The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) Founding Board is proud to recognize Sandy Cockerham as the 2026 AHA Advocacy Award (formerly the Recognition Award) winner, honoring her decades of service to homebrewing, beer evaluation, and the people who make this hobby more generous and welcoming.
The AHA Advocacy Award is the homebrewing world’s top achievement, identifying the individual who has made the most meaningful, lasting impact in support of the American Homebrewers Association and the broader homebrewing community. This award recognizes those whose efforts will benefit homebrewers and the AHA for generations to come.
A native of Indiana, Sandy’s path into beer started in Indiana around 1983, when a few chemists at work introduced her to English ales at a local pub. Not long after, she found homebrewing in the late 1980s and never looked back.
Since then, Sandy has become one of the most respected judges and volunteer leaders in the homebrewing community. She took her first Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) exam in 2007, earning a National score under the BJCP’s legacy exam, and became a Master judge in 2012. She currently holds the rank of Grand Master 11, as well as mead and cider endorsements.
Her volunteer service extends beyond the judging table. Sandy currently serves as BJCP president and the Midwest region representative. She is a longtime AHA member since, and has served as a longtime volunteer leader, most recently as a member of the AHA Founding Board. In that role, she helped shape the AHA as a new, independent organization.
“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,” said Cockerham. “My favorite parts of judging are meeting so many great people in addition to helping brewers, cidermakers, and meadmakers.” From English ales in Indiana to competition tables across the globe, Sandy’s work reflects the best of homebrewing: curiosity, service, skill, and community. The AHA is grateful to Sandy for her leadership, her deep commitment to judging education, and her many years of helping brewers, cidermakers, and meadmakers.
Sandy joins a distinguished group of homebrewing leaders recognized by the AHA since 1998. See all past AHA Advocacy Award winners here.
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