The American Homebrewers Association at the Great American Beer Festival

October 10–12, 2024 | Denver, Colorado

Welcome to AHA at GABF. We’re excited!

For 2024, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) is pleased to offer AHA members the option to gather surrounded by layers of beer appreciation, education, and off-the-charts networking at the who’s who of U.S. beer gatherings. We look forward to celebrating homebrewers on a national stage and hosting the National Homebrew Competition awards at the country’s largest beer festival, first hosted by the AHA in 1982.

What’s On Tap

*Information subject to change

Have you been to GABF? It gathers more beer lovers, brewers, judges, and beer/beverage media than any other event worldwide. Get ready for laughing and learning and three days of WOW-level beer experiences served up in Denver, Colorado… the Munich of the West.

Day One
Wednesday, Oct. 9
Day Two
Thursday, Oct. 10
Day Three
Friday, Oct. 11
Day Four
Saturday, Oct. 12

6:30 – 9:30 PM

Club Night [Tentative]

Denver Beer Co.

Attendee advance registration + proof of membership required (bring your AHA card!)

Pending club interest, the AHA has secured a brewery location (thank you, Denver Beer Co.), which is ready to offer behind-the-scenes access and exclusive tours of its Jason Street production facility that the public doesn’t normally get to see). Homebrew clubs, please indicate your interest here by July 1.

4:00 – 5:00 PM

AHA Member Gathering

Colorado Convention Center, Room 401 and 402

Thursday Night GABF ticket + proof of membership required (bring your AHA card!)

Advance registration required with limited capacity

Join your fellow AHA Members and AHA Committee Members for a kick-off toast and a chance to review the wild and wonderful event ahead, along with AHA 2025 plans in the making. Registration opens July 16.

5:30 – 9:15 PM

Homebrew Headquarters- An AHA Member Exclusive

Colorado Convention Center, Festival Hall

Thursday Night GABF ticket + proof of membership required (bring your AHA card!)

Inside ‘Homebrew HQ’, the exclusive GABF area for AHA members, you will be privy to one of THE most special areas inside the festival.

1 GABF Pro-Am Booth

Hosted since 2005, this is the premiere U.S. competition bringing together pro brewers and homebrewers who collaboratively brew and vie for a GABF medal in a best-of-show style competition. Located inside Homebrew HQ, AHA members will sip and sample 2024 entries in advance of Saturday’s GABF awards.

2 Homebrew Rockstars

Sip and learn from top beeroes as they personally serve you their homebrew and provide an overview of the brewing process, ingredients, and story behind each brew. Rockstar lineup includes (with more to come):

Mark Boelman

WeizGuys Homebrew Club

Duncan Bryant

HomebrewersAssociation.org

Rusty Burrel

@RustyBarrelHomebrewing

Stephanie and Mike Butler

Kansas City Bier Meisters Club

Julia Herz

AHA Executive Director

Stan Hieronymus

Writer/Author

Joaquin Quiroz Jr

QUAFF Homebrew Club

Joe and Julie Rose

Kansas City Bier Meisters Club

Matthew Neilson and Dan Short

Hogtown Brewers Club

Jim and Meagan Thompson

Oregon Brew Crew Club

Amahl Turczyn

Zymurgy Magazine

3 Brewing Demonstration

Smell, sip, and learn as you check out AHA’s live homebrewing demonstration (1 per session) from leaders who show you, first hand, how they brew.

4 Craft Beer and Homebrewing History Exhibit

A perfect selfie spot and tour through history, homebrewing and the U.S. craft beer movement.

5 You Be the Judge (6:30–9:00 pm)

Taste beer like a pro with a GABF or Beer Judge Certification (BJCP) Judge to test your skills, sessions are 15 minutes each. Sign up once inside Homebrew HQ.

6 Homebrew Marketplace

Shop and save with some of today’s top supply partners devoted to homebrewing products and services.

5:30 – 9:30 PM

AHA Membership Booth

Colorado Convention Center, Festival Hall positioned right outside Homebrew HQ.

Thursday Night GABF ticket required

Meet your AHA staff members and renew or sign up for AHA membership.

6:30 – 7:30 PM

National Homebrew Competition (NHC) Awards Ceremony

Colorado Convention Center, Festival Hall Karaoke Stage

Thursday Night GABF ticket required

In 1979, 34 entries competed in the first NHC held in Boulder, Colorado. Since 2023, 162,710 entries have been evaluated. The NHC is the largest homebrew competition in the world. Watch the awards LIVE.

8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Beer Judge Certification Program Exams

Colorado Convention Center, Room 401

Pre-registration direct with the BJCP required. No GABF ticket required.

8:30 – 10:30 AM

BJCP Cider Exam

10:45 AM – 12:45 PM

BJCP Mead Judging Exam

1:00 – 3:00 PM

BJCP Beer Tasting Exam

1:00 – 3:00 PM

BJCP Beer Writing Exam

1:30 – 2:45 PM

Bootcamp for Club Officers

Colorado Convention Center, Room 402

Friday Night GABF ticket + proof of membership required (bring your AHA card!)

Advance registration required with limited capacity

Club officers come prepared to share resources and best practices to learn from and help your peers. Attendance will include AHA Committee members and club officer/representatives from AHA Sanctioned Homebrew Clubs. Registration opens July 16.

3:00 – 4:00 PM