Hello everyone in Forum land. 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. Also thank you to those members who provided input already and have stepped up to volunteer.
Today (2/27/25) we just published an comprehensive update and call for member comments on HomebrewersAssociation.org. We hope you read it and comment on the AHA’s new vision and stratetic priorities. READ IT HERE.
The purpose of this Forum thread is a 24-hour call (this post will close on 2/28 at 9 MT) for member conversation and questions with your new Founding Board.
So…what questions do you have for AHA’s Board and what is on your mind as we construct AHA’s new future?
Additionally we hope you will join us for the upcoming Zymurgy Live Town Hall with AHA’s Founding Board on 3/18. Details here.
=========Update 2/28/25
Now that our 24-hour Q&A has closed we want to thank EVERYONE who took the time to read, engage or lurk (you know who you are and all good). Even though this specific Forum topic is now closed does not mean the conversation will not continue. As a matter of fact we are just…getting started and expect monthly updates on AHA’s independence through 2025. You can also start your own Forum topic at anytime and you never know who might just chime in. Cheers, good beers to you each and here is to AHA’s bright and promising future.
What is the role of the AHA and what is the goal? Are you here to promote the hobby and encourage new homebrewers or are you going to be a platform to connect current homebrewers to retailers?
What was the role of the AHA under the Brewers Association and how is it going to change?
Are we not going to have a HomeBrew Con again until 2028? What is the future of GABF, and is AHA still going to be associated with it by going independent? GABF has been on a rapid decline and combining HoneBrew Con with GABF has made me rethink renewing my AHA membership.
Two great questions. Expect 2025 to be the same with AHA member leaders taking a look at everything AHA does for future consideration (2026 and beyond) evolution or continuing as usual.
28? No, the current priority is to have a Con in 26. We got pinched on timing (due to things around the split) and couldn’t put on a show for this year.
I’ll let Julia chime in on the stuff about the BA, but here’s what we put together as a vision statement:
We celebrate, educate, and promote the art, science, and joy of fermentation, championing a united community of today and tomorrow’s homebrewers .
It’s very much our mission to do both - bring new people into the fold, share the love of this very silly serious thing we do and keep people growing and learning.
No question, just an observation. Having followed the recent upheaval from afar (I’m based in New Zealand), I’m really impressed in the positive action taken here. Separating from the BA seems like a very good response to the various criticisms raised recently. I’m also impressed with the quality of the board. I’ve been lucky enough to judge at WBC/GABF with Julia and Gary in the past (hey you two - if you remember the Kiwi with the bad dad jokes) and they are absolutely top quality people, so I’m sure the rest of the board are also. I haven’t been a home brewer in many years, but I remain a member to support the growth of this hobby and it looks like it’s in good hands.
That’s all really, I just wanted to provide a bit of positive reinforcement from the other side of the world when it seems there’s been so much negativity of late. Rock on and drink up!
Hello chai130. Thank you for hanging with the AHA despite your reservations from 2024. Answers to your questions:
-The AHA is taking steps to bring back Homebrew Con (AHA’s annual inperson gathering) begining in 2026 as our own stand alone event.
-Re: GABF: In 2025 expect to see the AHA have a presense at GABF (the Great American Beer Festival) in Denver in October in the form of a membership booth and also Pro-Am competition. That is similar to 2023 and earlier. AHA at GABF (you mentioned this) was a one year only event tied to GABF in 2024. We get that it was not what many members were hoping for and was not meant to replace Homebrew Con (that was paused due to finalical constraints).
-I hope we get to see you at HBC in 2026 and stay tuned for annoucements on where and when later this year.
Great questions. Since Drew answers the future of the AHA, I’ll chime in on the past/current status The AHA has always been an individual membership group under the umbrella of the 501(c)(6) Brewers Association. Our goal has been to “protect, unite, and educate homebrewers while empowering an equitable homebrewing culture and showcasing the fun of fermenting.” Now that we’re going independent we’re developing a new mission/vision, goals, and strategic priorities specifically tied to the joy of homebrewing!
Hey hey Homebrew_kev. The change is AHA is taking steps to independence from the BA. We filed for incorporation on 1/22 and pending is filing for 501(c)(3) status, We expect to maintain connections with the BA as a companion organization and partners in beer appreciation but neither organization will have a formal role in the other. The full change will begin before the end of 2025 (transtion will take multiple months). New will be the AHA has our own Founding Board, budgets, staff and plan who lead and construct AHA’s present and future.
Important piece of “inside baseball” that I don’t think most people will get - until this change, the Governing Committee couldn’t really “govern” - it was more Advisory and Volunteery. (e.g. “hey I think we should do X” or “I can help do Y”) and the AHA itself couldn’t make changes without approval from the larger Org. It was a very tightly coupled cog in the greater machine of the BA.
Now - if we want to make a change, we can. It’s our hands (Julia and the Board) on the steering wheel for good or for ill.
and all good). Even though this specific Forum topic is now closed does not mean the conversation will not continue. As a matter of fact we are just…getting started and expect monthly updates on AHA’s independence through 2025. You can also start your own Forum topic at anytime and you never know who might just chime in. Cheers, good beers to you each and here is to AHA’s bright and promising future.
