association Management Company (AMC) to carry out day-to-day AHA operations.
   • Governance: Create the path to independence.
   • Planning: Craft the future of the AHA as a force to positively influence homebrewing generations to come.
2. Knowledge and Learning
   • Education: Continue 2025 services and benefits.
   • Events: Bring back HomebrewCon in summer of 2026.
   • Volunteerism & Leadership Development: AHA’s future relies on establishing a thriving volunteer community that takes an active role in fueling its organization.
3. Community, Collaboration, and Competition
   • Community: Engage with our membership community.
   • Collaboration: Catapult homebrewing by positioning the AHA as a national homebrew club, served and fueled by club officers.
   • Competition: Execute prep for 2026’s National Homebrew Competition (NHC).

Read our full strategic plan and learn more about our mission and vision.

AHA’s Mission

“We celebrate and promote the art, science, and joy of fermentation, championing a united and knowledgeable community of today’s and tomorrow’s homebrewers.”

AHA’s Vision

“A homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community.”

AHA’s Values

• Community – We cultivate an inclusive, collaborative hobby welcoming all. Homebrewing thrives when it is shared and enjoyed together.
• Education – We inspire curiosity and confidence with unsurpassed resources so homebrewers can grow, innovate, and experiment.
• Joy – Brewing is more than a hobby, it’s a source of joy, creativity, and connection. We celebrate the moments that make homebrewing unforgettable.
• Volunteerism – Driven by our community and powered by passion, the AHA is shaped by homebrewers who guide everything we do.

2025 Committee Charges

The following committees have been established by the AHA Board of Directors:

• Clubs – Strengthen and support AHA-sanctioned homebrew clubs by fostering leadership development, sharing best practices, and cultivating a thriving network of local communities.
• Community & Education – Advance the AHA’s role as a catalyst for learning and connection within the homebrewing community.
• Events – Shape the vision and execution of in-person events that bring the AHA mission to life.
• Finance – Safeguard the fiscal health and sustainability of the AHA.
• Governance – Promote organizational excellence through sound governance practices.

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This year’s celebration happens Saturday, November 1, 2025, and the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) has two official recipes to inspire your brew day:

• Let’s Lager Down to the Ozdust Ballroom (Vienna Lager): A traditional Vienna lager recipe from AHA member Tyler Miller, 2025 National Homebrew Competition Samuel Adams Ninkasi Winner, and member of the Arizona Society of Homebrewers (2025 NHC Homebrew Club of the Year). This recipe layers a variety of malts for a rich, complex depth of flavor.
• Ruddles Best Bitter: A classic English ale from Alan Dunn, Ruddles Brewery Limited, UK. Selected by AHA co-founder Charlie Papazian when asked by AHA executive director Julia Herz which recipe to feature in 2025. Originally published in Papazian’s 1997 book Homebrewer’s Gold, this brilliant orange-amber ale balances Kent Goldings hops with caramel malt for a smooth, highly drinkable session beer. Bonus: it’s an extract recipe with steeping grains, approachable for both beginners and seasoned brewers.

Whether you’re brewing for the first time or the hundredth, Learn to Homebrew Day is the perfect chance to fire up the kettle, explore new styles, and connect with the homebrewing community.

The AHA makes it easy to get started:

• Recipe library with beer, mead, cider, and clone recipes
• Homebrewing video tutorials with Julia Herz
• Homebrew Club Locator to connect with brewers near you
• Homebrew Supply Shop Directory to find ingredients and equipment
• AHA Forum to share tips, ask questions, and learn from fellow brewers

Grab a recipe, gather your ingredients, and join your fellow homebrewers on November 1 to celebrate the joy of making beer at home.

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 Boil 60 minutes. Add flavor hops at 20 minutes. Add Irish moss at 10 minutes. After a total wort boil of 60 minutes, turn off the heat, and rack clear wort into a sanitized fermenter to which 2 gallons (7.6 L) of cold water have been added. If necessary, add additional cold water to achieve a 5-gallon (19-L) batch size. Chill the wort to 70°F (21°C). Aerate and add an active yeast starter. Ferment for 4 to 6 days in primary. Then transfer into a secondary fermenter, and chill to 60°F (15.5°C). When secondary aging is complete, prime with sugar, and bottle or keg. Let condition at temperatures above 60°F (15.5°C) until clear and carbonated.

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Austin, TX — The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is proud to announce a major milestone in its new chapter as an independent nonprofit: the selection of Strategic Association Management (SAM) as its Association Management Company (AMC). SAM, an accredited AMC based in Austin, Texas, officially began overseeing AHA’s day-to-day operations in July and is devoted to empowering mission-driven organizations to grow with purpose.

Behind the scenes, AHA now has a new team supporting members and the founding board to help to implement strategic priorities set earlier this year. These include strengthening the organization’s operational health, expanding educational programming, growing AHA’s volunteer leadership and committees, and positioning the AHA for a bright future for generations to come.

The transition comes after the AHA became independent from the Brewers Association, its former parent organization, in January 2025. AHA incorporated in Colorado, seated a founding board of directors, and initiated its application for 501(c) nonprofit status—all foundational moves devoted to serving homebrewers.

“Our board has hit the ground running,” said Shawna Cormier, AHA Founding Board Chair. “This is more than a transition—it’s a movement. We’re creating a stronger, more inclusive AHA rooted in collaboration, fun, and volunteer leadership.”

“The hobby of homebrewing faces real challenges,” added Julia Herz, Executive Director. “As the national voice since 1978, we’re stepping up. Independence gives the AHA freedom and focus to grow, and SAM is the perfect AMC to help. The partnership ensures that the AHA has the operational support needed to build on its legacy, serve members, and continue fostering a thriving homebrewing community.”

