For 48 years, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) has existed because homebrewers chose to build something amazing together as a membership group.
Not investors.Not shareholders.Homebrewers.
That spirit is exactly what makes this moment, and this news post, so meaningful. It’s not every day a community can announce approval from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service of both a 501(c)(6) membership association and a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, and that is what we are announcing.
Following the transition and a new approach to the Executive Director role in 2021, a role I’ve been honored to fill since then, the AHA began documenting organizational gaps and opportunities.
Why?
One of the biggest questions I kept pondering was: How do we preserve our community and what members love about the AHA while expanding what homebrewing and the association can become? The answer, as we later learned in 2025, was to build complementary nonprofits to serve both goals and go independent from the parent organization AHA was coupled to.
Interesting sidenote: Way back in 1978, the AHA originally formed as a (c)(3) under Charlie Papazian, Charlie Matzen, and a band of motivated, merry, and maverick homebrewers. Once again, this same status allows the AHA to expand public education and outreach efforts behind homebrewing and membership work, and at the same time open doors to grants and charitable donations.
Originally, when planning to become independent from the Brewers Association (BA), the AHA was only looking at forming as a new (c)(3). However, having both IRS classifications gives the AHA the flexibility to continue to serve members under the (c)(6) while advancing broader fundraising efforts and work behind the cultural, historical, and societal importance of homebrewing under the (c)(3). Lofty words…I know.
Members Built Independence
In a process that required many, many months of planning and coordination with volunteer leaders, staff, and professional advisors, the most important ingredient was member support. Your membership confirms that homebrewing merits a dedicated national organization, and we deliver value. Simply put, your belief made independence possible.
Across many eras, a huge hat’s off to the AHA’s thousands of pre- and post-COVID volunteers, including the former Governing Committee (GC), dozens of other collective committees, hundreds of National Homebrew Competition and Homebrew Con volunteers, the AHA’s post-independence Founding Board, and the collective new volunteer member leaders who have stepped up to sit on our now-nine-active committees.
Additionally, the AHA’s transition was made possible through cooperation across many partners, including the BA, whose board of directors and staff support helped ensure continuity as the AHA established its independent future.
What This Means for You
These new IRS-designated nonprofits ensure homebrewers themselves guide the AHA. This milestone belongs to the entire homebrewing community.
Expanded Education and Outreach
New charitable programs can introduce more people to brewing. The hobby’s national organization is guided by its community.
Grant and Donation Opportunities
New fundraising efforts will help grow our reach and impact.
Long-Term Stability
Independent nonprofit status strengthens the AHA’s future sustainability.
Why Colorado and Texas?
Because both states are now tied to the AHA’s heritage and new path. Colorado is where the AHA was founded in 1978, and where modern American homebrewing and the craft beer movement, which grew out of homebrewing, helped take root and now homebase to our new c6 membership org.
Today, Texas is where AHA’s new operational team is based, and where much of our daily organizational work is done by our Association Management Company, Strategic Association Management. Establishing our c3 charitable entity in Texas supports efficient operations while strengthening our national and global work.
Now for a little Nonprofit 101. While the structure may sound complex, it simply reflects how the AHA is organized to best serve members and the broader homebrewing community. These two nonprofits work together: the Colorado-based membership organization maintains the AHA’s historic roots and member governance, while the Texas-based AHA Foundation advances educational and charitable programs aligned with our operational home. Though the Foundation is not a membership entity, members will have many opportunities to support and fuel its work, which in turn strengthens the AHA as a whole.
Now What?
Anything goes! Initial committees, organization priorities, bylaws, and policies…these can and should be updated to keep pace with new needs. New committees will be formed to fuel the on-the-ground work, and member benefits will ebb and flow based on what is most valued by (you guessed it) you, the AHA members.
We have stakeholders, and independence was made possible by stakeholder members who believe homebrewing deserves its own future. Also good to point out that, from the AHA’s new strategic plan, our values are Community, Education, Joy, and Volunteerism. Here is to all those things and the FUN of the world’s most rewarding hobby. Cheers.
Julia Herz is executive director of the American Homebrewers Association, an Advanced Cicerone®, a Certified BJCP Judge, a Certified Association Executive (C.A.E.) an author, and a homebrewer. You can follow Julia’s homebrew adventures on Instagram @ImmaculateFermentation. A version of this news post will also appear in Zymurgy Magazine, May/June 2026.
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