The American Homebrewers Association National Homebrewers Conference and National Homebrew Competition were the biggest yet. And the fun that happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas as hundreds of happy homebrewers went home with memories of four days of beer and fun.

They don’t call it nectar of the gods for nothing. One sip of mead can launch an exploration that could wind up with you opening your own meadery. Just as David Myers of Redstone Meadery.

For those who seek simplicity in their fermenting life, cider is a good choice. You can keep it as simple or make it as complicated as you like. Dick Dunn, moderator of the Cider Digest, gets you started.

Making sake really isn’t all that difficult–it just takes time and attention to details, such as measuring by volume, not weight. Fred Eckhardt leads you through the steps to making quality sake.

Pulque was once considered a gift from the gods, reserved for the ruling class. It has been called magical because of its spontaneous fermentation and is even known as an aphrodisiac. Modern homebrewers can make a variation of this ancient drink.

The United States may be a relative newbie in world of brewing, with less than 400 years of brewing history under our belts. But American brewers have put their mark on the world’s brewing landscape. In honor of American Beer Month, we take a look at four American beers–Anchor Steam, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, Pete’s Wicked Ale and Widmer Hefeweizen–that define new American styles.

Back in Jauary, we asked you for the second year to name your favorite commercial beers available in the U.S. market. We received 757 votes for 399 different beers from 102 different breweries, then tabulated the results. There were plenty of repeats, but a new order of favorites.

Who are the biggest craft brewers in the land? Our Association of Brewers stats list production totals for the top specialty brewing companies, regional breweries, microbreweries, and brewpubs.

There’s more to beer judging than drinking free beer. It takes a lot of hard work to properly evaluate beer, but the rewards are many. With proper preparation and plenty of practice, you can become an experienced beer evaluator.