In 2025, AHA’s founding board and SAM are actively implementing a bold strategic plan, including:

• The return of Homebrew Con in 2026
• Expanding educational programs and resources
• Growing volunteer leadership and committees
• Planning for the AHA’s 50th Anniversary in 2028

###

About the American Homebrewers Association®

Founded in 1978, the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) is the world’s leading organization for people who brew and ferment at home. The AHA provides unmatched reasons, recipes (validated), resources, and rewards for fermentation enthusiasts. Signature events include the Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition, Big Brew for National Homebrew Day, and Learn to Homebrew Day. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy®, the longest-running magazine dedicated to homebrewers.

AHA’s Vision: A homebrewer in every neighborhood and a homebrew club in every community.

AHA’s Mission: To celebrate and promote the art, science, and joy of fermentation, championing a united and knowledgeable community of today and tomorrow’s homebrewers.

The AHA is a member-driven organization. Learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org and view AHA’s 2025 Strategic Plan.

Media Contact:

For the AHA:

Julia Herz, Executive Director

American Homebrewers Association

ed@homebrewersassociation.org

For SAM:

Katy McDowall, Senior Communications Manager

Strategic Association Management

marketing@sam-firm.com

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Check out our DIY recipes, tutorials, and more and celebrate Home Fermentation Day with us!

The post Celebrate Home Fermentation Day appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

By Dr. Julia Skinner

By following a few easy steps, you can ferment all kinds of vegetables at home, producing an array of tasty pickles that will stay crisp jarred up in your fridge for several days to several weeks. The art of lacto-fermentation originally came about, even before the advent of refrigeration, as a way to preserve the summer and fall vegetable harvest for consumption later in the year. But today, with cold storage, your tart, spicy, briny creations can last even longer, and they’re easy to prepare.

A Few Fermenting Tips

• For lacto-fermentation, use an unrefined salt (e.g., sea salt or Himalayan salt) with minerals intact—this can give it a pink or gray color. If using refined salt, look for options like kosher or sea salt that are free of anti-caking agents and other additives.
• For ferments using honey, choose high-quality honey, preferably from a local beekeeper. Generic grocery store honey often contains corn syrup, caramel coloring, and other additives that can affect flavor and fermentation.
• Place fermenting foods on a tray or in a container to catch overflow and prevent countertop stains. Fermentation produces gas bubbles that can force liquid out of your fermenter.
• “Burp” your ferments once a day (or every couple days if it’s cold): gently loosen the lid to allow excess gas that has built up during the fermentation process to escape. Top off with more brine if needed.
• Keep all fermenting ingredients submerged in brine to inhibit mold growth and keep out unwanted microbes. A lid works for small jars; larger ferments can be weighed down with a sanitized stone on a clean plate.
• Good bacteria are naturally present on all your substrates (fruits and vegetables). That’s why it’s important to use at least 50% fresh, raw vegetables to provide the bacteria needed for fermentation.
• Once your ferments reach the flavor you like, refrigerate them to slow the fermentation process to a near standstill, allowing you to enjoy them over time.

Avoid canning sauerkraut and other living foods, as the heat kills beneficial microbes. If you do want to can finished kraut, follow guidance from the Ball Blue Book or another trusted source.

Brine

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) naturally present on vegetables can tolerate a brine solution with 1.5–5% salt, but 2–3% is ideal for flavor in most vegetable ferments. This is a great range to experiment with and find what you like.

For sauerkraut, you can estimate salt by eye, but if you’re just getting started, measuring can help build confidence. Don’t worry—there’s wiggle room! Vegetables like cabbage release their own liquid when salted, so you may not need to add additional brine. It takes some kneading to get the liquid flowing. On average, half a head of cabbage yields 1½ to 2 cups of brine. Based on the ratios below, that would call for roughly ½ tablespoon of salt, depending on cabbage size.

The science behind fermentation allows some room for variation, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different salt ratios. If you are unable to knead the cabbage to produce brine, you can use the pour-over brine ratios listed below.

Pour-over Brine

Pour-over brines can be used to ferment all kinds of fruits and veggies, such as carrot sticks, cucumbers, and more.

For 1 quart (or 4 cups) of water:

• 2% = 20 g or about 1 tablespoon
• 3.5% = 35 g or about 2 tablespoons
• 5% = 50 g or 2 ½ – 3 tablespoons

Pickled Carrots

1. Cut your carrots into sticks or rounds.
2. Add to a pint jar, leaving 1″ or more of headspace at the top.
3. Pour your room-temperature brine (using salt ratios above) over the carrots to cover completely. Add any optional spices—for example, 1–2 tablespoons dill seeds or fresh dill, 1 clove garlic, and ¼–½ teaspoon crushed red pepper.
4. Top the jar snugly (but don’t tighten) with a lid and place it on a plate or tray, out of direct sunlight but at room temperature. You can use a standard Mason jar lid or an airlock.
5. “Burp” the jar daily: If carrots or spices float to the surface, press them down (or use a fermentation weight), or gently shake the jar once a day to disrupt the surface and discourage mold growth. If mold does appear, carefully remove it with a clean paper towel. The salt solution should prevent most harmful types.
6. Allow to ferment for several days or longer, until the carrots have a flavor you enjoy. Follow your nose! A tart, pickle-like aroma indicates lactic fermentation. If the jar smells foul or rotten at any point, discard it. Once your desired tartness is reached, seal the jar tightly and store it in the fridge.

