Hello BrewBama, Amy Martin, mainbrewer, Megary, HopDen Skeeter686, BrewenWKooperCat, tommemorris, pete b, Wilber, pv, Drewch, Fire Rooster, YnotBrewsum, Denny and everyone taking your valuable time to read this.
Thank you for this thread and the time behind all your comments, questions, and input. LOTS to unpack and learn from, and I'm here to do just that as a homebrewer, AHA member since the 1990's and advocate.
Homebrew Shipping
Getting at the legality of homebrew shipping to competitions is of interest, especially since it's a top topic members ask about and mention in our surveys. From my Zymurgy Jan/Feb 2023 column:
Today, we stand ready to do the same for shipping and assist unified state efforts where homebrew clubs and state brewers guilds are in sync. Please get in touch with us if your club or state has active efforts, and for those wanting to know about this issue’s history, check out Brewers Association Continues Efforts to Legalize USPS Shipping of Alcohol. Here is a link to that article
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/news/brewers-association-continues-efforts-to-legalize-usps-shipping-of-alcohol/.
In my new tenure as your Executive Director, I’m looking to learn where the roadblocks exist and what opportunities can be created. Reaching out to private carriers (UPS / Fed Ex) is in the works. If anyone has contacts please send them my way.
Clubs
In 2022 I gave more than 60 presentations (in-person or virtual), with many at homebrew clubs. For example, I spoke at the state brewers guild conference in North Carolina (Winston-Salem), reached out to all area homebrew clubs in advance of my trip to see if we could connect and also visited Bull City Homebrew Shop in Durham. What a great trip that was, and one day I'd love to be able to say I got to connect directly with clubs/homebrewers in every state (and beyond the U.S.) on behalf of the AHA. That will take time and invitations. Here is our updated speaker request
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/contact-us/virtual-in-person-speaking-engagement-request/. The longer in advance, the better, plus AHA Governing Committee members are options for speaking too. Additionally, one by one, I'm doing outreach to all of the 2K+ clubs in our list
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/homebrew-clubs/find-a-homebrew-club/.
For homebrew-centric travels, please consider following me on @immaculatefermentation. Speaking of travel my next trip is to Chicago for the first week in February and I’m excited to get the chance to homebrew with the CHAOS homebrew club. Anyone who wants to join us please DM me direct or email.
Cheers to all and the chance to learn from you, and for knowing that the AHA is looking toward the future of homebrewing and where we can all collectively advance the hobby.
Julia
julia@brewersassociation.org
@immaculatefermentation