Hello, friends and American Homebrewers Association community,
I wanted to update you and introduce myself if we have never had a chance to meet. My name is Julia, and I’m beyond thrilled to be the new Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA). I’m also proud to have been an AHA member since 1995 (yes you read that right) when Charlie Papazian picked my name out of a top hat at a Colorado beer festival and I won a membership to the AHA.
Like each of you and the AHA, my professional and personal story is still being written:
1991: I brewed my first batch of homebrew. It was a Scotch Ale (extract kit). We put in way too much corn sugar, but it still rocked;
1993: Left my job at CNN and traveled across the U.S. as we camped in National Parks and National Forest and toured breweries. On this trip, I volunteered at the Great American Beer Festival;
1998-2001: Association of Brewers (AOB) Sales Manager;
2001: Left the AOB, had two children and became Vice-President at Redstone Meadery;
2007: Brewers Association (BA) Craft Beer Program Director directly contributing to the advancement of craft beer and craft breweries
2020: Laid off from the BA due to COVID caused layoffs
2021: December 1 started with the AHA
I am devoted to promoting responsible appreciation, all the while having brewed more than a hundred batches of beer receiving multiple awards, including a 2003 Silver Medal from the National Homebrew Competition for my and my husband Greg’s Old Ale. I genuinely believe in the reward and value of the hobby and showcase this to the world daily via the hose clamp that has been on my right index finger for more than ten years.
In the years to come, I look forward to an ongoing dialog and keeping you updated on opportunities and resources via the AHA. If there is anything you want to share with me directly DM me via Twitter @HerzMuses, and I’d welcome following you back too.
Cheers, good beers to you each, and here is to seeing many of you this June 23-25 in Pittsburgh, PA for Homebrew Con and the National Homebrew Competition.
Welcome aboard! A few years’ back I was in a writers’ workshop where I mentioned AHA and a writing colleague (who does not brew) shared, “what an amazing country we live in that we have a homebrewers’ association.” We may be many different brewers coming from many different perspectives, but to quote another observer, we are united in our belief that “malted barley wants to become beer.” I look forward to your leadership.