Sauerkraut

Ingredients:

• 1 head cabbage
• 1-2 Tbs. salt
• Spices (e.g., caraway, fennel, juniper berries), if desired
• Pint jars with lids and bands

1. Remove the outer two layers of leaves from your cabbage and set aside.
2. Quarter and core your cabbage, then thinly shred the leaves.
3. Add cabbage to a bowl and sprinkle liberally with salt.
4. Massage the salt into the cabbage until it begins to release liquid and form a brine. You’ll know it’s ready when the cabbage releases liquid when squeezed. (If making dill pickle kraut, see recipe below.)
5. Pack the cabbage tightly into jars, pressing down to eliminate air bubbles. Make sure it’s fully submerged in its own brine. If needed, top off with pour-over brine (see above).
6. For a simple weight, fold one of the reserved cabbage leaves and place it over the shredded cabbage and press it down. You can also use a sanitized round stone or a fermentation weight. Be sure the top leaf is fully submerged in brine.
7. Place a lid snugly (don’t tighten) on the jar and set on a baking sheet or plate to collect any overflow. Allow to ferment out of direct sunlight for 2-3 weeks (or longer, if desired). Loosen the the lid and check your ferment every couple days, adding more brine if needed (about 1 tsp to 2 cups water).
8. Loosen the lid and check your ferment every couple of days. Add more brine if needed—use about 1 teaspoon salt dissolved in 2 cups water.

Dill Pickle Kraut

After massaging the salt into the cabbage, mix in the following ingredients to taste before packing into jars:

• Fresh dill
• Dill seed
• Crushed red pepper flakes
• Prepared horseradish (the pickled kind, not creamy horseradish sauce)
• Minced garlic

This is a great opportunity to play with flavor and ratios. A common starting point is ½ to 1 tablespoon of each spice per head of cabbage, but feel free to adjust amounts or try other ingredients like black pepper or onion.

Kraut-chi

This method for making kraut-chi is similar to traditional sauerkraut: massage your vegetables with salt to draw out their juices and create a natural brine.

The term “kraut-chi” was coined by fermentation expert Sandor Katz to describe common sauerkraut variations made with a mix of vegetables—not just cabbage. Kraut-chi is a flexible way to preserve what you have on hand, such as grated root vegetables, hearty greens, or seasonal produce like corn.

A recent batch included grated beet, carrot, onion, foraged greens, ginger, purple cabbage, apple, and celery—most of which were nearing the end of their shelf life. Kraut-chi is an excellent way to use up vegetables that are softening (but not moldy). Visual perfection isn’t required—flavor and creativity take the lead!

You can also add kitchen scraps such as shredded or chopped carrot ends, carrot tops, chopped apple peels, or bits of grated root vegetables like beets or parsnips—or whatever else your imagination comes up with. Scraps that are especially delicate, like peaches or berries, should be added after salting the cabbage, but before packing it into jars. Avoid delicate greens such as lettuce, which tend to become slimy in this recipe.

If kneading is difficult due to arthritis or other physical limitations, you can simply grate or shred the vegetables and ferment them using a pour-over brine instead. For vegetables that don’t hold their shape well during massaging—such as fresh corn—add them after kneading and mix to distribute evenly.

Dr. Julia Skinner, one of the world’s leading fermentation educators, is the author of the award-winning Our Fermented Lives, is founder of The Culinary Curiosity School, and runs Root, a food-focused community and consulting organization that offers classes, consulting on creative projects, a weekly newsletter, and more. She also founded Roots and Branches, where she coaches writers to find their voice and share their work.

A nature lover, teacher, and traveler, Julia holds a PhD in Library and Information Science and splits her time between Atlanta and Cork, Ireland.

The post A Primer on Lactic-Fermented Vegetables appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

Now that we’re back up and running, read on for steps to access the Forum through your AHA member account.

AHA Members: If you’re logging in to the AHA website for the first time since the new member portal was launched on July 7, make sure to reset your password first. Then, follow these steps below:

1. On the AHA website, select “Forum” in the top menu bar. That will redirect you to the Forum homepage.
2. From there, click on the green “Log-in / Sign Up” button in the upper right.
3. This next step is important: Use the white “Log in With Your AHA Member Profile” button on the right side of the screen. This will log you in with your existing AHA member portal log-in information and connect you to your existing Forum account.
4. Now you’re set and we look forward to engaging with you on the Forum! 

Not a member? Log in to your existing Forum account or create a new account.

Contact the AHA Team

Got questions not answered here? Let us know via email at info@homebrewersassociation.org or phone at 303-749-5459.

The post The AHA Forum is Back appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

This is more than just a system upgrade—it’s part of a historic shift in the AHA’s journey, toward independence and innovation. Thanks to your support, we’re brewing up a stronger, more responsive association that puts homebrewers first.

Member Takeaways

• Independence = More Innovation. New funding paths (grants/donations) and tailored benefits.
• Your Voice Matters. Members now have direct representation via the new Founding Board of Directors and the invitation to participate in AHA’s newly formed committees.
• Benefits Stay the Same in 2025—with improvements to come based on your feedback.
• National Homebrewer Representation. This is needed now more than ever. 

Looking for the AHA to do more? We’re updating our ingredients as an association, and things will need time to ferment and condition before you feel big changes as members. Thank YOU for being part of this historic and unfolding journey and for helping bring AHA into a new future.

How to Get Started in the New Portal

Step 1: Reset Your Password

Before logging in for the first time, you’ll need to reset your password.

Step 2: Review Your Profile and Preferences

Once you’re logged in, check that your personal information is up to date and adjust your communication preferences if needed.

We’ve pre-filled your profile with what we have on file. You can make updates by clicking the “My Profile” button on the member homepage.

Step 3: Enjoy Your Benefits

With your account set up, you can:

• Download your membership card.
• Access exclusive perks like Zymurgy Magazine and Award-Winning Recipes by clicking “Back to Main Site” at the top of the portal.

What’s New?

We’re making it even easier to stay connected. From now on, all AHA emails will come from info@homebrewersassociation.org. That’s also your go-to email address if you ever need assistance.

