Homebrew Club Insurance

Insurance enrollment is currently closed. Open enrollment for the 6-month policy period will open February 1st, 2025 and runs through March 1st. This policy term will be March 1, 2025 – September 1, 2025. Your club can sign-up for coverage for only $2.53 per member.

The next enrollment period will be the 2025 6-month policy period starting on February 1, 2025.

Homebrew club members know the fun and the value of being in a club—and the degree of risk that is involved when a group of people gathers to share alcoholic beverages. That risk involves both the venue hosting the club meeting or event and the risk to the club itself if an accident were to occur following a homebrew club gathering.

The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has found a homebrew club insurance product that is a good fit for our membership.

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Overview

To address their exposure, some homebrew clubs have purchased insurance themselves—often at a steep cost, as insurance for individual clubs can be expensive. The AHA-facilitated insurance option provides participating clubs with general liability insurance ($1 million/occurrence; $3 million aggregate) and liquor liability insurance ($1 million/occurrence; $3 million aggregate) that collectively covers both club meetings and club-sponsored events for up to 1,000 attendees—all at a cost to the club of just $5.06 per club member.

2024/2025 Policy Disclaimer: Great American Insurance Group (underwriters) has provided West Insurance a $0.35 increase in the premium per member, bringing the cost per member to $5.06 for the 2024/2025 policy term. The premium rate increase is a typical market increase based on the type of insurance (General Liability) and the exposure around alcohol.

The AHA continues to elect to not take any marketing fees or commissions from this program; this ensures our membership enjoys the absolute lowest premiums possible for the homebrewing community. 

The AHA has partnered with West’s Insurance Agency to bring this program to fruition. The insurance is underwritten by Great American Insurance Company (GAIC), which has an A+ AM Best rating, the highest level rating of an insurer’s financial strength and ability to meet its ongoing obligations.

In addition to the general and liquor liability coverage mentioned above, West’s Insurance also offers a Directors and Officers (D&O) insurance product for homebrew clubs. See below for more details on D&O coverage.

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How to Enroll

The homebrew club insurance policy terms and open enrollment periods for 2023–2024 are listed below. 

POLICY TERM 3/1/2025 TO 9/1/2025:

• Open enrollment starts: 2/1/2025
• Open enrollment ends: 3/1/2025
• Term ends: 9/1/2025
• General Liability and Liquor Liability policy premium
• $2.53 per member

Homebrew clubs must be registered with the AHA to sign up for the insurance plan. To learn more and/or to enroll as a club, please visit West’s Insurance.

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Get your Club Insurance Cost Reimbursed!

Clubs that demonstrate an AHA membership rate of 75% or more (minimum 5 members enrolled in club insurance) are eligible to have their general liability and liquor liability insurance premium payments reimbursed by the American Homebrewers Association. If at least 75% of your club’s members are also AHA members, we will issue a check to reimburse your club’s insurance premium after each open enrollment period ends annually on September 1, December 1, and March 1, depending on which policy term your club is enrolled in. Please allow a couple of months for us to process reports for reimbursement status for your club.

To ensure that your club receives its premium reimbursement, your members need to Join the American Homebrewers Association, and select your club from the drop-down list in the “My Affiliations” section when joining or renewing their memberships. Club members who are already AHA members but did not indicate a club affiliation when joining should log in to their accounts on the AHA website and update their club affiliation. This is a crucial action for your club members to take to ensure you are eligible for premium reimbursement.

Make sure we have your clubs correct mailing address, click here to update.

Directors and Officers Insurance

D&O insurance provides liability coverage for the club’s directors and officers for decisions they make while serving the club in that capacity. Individuals can be held personally liable for these decisions while representing their club and the D&O insurance provides coverage which includes costs to defend the directors, officers, and the club against a lawsuit.

The main difference between the current Homebrew Club Insurance Program and a D&O policy is that the Homebrew Club Program provides coverage for the club’s negligence that causes someone to be physically injured or someone else’s property to be damaged because of a mistake by someone in the club or the club’s activities. The D&O insurance provides coverage if a director, officer, or club is sued by someone based on the decisions made that someone else thinks are wrong.

An example would be if someone alleges that they were discriminated against in the declination of their membership in the club or the removal of an individual’s membership status in the club. Another example would be if a fellow club member files a suit against the club’s officers because they are unhappy with the direction of the club or use of funds, etc.

Pricing Includes:

• Clubs up to 75 members – $300 annual premium
• Clubs 76-150 members – $400 annual premium
• Clubs 151 members and higher – $500
• *The average cost for a club to secure this coverage on an individual basis is $750-$1,000.

The D&O limits:

• $1,000,000 – Per Club
• $5,000,000 – Aggregate – shared by all clubs

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Questions?

Members should note that all coverage-related questions should be directed to West’s Insurance Agency and not the AHA. (Unfortunately, the AHA cannot assist with such inquiries). West’s Insurance Agency, the experts on the homebrew club insurance enrollment and coverage details, will be glad to address your questions.

West’s Insurance Agency presented at Homebrew Con 2015 about the

Homebrew Club Insurance Program [Slides]

Audio

General homebrew insurance policy overview

Homebrew club insurance FAQ

Email Jenny Caldwell, a designated representative at West’s Insurance, or phone (847-623-0456) for inquiries.