More than 1.1m people brew their own beer at home in the US

Bob Pease, CEO/president of the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association representing small and independent American craft brewers, looks at homebrewing and the opportunity to experience Homebrew Con online from home

Brewers Association Bob Pease

With bars and pubs still firmly shut in the UK, are you a budding homebrewer who’s been using lockdown life to hone your brewing skills? If so, you are not alone…

More than 1.1 million people brew their own beer at home in the States. They are represented by the American Homebrewers Association (AHA), a not-for-profit division of the Brewers Association, dedicated to promoting the community of homebrewers and empowering them to make the best beer in the world.

The AHA was founded in 1978 by homebrew author and past Brewers Association president Charlie Papazian, in Boulder, Colorado, and has more than 46,000 members in the United States and abroad. It hosts the world’s largest beer competition — the National Homebrew Competition (last year there were 9,191 entries judged) — and publishes the homebrewing magazine Zymurgy.

Homebrew Con

It also hosts multiple events promoting homebrewing, cider, and mead making. We have hosted the annual Homebrew Con for the last 42 years, but due to Covid-19 this year’s in-person event is cancelled. However, we are making the event accessible to UK homebrewers via a one-of-a-kind virtual gathering, to learn from the best in the business in the comfort of your home.

Many small and independent American craft brewers began their careers by brewing at home. Several American craft brewers who have their products available in the UK today had their origins in homebrewing, such as Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Doug Odell, of Odell Brewing Co, and Jamil Zainasheff, of Heretic Brewing Co.

Featuring an all-star line up of speakers, Homebrew Con Online is an opportunity to enhance your brewing skills and knowledge wherever you are in the world. Tune in every day from 18th to 20th June for live seminars, demonstrations, virtual expos, meet-ups, and happy hours. If you miss a session, all seminars will be available for replay to registered attendees.

Five reason why you should sign up to Homebrew Con Online

  • Brew better beer — make your beer better using the latest tips and tricks from the top homebrewers and professional brewers in the States, with 20 seminars to help improve your craft.
  • Learn at your speed — join us live or replay sessions at your convenience. Homebrew Con Online is built to bring you information as you want it.
  • Check out the latest gear — watch demonstrations from top brands and explore the virtual expo hall to see the latest equipment. All attendees will also be entered to win awesome homebrew gear from top brands.
  • Deepen your knowledge — learn new brewing techniques and have a forum to ask brewing experts your questions.
  • Connect with other homebrewers — Homebrew Con Online has meet-ups, happy hours and more that will connect you with the super fun homebrewing community.

For more information about Homebrew Con Online and to register, visit homebrewcon.org

About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.

The BA represents 4,000-plus US breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers.

The BA organises events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week.

The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the largest publisher of brewing literature in the US.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru mobile app.