Prefer to talk to a human? You can reach us at 303-749-5459 (we stand ready to help and answer the phone during business hours).

The post Welcome to the New AHA Member Portal appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

Roxanne has been homebrewing since 1995 when she and her husband received a homebrew kit for Christmas. They joined their local homebrew club, the Bloatarian Brewing League, shortly after starting, and the rest is history. Roxanne enjoys special brewing techniques, fun ingredients, and experimenting with yeasts. She is Past President of the Bloatarian Brewing League and sat on the former AHA Governing Committee and Brewers Association Board of Directors for numerous years. Westendorf is a retired development engineer from Procter & Gamble, lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a long-standing AHA member. 

“Roxanne’s passion and expertise nurtured creativity, fostered a welcoming community, and brought joy into the lives of countless homebrewers,” shared Shawna Cormier, AHA Founding Board Chair. “Her guidance, kindness, and dedication has made a huge impact on my life and her legacy will continue to help guide the future of the AHA for years to come!”

Roxanne joins the world’s most prestigious group of homebrewing pioneers and leaders each recognized by the AHA since 1998. See all past Recognition Award winners. 

The post AHA Founding Board Taps Roxanne Westendorf as 2025 Recognition Award Winner appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

The NHC is the world’s largest stage for amateur homebrewers to showcase their skills, creativity, and passion for home fermentation. The 2025 competition received 2,974 entries from 1,086 AHA members across 48 states, Washington, D.C., and 7 countries. In total, more than 169,000 entries have been evaluated since the inaugural AHA National Homebrew Competition in 1979 in Boulder, Colo.

First Round entries were judged in seven cities (Chicago, Ill., Indianapolis, Ind., Longmont, Colo., New York, N.Y., San Diego, Calif., Seattle, Wash. and Tampa, Fla.) in March and April and the Final Round, led by local organizing leaders Kansas City Bier Meisters, was judged June 26-27 in Kansas City, Mo.  

MOST-ENTERED STYLE CATEGORIES

The winners of the most-entered categories were (Name | Location | Homebrew Club | BJCP Subcategory):

Category 26: Strong Belgian Ale (118 entries)

• GOLD: James Allen | Highlands Ranch, Colo. | Rock Hoppers Brew Club | 26C
• SILVER: Justin Holman | Weston Lakes, Texas | Cider, Homebrew, and Mead Production Specialists (CHAMPS) | 26D
• BRONZE: Jim Thompson | Vancouver, Wash. | Oregon Brew Crew | 26C

Category 2: Pale European Beer (110 entries)

• GOLD: Donald Schneider | Windsor, Colo. | Weizguys Homebrew Club | 5A
• SILVER:  Colby Reineke | Minnesota | Minnesota Home Brewers Association | 27A1
• BRONZE: Jayme & Cody Naramore | Quenemo, Kan. | Kansas City Bier Meisters | 2A

Category 15: Irish & British Stout (108 entries)

• GOLD: Jamie Moulton | Niwot, Colo | The Big Lebrewskis | 16D
• SILVER: Tyler Miller | Mesa, Ariz. | Arizona Society of Homebrewers | 16B
• BRONZE: Jarrett Long & Amanda Long | Arlington, Texas | Horsemen of the Hopocalypse | 16D

A complete list of winners of the 2025 National Homebrew Competition can be found here.

MAJOR AWARDS

In addition to category style awards, six major awards recognizing overall brewing excellence were presented.

Homebrewer of the Year Award

• Recognizes the best-of-show beer judged from all gold medal winners in all beer categories.

• Wayne Doucette | Big Lake, Minn.

Cidermaker of the Year Award – Sponsored by Woodchuck Hard Cider

• Recognizes the best-of-show cider judged from all gold medal winners in the cider categories.

• James Werner | New Berlin, Wis.

Meadmaker of the Year Award

• Recognizes the best-of-show mead judged from all gold medal winners in the mead categories.

• Doug Brown & Alexandria Horn | San Diego, Calif.

Samuel Adams Ninkasi Award – Sponsored by Samuel Adams: Brewing the American Dream

• Recognizes the entrant who accumulates the most points in the final round of competition.

• Tyler Miller | Mesa, Ariz.

Gambrinus Club Award

• Recognizes the club garnering the most final round points per total club entries.

• Ann Arbor Brewers Guild | Ann Arbor, Mich.

Homebrew Club of the Year Award – Sponsored by Trip’s Beer Trips

• Awarded to the club accumulating the most total points in all categories of beer, mead, and cider in the final round of competition.

• Arizona Society of Homebrewers

“Our expert lineup of judges was captivated by a diverse range of flavors and styles from this year’s winners,” said Chris Williams, competition director. “Each year we are impressed by the dedication, innovation, and skill AHA members bring to this competition on both as brewers and as judges. Congratulations to the 2025 winners!”

View previous award winners here.

ANNUAL RECOGNITION AWARDS

The AHA also recognized people and organizations that inspire, defend, and innovate within the homebrewing community:

Homebrew Shop of the Year Award – Sponsored by RahrBSG

• Awarded to homebrew supply shops on the merits of community support, education, customer service and engagement, promotion of homebrewing, and responsible business practices.

• Keystone Homebrew Supply | Souderton, Pa.

American Homebrewers Association Recognition Award

• Awarded for outstanding service to the community of homebrewers.

• Roxanne Westendorf | Cincinnati, Ohio

• Read more about Roxanne’s contributions to the homebrewing community.

Member Deal of the Year Award

• Awarded to the most popular AHA Member Deal based on votes from AHA members.

• Perennial Artisan Ales | St. Louis, Mo.

