Introducing the 2026 BJCP Mead Style Guidelines
Description Judges and meadmakers will learn how the guidelines are changed so that meads can be entered and judged correctly in the future. New styles will be explained in detail so they can be properly recognized, evaluated, and enjoyed. About the…
Kettle Sour Brewing
Description Kettle souring is a two-stage brewing method in which the wort is first mashed and lightly boiled for sanitation, then inoculated with Lactobacillus to develop acidity before undergoing a final full boil. Since the souring occurs entirely in the kettle, brewers can minimize the…
Making Raw Ale, the Easy Beer!
Description A short history of raw ale brewing, the quick down and dirty of how to brew a raw ale, a little more in-depth of the "why's and why-nots", and how incorporate raw ale into your regular brewing practices and vice versa. And, of course,…
Mexican Christmas Beer: A Celebration, Not a Style
Description Explore a beer "style" that grew out of people celebrating the holiday season by gifting beer! Mexican Christmas Beer has an interesting space in the history of holiday celebration in Mexico, as well as how it reflects the changes in the Mexican brewing ecosystem.…
Mind the Gap: Keeping Members Engaged Between Monthly Meetings
Description Is your club stuck in a "once-a-month" rut? Join Brewers Anonymous to learn how to bridge the gap using a powerful digital ecosystem. Discover actionable strategies for integrating a functional website, a persistent Discord community, and consistent social media content to keep members engaged…
Mind the Gap: Keeping Members Engaged Between Monthly Meetings
Description Is your club stuck in a "once-a-month" rut? Join Brewers Anonymous to learn how to bridge the gap using a powerful digital ecosystem. Discover actionable strategies for integrating a functional website, a persistent Discord community, and consistent social media content to keep members…
Modern Sensory Science and the Art of Homebrewing
Description Author Randy Mosher has spent the last six years researching and writing a book called Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer and Other Pleasures, which covers every imaginable aspect of tasting and flavor creation. Really two sides of the same coin,…
Modern Sensory Science and the Art of Homebrewing
Description Author Randy Mosher has spent the last six years researching and writing a book called Your Tasting Brain: A Sensory Approach to Wine, Beer and Other Pleasures, which covers every imaginable aspect of tasting and flavor creation. Really two sides of the same coin,…
Optimizing Your Brewing Process with Finings and Enzymes
About the Speaker I began homebrewing in 2013 and quickly became obsessed with craft beer. In 2016, I left my career in property management and started working in sales at a regional brewery in Southern California called Hangar 24 Craft Brewing. Within 2 years, I…
Phenolic Compounds in Beer: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Description Phenolics are compounds found in all plant matter, including barley and hops, and are therefore always present in beer. The types and amounts of phenols in beer may affect the appearance, flavor, and aroma of beer. These perceptions may be either positive or negative.…
Plebeian Pairings: It Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy to Be Great!
Description Pairing beer with food doesn't have to be fancy to be delicious! A hands-on talk with snacks! We will touch on the principles of food pairings while walking through four real-world examples. Let's explore how the flavors of beer and any food can work…
Quality Across the Brew: The Importance of Water Testing for Brewers
Description Water plays a critical role in brewing exceptional beers. Water composes 90% of beer, its chemical makeup impacts, flavor, aroma, and overall quality. Through mineralogical testing, brewers can achieve consistency across batches, customize water profiles for specific beer styles (IPA, stouts, etc) and ensure…
Recipes That Work: Creating, Adapting, and Cloning Your Way to Better Beer
Description Recipes are the foundation of brewing, and the one thing in the process that we control completely. Join Josh Weikert of BYO's "Replicator" and CB&B's "Make Your Best" series to discuss original recipe creation, adaptation of existing recipes to your system and process, and…
Sensory Analysis for Personal Enjoyment: Finding YOUR Favorite Beers
Description Sensory analysis isn't just for judging: it can be used to identify and structure your own preferences as a brewer and beer drinker! BJCP Grand Master and Certified Cicerone Josh Weikert will share tips, techniques, and processes for tasting that will help brewers identify…
Stone Brewing for Raw Ale
Description We have been studying Raw Ales and the process involved in making these beers for many years. Our search has taken us to the Norwegian Farmhouse Ale Festival '25 in Hornindal, Norway - to sample and see how the process is done today…
Table Beer: Big Flavor with Lower Alcohol
Description Looking for a way to bring big flavors to lower alcohol beers? Have you ever wanted a forgiving way to create multiple beers from a single boil? Brewing mixed culture table beers can be an easy way to create flavorful, low-alcohol beers. This methodology…
Taste Smarter: 4 Tips to Improve Your Beer Judging Approach
Description Judging is an invaluable way to support your peers and help them continue refining their beers. While the ability to perceive and identify beer characteristics is essential, the true impact of judging lies in how clearly and effectively you communicate those observations. Whether you're…
Tasting History: Brewing Historic Beers
Description Interpreting historic recipes including ingredients and processes to encourage new and experienced brewers to expand their brewing portfolio to include beers from the past. About the Speaker Homebrewing for 13 years. Club member and officer for…
The 50-Year-Old Virgin: Homebrewing Insights from a Rookie
Description "I'm never going to homebrew. I don't have the space…I don't like IPAs…and I don't have a beard and/or man-bun." What does homebrewing look like to an outsider? What are the barriers to entry? And what finally gets them going after years of resistance?…
The AI-Powered Pint: Bitters, Bytes, and Better Beer
Description Unlock the potential of Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize your brew day. This session explores how AI acts as a digital mentor, analyzing fermentation data and water chemistry to achieve BJCP-level precision. From recipe formulation to troubleshooting off-flavors with predictive modeling, learn practical ways…
The Basics of Growing Hops and Using Whole Cone Hops in Your Recipes
Description Growing hops is easier than you think and can be done even in the American Southeast. You will learn how to select your plants, where to grow them, when to harvest, how to brew with fresh hops and how to preserve them for future…
The Invisible Enemies of Beer: Contamination Control
Description Contamination is one of the most common and frustrating challenges in homebrewing. This session takes a science-based approach to understanding how microbes enter and persist in brewing environments, where contamination risks are highest, and how to prevent them. Attendees will learn to recognize early…
What Every Homebrewer Needs to Know About Brewery Finances
Description Thinking about turning your passion into a brewery? This session breaks down the financial realities of going pro before you invest a dollar. Learn the key numbers, costs, and cash flow considerations that separate thriving breweries from struggling ones. Designed for homebrewers considering the…
Writing Better Scoresheets
Description In this session we'll discuss actionable steps judges can take to write better scoresheets, offer better feedback to brewers, and in the process score higher on your next tasting exam. We'll cover tasting strategies and methods to improve your flavor vocabulary, along with…
You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Spreadsheet: Analysis of NHC Data 2023 to Today
Description The 2026 NHC generated over 3,600 entries from 754 cities, 47 states, and 7 countries. This session digs into what that data actually says, exploring entry patterns, geographic reach, style trends, and entrant behavior to paint a detailed picture of competitive homebrewing in America.…
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