[Pictured above: Back row, AHA founding board members Gary Glass, Drew Beechum, and Greg Roskopf; front row, Sandy Cockerham, Shawna Cormier (chair), and Julia Herz (AHA executive director).]
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By Shawna Cormier (Chair, AHA Founding Board) and Julia Herz (Executive Director, American Homebrewers Association)
Hello, American Homebrewers Association (AHA) members and the world’s homebrewing community. We are excited to share some important updates. Since our January 22, 2025, announcement that the AHA is incorporating to become an independent organization from the Brewers Association (BA), we received very positive feedback from many members and partners. With your involvement, our positive steps will help us keep pace, evolve, innovate, grow, and continue to serve you and the amazing hobby of homebrewing and fermenting in new ways. Also thank you to those members who provided input already and have stepped up to volunteer.
Highlights on what the newly seated AHA founding board did during our strategic retreat on Feb 10–11, 2025, include:
- Drafted, for member comment, an AHA vision for 2025: We celebrate, educate, and promote the art, science, and joy of fermentation, championing a united community of today and tomorrow’s homebrewers.
- Documented AHA’s year one strategic priorities with action items supporting these priorities pending:
- Organiziation Strength & Health
- Knowledge & Learning
- Community, Collaboration & Competition
- Confirmed future plans for a 2026 return of Homebrew Con, 2026 board elections, and a 50th Anniversary celebration in 2028.
- Worked on confirming founding board officers, new committees, and a board member task force to support the AHA transition, including the creation of charters (pending for Spring 2025).
- Confirmed AHA will apply to be a 501(c)(3) over other 501(c) options.
Notables
- On Jan. 22 the AHA filed for incorporation in the state of Colorado.
- At the board’s request, the AHA extended the National Homebrew Competition (NHC) entry window to Feb 28.
- The board reviewed AHA’s finances and membership revenue, and discussed the importance of establishing new member benefits and events.
- Discussed establishing the AHA fiscal year cycle, drafting a reserves policy, term of service for this transition board, and future elections of new board members in 2026.
- Continued the search to hire an Association Management Companies (AMC) to carry out AHA’s day-to-day operations for hire by March 2025, with plans for the AHA to fully transition from the BA to the new AMC before the end of 2025.
We heard from many who desire more involvement, and we welcome more robust participation. There are multiple opportunities, including:
- Inviting member input on the new vision and strategic priorities by the founding board, as listed above. Please use this form to register comments by March 25.
- Encouraging our members’ assistance to help us execute our many shared goals—volunteer here.
- Joining the founding board on Feb 27 and 28 for a 24-hour Q&A on the AHA Forum and on the March 18 Zymurgy Live Town Hall.
- Signing up to get the AHA’s What’s Brewing newsletter here.
- Entering the 47th NHC to compete with AHA members worldwide. The entry window has been extended to Feb. 28. Enter here.
- Renewing or joining the AHA to be part of this incredible history as it unfolds here.
We continue to appreciate your support, excitement, and opinions as we work toward a bright and sustainable mission-focused future. We are thrilled about the future of our organization, and for your collaboration.
Cheers.
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