“The National Homebrew Competition is the world’s largest and longest running homebrew competition that celebrates thousands of entrants, Beer Judge Certification Program judges, stewards and volunteer organizers. What an epic display of brewing, passion, art, science, sensory evaluation and community. Stay tuned to brew and enter in 2026,” said Julia Herz, AHA executive director. 

The 2025 National Homebrew Competition was made possible in part by the generous support of sponsors. A special thank you to First Round judging sites and organizers, City Barrel Brewing Co. for receiving Final Round entries, and to Boulevard Brewing Co. for hosting Final Round judging and the awards ceremony.

Editor’s note: Photos for media use are available upon request.

Contact: Julia Herz; ed@homebrewersassociation.org

About the American Homebrewers Association:

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 20,000 homebrewers. The AHA organizes events including the National Homebrew Competition, Big Brew for National Homebrew Day, and Learn to Homebrew Day. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy®, the longest-running magazine for homebrewers. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association®, whose Brewers Publications® division is the leading publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers. Beer lovers, fermentation fans, and anyone interested in making their own homemade beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Instagram and Facebook.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

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The post 47th Annual National Homebrew Competition Honors Top Homemade Beer, Cider, & Mead appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

To earn a spot in the Final Round, homebrewers must win a first, second, or third place ribbon in First Round judging. View the results of the First Round here.

Final Round Judging Details

• Location: Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
• Receiving: June 2-11
• Judging: June 26-27

2025 Awards Ceremony Details

• Date: June 28, 6:30pm CT
• Location: Boulevard Brewing Company, Kansas City, Mo.
• The ceremony will be live-streamed on The Brewing Network.
• In-person attendance is currently limited to Final Round judges, stewards, and Final Round entrants.

Pre-game the awards ceremony with us—join the Zymurgy Live webinar at 5:30pm CT on June 28. Register here.

The National Homebrew Competition is open to American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members only. Join the AHA today to register for future competitions!

The post NHC 2025: Final Round Judging & Awards Ceremony Details appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

Earlier this year, new American Homebrewers Association (AHA) member Joe Hetzel reached out for help securing homebrewing equipment. He realized soft drinks saturated with high-fructose corn syrup were impacting his health, so low- and non-alcohol beer became his beverages of choice. When he realized he could make these beverages at home for a fraction of the cost of buying commercial brands, he needed guidance putting together a brew system. Joe was looking for donated gear so he could confidently brew indoors, and get past challenging financial limitations of not being able to purchase equipment.

Serendipitously, the AHA recently launched a new members-only section of the AHA Forum called Homebrewer Support. This area exists to help members in need due to circumstances out of their control and is the only members-only area of the AHA Forum that allows members to ask for or offer equipment to offset and buffer hardships. Once Joe submitted a post to this area, fellow forum followers have been working with him to find a solution. A heartfelt thank you to all you forum followers who have selflessly contributed time and equipment to assist fellow homebrewers like Joe—this is what the AHA community is all about.

AHA Forum Participation Invitation

We invite you to join the conversation and use our new forum (in 2024 the AHA migrated the platform to Discourse) as an avenue to get your brewing questions answered. You’ve got questions, and fellow forum followers have answers. There’s also a decade-plus archive to draw from. To add to this knowledge base, we hope you share your own homebrewing experiences and grow the toolbox of broader community support for each other.

Check out your AHA Forum here: forum.HomebrewersAssociation.org

Update on the AHA’s Independence

The American Homebrewers Association Founding Board has shared an updated on the process of the AHA becoming an independent organization.

Read the entire article April 2025 Update on AHA’s Independence.

The post Members Helping Members and the New AHA Forum appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

By the American Homebrewers Association Founding Board

Hello Homebrewers!

Happy April. We hope you have been brewing some AMAZING beverages this spring. We’re thrilled to continue to update you on the AHA’s transition to becoming an independent 501(c)(3) organization. Since our January 22 announcement, we’ve been busy building the foundation for a more agile and member-focused AHA.

Member Takeaways

• Independence = More Innovation. New funding paths (grants/donations) and tailored benefits.
• Your Voice Matters. Members now have direct representation via the new Founding Board of Directors and soon to be formed committees.
• Benefits Stay the Same in 2025—with improvements to come based on your feedback.
• National Homebrewer Representation. This is needed now more than ever. 

Looking for the AHA to do more? We’re updating our ingredients as an association, and things will need time to ferment and condition before you feel big changes as members. Thank YOU for being part of this historic and unfolding journey and for helping bring AHA into a new future.

What’s New

• AHA has hired an Association Management Company (AMC) to run membership operations and support our events and your benefits —onboarding is underway!
• We’re in a 3-month transition phase to full AMC support. More on this and team intros are coming this summer.
• In April, our board created an executive committee comprised of Shawna Cormier (chair), Drew Beechum (vice chair), Greg Roskopf (treasurer). The board also discussed necessary foundational documents, future staffing, and meeting nonprofit requirements.
• A board task force was created to outline 2025–2026 goals and finalize our vision statement and strategic priorities tied to considering recent member comments and surveys.

Recent Events

• Feb: AHA Forum Founding Board Q&A—493 views, 93 likes and counting…
• National Homebrew Competition First Round Judging (March and April): We hosted 7 different locations (Chicago, Indianapolis, Longmont, New York, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa!) because of AHA/BJCP volunteer competition leaders who ensured we judged more than 3,000 first-round entries with live awards streamed June 28 from Kansas City.
• March 22: Zymurgy Live with the Board—covered member questions and the independence journey. Watch the replay here.

More to Explore

• March 7 How We Got Here and Why We Celebrate
• Volunteer Opportunities
• What’s Brewing Newsletter Sign-Up
• AHA Forum for News & Discussion

And hey…while this is all happening, the AHA continues to deliver unmatched reasons, recipes, rewards (discounts), and resources to our 20,000+ member community.

