(Press Release) GRAND RAPIDS, MI—The National Homebrew Competition boasted one of the most competitive fields of entries ever, with 8,172 homebrews judged in 2014. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) awarded the best homebrewers for their efforts at the conclusion of the National Homebrewers Conference, held at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Mich. With a 45 percent increase in the number... View Article
(Press Release) WHAT: In honor of National Homebrew Day (which falls every year on May 7), each year the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) celebrates AHA Big Brew on the first Saturday in May. This year, throughout the day on May 3, hundreds of bars, breweries, shops and clubs all over the country will host their local communities to brew on-site for a national, same-day homebrewing... View Article
(Press Release) WHAT: The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) hosts a series of AHA Rallies across the country to give homebrewers the chance to check out some of their local breweries and connect with other beer enthusiasts and homebrewers in their area. This upcoming Rally will be held in Winston-Salem, N.C. at Foothills Brewing, and offers the opportunity to take a VIP... View Article
(Press Release) BOULDER, CO—The American Homebrewers Association (AHA)—the not-for-profit trade association serving as a resource and community for homebrewers—released results of a first-ever nationwide homebrewer survey today, a break-down of demographics, brewing habits and shopping behaviors of American homebrewers. According to the survey, there are an estimated 1.2 million homebrewers in the United States, two-thirds of who began brewing... View Article
(Press Release) BOULDER, CO—The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) released the results of its fourth annual Homebrew Supply Shop Survey, detailing the current state of the home beer and wine supply retail industry. The results indicate that, on the whole, shops are thriving as they cater to the growing community of homebrewing enthusiasts.
It typically starts off in a basement or a garage, or perhaps, if you’re lucky, in 10 square feet in the corner of the den.
After the repeal of national prohibition in 1933, only 756 of the nation’s estimated 1,900 pre-prohibition breweries resumed operations. WWII and its aftermath had a further effect on their numbers, with the largest American (and world) brewers buying out smaller breweries.
I used to cleave to the old Groucho Marx adage, “I’d never join a club that would have someone like me as a member.” But that was before I found out about homebrew clubs, which are, by and large, the most welcoming organizations on earth.
In 1980, a homebrew shop, if you could find one, was an unkempt corner of a wine-making shop or Italian hardware store, a few dusty cans of English malt extract crowned by wrinkly packets of dying yeast. On the shelf were boxes or bags optimistically marked “fresh hops,” displaying an autumnal brown glow. Bags of... View Article