Still Brewing Strong

• AHA Overview Video: Check out a quick summary of AHA’s full ecosystem of member benefits. Watch the replay here.
• Zymurgy Magazine: The latest issue is out now.
• Big Brew (May 3): Join the global celebration! View recipe & resources.

Cheers and please join or renew today. The more AHA members, the more we can do. Association models are very different than other businesses, and investing back into the members and programming, fueled by volunteer leaders and the member community, is our top priority.

AHA Founding Board

The post April 2025 Update on AHA’s Independence appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

The post May/June 2025 Zymurgy Magazine Now Available appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

The winner will be announced at the National Homebrew Competition awards ceremony on June 28.

Find an AHA Member Deal

As an AHA member, you get access 1,800+ discounts. Members get exclusive deals on beer, food, homebrew supplies, and more—start saving today! Find a deal near you and start saving.

The post Nominate Your Favorite AHA Member Deal appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

This year’s official recipe is Big Blimp! Barleywine from homebrewers Donna and Larry Reuter. This barleywine took home the gold in the 2019 and 2023 National Homebrew Competition Final Rounds. Homebrewers can expect a hoppy, strong ale of the highest caliber. This recipe and thousands of others can be found on the AHA’s recipe library, along with homebrewing tips and education for brewers of all skill levels.

Big Brew 2025 Details

• When: May 3, 2025
• Where: Your kitchen, backyard, garage, local homebrew club, or a homebrew shop
• Who: Homebrewers of all levels, beer lovers, and fermentation curious individuals of legal drinking age are invited to join the celebration.

Homebrew shops and clubs that would like to join the celebration can download marketing assets to promote their Big Brew events and attract customers.

Big Brew is sponsored by Lallemand Brewing and Rahr Malting Co.

The post Big Brew 2025: Go BIG on National Homebrew Day appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

* * *

By Shawna Cormier (Chair, AHA Founding Board) and Julia Herz (Executive Director, American Homebrewers Association)

Hello, American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members and the world’s homebrewing community. We are excited to share some important updates. Since our January 22, 2025, announcement that the AHA is incorporating to become an independent organization from the Brewers Association (BA), we received very positive feedback from many members and partners. With your involvement, our positive steps will help us keep pace, evolve, innovate, grow, and continue to serve you and the amazing hobby of homebrewing and fermenting in new ways. Also thank you to those members who provided input already and have stepped up to volunteer.

Highlights on what the newly seated AHA founding board did during our strategic retreat on Feb 10–11, 2025, include:

• Drafted, for member comment, an AHA vision for 2025: We celebrate, educate, and promote the art, science, and joy of fermentation, championing a united community of today and tomorrow’s homebrewers.
• Documented AHA’s year one strategic priorities with action items supporting these priorities pending:
  • Organization Strength & Health
  • Knowledge & Learning
  • Community, Collaboration & Competition
• Confirmed future plans for a 2026 return of Homebrew Con, 2026 board elections, and a 50th Anniversary celebration in 2028.
• Worked on confirming founding board officers, new committees, and a board member task force to support the AHA transition, including the creation of charters (pending for Spring 2025).
• Confirmed AHA will apply to be a 501(c)(3) over other 501(c) options.

Notables

• On Jan. 22 the AHA filed for incorporation in the state of Colorado.
• At the board’s request, the AHA extended the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) entry window to Feb 28.
• The board reviewed AHA’s finances and membership revenue, and discussed the importance of establishing new member benefits and events.
• Discussed establishing the AHA fiscal year cycle, drafting a reserves policy, term of service for this transition board, and future elections of new board members in 2026.
• Continued the search to hire an Association Management Companies (AMC) to carry out AHA’s day-to-day operations for hire by March 2025, with plans for the AHA to fully transition from the BA to the new AMC before the end of 2025. 

We heard from many who desire more involvement, and we welcome more robust participation. There are multiple opportunities, including:

• Inviting member input on the new vision and strategic priorities by the founding board, as listed above. Please use this form to register comments by March 25.
• Encouraging our members’ assistance to help us execute our many shared goals—volunteer here.
• Joining the founding board on Feb 27 and 28 for a 24-hour Q&A on the AHA Forum and on the March 18 Zymurgy Live Town Hall.
• Signing up to get the AHA’s What’s Brewing newsletter here.
• Entering the 47th NHC to compete with AHA members worldwide. The entry window has been extended to Feb. 28. Enter here.
• Renewing or joining the AHA to be part of this incredible history as it unfolds here.

We continue to appreciate your support, excitement, and opinions as we work toward a bright and sustainable mission-focused future. We are thrilled about the future of our organization, and for your collaboration.

Cheers.

The post Update on AHA’s Independence and Call for Member Comment appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

Homebrew Shop of the Year, Presented by RahrBSG

Beyond their role as a supplier of homebrewing equipment and ingredients, homebrew shops are advocates for homebrewing and play a key role in innovation and expansion of the craft. The Homebrew Shop of the Year award, presented by RahrBSG, celebrates these contributions, allowing AHA members to show their appreciation for the shop that supports and inspires their homebrewing.  

The AHA founding board of directors will review all nominations and select the winner. Thanks to this year’s sponsor, RahrBSG, one person who nominates the winning shop will receive a $1,000 gift card*.

*Multiple people can nominate the winning shop. The gift card winner will be randomly selected from the nominations for the winning shop.

Member Deal of the Year

Member Deals are among the AHA’s most popular member benefits. From brewpubs and taprooms to homebrew shops and brewing education programs, AHA members get discounts at more than 1,800 locations nationwide, both in person and online. Show your favorite Member Deal some love and nominate them!

The AHA will compile all votes and identify the winning business based on total nomination numbers.

Learn more about AHA awards and view past winners here.

The post Nominations Now Open for 2025 American Homebrewers Association Annual Recognition Awards appeared first on American Homebrewers Association.

How We Got Here and Why We Celebrate

[Editor’s note: see an update from Shawna Cormier and Julia Herz from February 27, 2025.]

By Shawna Cormier and Julia Herz

Big news. On January 22, 2025 the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) filed for incorporation in the state of Colorado as a step to becoming an independent 501(c) nonprofit organization. View the press release. Founded in 1978, the AHA has operated as a division under the umbrella of the Brewers Association (BA)—the nonprofit trade association dedicated to small and independent American craft brewers—since 1983. Before the end of 2025, the AHA will operate as a nonprofit organization autonomous from the BA. We have created a new founding board and are in the final stages of discussions to hire an association management company to carry out AHA operations.

The AHA’s founding board, comprised of chairperson Shawna Cormier, members Sandy Cockerham, Drew Beechum, Greg Roskopf, Gary Glass, and staff liaison and current executive director Julia Herz, will act as a transition committee to steward the AHA to organizational independence in 2025 and establish the nascent organization’s bylaws, vision, mission, strategic priorities, and leadership elections to happen in 2026.

This transition allows the AHA to prioritize the needs of homebrewing and the community in new and exciting ways. It also elevates membership to have a board of directors, bringing more opportunities for member engagement and contributions. The AHA had the option to stay with the BA, but with fewer members since 2019 (AHA’s height was 46,000 members, and today we have 23,000) comes fewer resources.

Experimentation, innovation, and overall strategic planning are all areas the AHA has been looking to develop but could not be fulfilled based on the current structure at the BA. As shared in the November/December 2024 issue of Zymurgy, AHA members helped birth the entire craft beer and independent brewer movement, and we are a vital part of the beer ecosystem. We take the AHA legacy, homebrewers’ importance in culture, and member needs seriously, and this change will lay a path for new growth and member engagement.

Will My Benefits Stay the Same?

Yes, for 2025, AHA member benefits will stay the same. In the future, look to see benefits refined based on member input. See the current summary of the AHA membership benefits.

Why and When Did the Move Toward Independence Start?

• Over the past few years, we’ve been increasingly hearing from members and the AHA committee that we need a reinvigorated new vision. Staff also voiced their desire to transition to an independent organization.
• This decoupling is mutually supported by current AHA and BA leadership, and the board of directors.
• Establishing the AHA as an independent entity allows for tailored governance, an evolved staffing model, and strategic flexibility to address member needs and market dynamics.
• Extensive research in 2024 supports a continued need and demand for a national organization focused on homebrewing.

What Was the Process That Led To This Move?

• In 2024, the AHA embarked on a comprehensive strategic planning process.
• Research that informed the AHA’s new direction included a review of the AHA’s mission and relevance, membership and retail supply shop trends, staff input on operations and program impact, committee and stakeholder insights on member benefits, a member/non-member survey that garnered 3,755 responses; a STEEP (Social, Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political) analysis; and an independent financial review.

What Happened To Homebrew Con?

• Unfortunately, we have yet to find a suitable partner to execute a cost-effective 2025 Homebrew Con (HBC), the AHA’s annual member gathering, and the usual location of the awards ceremony. However, we are on track with an ongoing search for options to bring back HBC as a valued and important annual event in 2026.
• The 2025 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) awards ceremony will be streamed live from Kansas City after the final round of judging. Stay tuned for the livestream link. 

Thirsty For More?

• See an overview of the AHA’s volunteer opportunities.
• See a recent update on the AHA’s current activities and its incredible history of helping change the world of beer as we know it.
• Renew or join the AHA to help be a part of this incredible history as it unfolds.
• Sign up to get the AHA’s What’s Brewing newsletter.
• Participate in the AHA conversation and community on the AHA Forum here.
• Enter the 47th National Homebrew Competition to compete with AHA members worldwide (update: registration now closed)

We hope you share our enthusiasm for the opportunities our new independence brings. We appreciate your membership, support, and feedback as we work to steward the association into its next chapter. It’s essential to acknowledge that future AHA members and volunteer leaders will walk, brew, and ferment in the footsteps of thousands of pioneer homebrewers who helped make the AHA, and craft beer, what it is today. What the AHA is tomorrow is now up to us. Here’s to a fantastic new future for the incredible, fun, and rewarding hobby of homebrewing.

Founding Board of Director Position Description

American Homebrewers Association, January 2025

Term

2025 Foundational Board members will be appointed to a one-year term by the American Homebrewers Association committee chair and the Brewers Association board chair. This may be adjusted to align with the bylaws once they are developed.

Board Responsibilities

The Founding Board is accountable for oversight that will lay the foundation for AHA independence as a new 501(c). To that end, it shall also:

• Comply with fiduciary obligations of care, loyalty, and obedience.
• Comply with BA expectations for board members.
• Oversee AHA’s business and financial affairs.
• Advise on Association Management Company issues as needed, and once incorporated, select and appoint the association chief staff executive.
• Perform duties entrusted to officers and directors of a nonprofit corporation.

Other Responsibilities

All Board of Director members are responsible for strategic direction and oversight of the Association’s affairs, and as such, must:

• Engage in foresight and establish a vision, mission, and strategic priorities for the AHA.
• Recommend and adopt policies consistent with the Association’s mission and statement of purpose.
• Ensure the Association adopts and implements a succession plan for officers.
• Ensure the governance structure supports a diverse, competent, committed pipeline of volunteer leaders to help transition the AHA into an independent organization.
• Promote AHA membership and champion the transition of AHA into an independent entity.
• Once independent, approve an annual budget and operating plan, evaluate the performance of the association’s director and Association Management Company, determine the Association and board strategic priorities, and monitor the achievement or non-achievement of planned objectives.
• Perform duties as assigned by any future Association governing documents.

Learn More About Your AHA Founding Board

2025 foundational board members are appointed to a one-year term by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) committee chair and the Brewers Association (BA) board chair.

Shawna Cormier, Board Chair

Shawna Cormier is director of membership and events for the Washington Brewers Guild, an Advanced Cicerone®, BJCP judge, co-host of Cheers to Beers podcast, on the BA Board of Directors, and chair of the founding board of the newly independent AHA. With an MFA in Acting (no joke), she discovered her love of beer through homebrewing. She loves playing with her son and daughter and singing cheesy musical theatre with her husband.

QUOTE: “Homebrew now. Homebrew forever. Homebrew for all!“

AHA Member for 11 years and counting.

Sandy Cockerham

A native of Indiana, Sandy Cockerham initially became interested in beer around 1983 after befriending some chemists at work who introduced her to English ales at a local pub. She started homebrewing in the late 80s. In 2007, she took her first BJCP exam and scored a National score under the BJCP’s legacy exam and became a Master judge in 2012. She then ran for a BJCP representative spot in 2014. She currently holds the rank of Grand Master 11 and also has mead and cider endorsements. Cockerham is president of the BJCP and serves as a Representative for the Midwest region.

QUOTE: “I have judged at well over 300 competitions in the last 17 years and enjoy traveling and judging homebrew and commercial competitions all over the world. My favorite parts of judging are meeting so many great people in addition to helping brewers, cidermakers, and meadmakers.”

AHA Member for 36 years and counting

Drew Beechum

Drew Beechum joined the AHA back in 2001 to help organize the Los Angeles Homebrew Conference with his club, The Maltose Falcons. He’s written for Zymurgy and other beer magazines, been a club officer for 25 years, served on the AHA Governing Committee for nearly a decade, written seven books on the art of home fermentation, and hosts a regular podcast: Experimental Brewing. He was the 2023 HomebrewersAssociation.org recipient of the AHA Governing Committee Recognition Award.

QUOTE: “I am of the fervent belief that fermentation is the closest thing humanity has unlocked to true magic and alchemy. It’s fun and wild and should be enjoyed by one and all—and it’s much better than building another bird house!”

AHA Member for 24 years and counting

Gregory Roskopf

Gregory Roskopf’s love for beer and brewing began while growing up in Milwaukee, Wis., a city rich in brewing history and culture. Starting his homebrewing journey in 2007, Roskopf deepened his passion through membership in the Beer Barons of Milwaukee (former club), the Foam Blowers of Indiana (current club), and his travels across the U.S. and Europe. As a Certified BJCP Judge, he has expanded his knowledge of beer styles to help others and serve the homebrewing community. With 20 years of experience in association management and higher education, Roskopf specializes in membership growth, educational programming, and risk management. As chief risk officer for Tau Kappa Epsilon International Fraternity, he leads an award-winning team, driving membership value and event success. Married with three children who often join him on brew days, Roskopf is dedicated to fostering community and celebrating the art and science of brewing—all while keeping it fun and approachable.

QUOTE: “Homebrewing challenges us to honor tradition while fostering innovation. By advancing the AHA’s mission, we create connections among brewers, cultivate inclusivity, grow our skill sets, and celebrate what truly makes homebrewing special—the people and shared experiences that bring us together.”

AHA Member for more than eight years and counting

Gary Glass

Gary Glass is head brewer at Left Hand Brewing Company in Longmont, Colo. Prior to working for Left Hand, Glass spent 20 years working for the BA in various roles, including 14 years as AHA director. He is a certified BJCP beer judge and is a judge for the prestigious Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup competitions.

QUOTE: “Today, we are fortunate to have flavorful beer brewed in all 50 states by professionals and homebrewers alike. Prior to the founding of the AHA in 1979, that was not the case—there were very few homebrewers, and beer was mostly bland and homogenized. It took a revolution led by homebrewers and the AHA to get us where we are now. It was an honor to be part of the AHA’s journey as director for many years. I’m honored now with the opportunity as a board member to help launch this next chapter in the AHA’s history.”

AHA Member for 25 years and counting

Julia Herz, Staff Liaison

Julia Herz, AHA’s executive director, has more than two decades of experience in brewing, including two prior roles at the BA. Herz is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), BJCP Certified beer judge, Advanced Cicerone®, medal-winning homebrewer, and experienced zymurgist having made beer, mead, and fermented foods since 1994. She is the co-author of Beer Pairing: The Essential Guide from the Pairing Pros (Voyager Press, 2015), the CraftBeer. com Beer & Food Guide, and co-host of the Sense of Beer Style Show. Herz’s accomplishments include creating and publishing Craftbeer.com, the website for craft beer lovers, and passionately leading the promotion of small and independent craft brewers and the independent craft brewer seal, and promoting responsible beer appreciation to mainstream media and beer lovers.

QUOTE: “Here is to innovation and continuing to bring the fun of homebrewing and fermenting to the world. We take the AHA legacy, homebrewers’ importance in our culture, and member needs seriously. This evolution better positions us to deliver on what members are requesting.”

AHA Member for over 25 years and counting

Shawna Cormier is chair of the AHA Founding Board, co-founder of Seattle Beer School, and director of membership and events, Washington Brewers Guild.

Julia Herz is executive director of the American Homebrewers Association. You can follow Julia’s homebrew talks and travels on Instagram @ImmaculateFermentation or contact her at ahaed@brewersassociation.org.

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A version of this article appeared in the March/April 2025 Zymurgy magazine. Access this issue with Zymurgy Online.

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