The very best times in the world of beer usually involve great beer, but there’s more to it than that. It’s also about the company you keep and the environment you are in. If you have those three things, you might just create a great memory.

The Master Homebrewer Program (MHP) is changing the competitive brewing landscape in the United States. The program aims to connect brewers from around the country through competition; at the same time, it’s reshaping how the nation’s top brewers compete.

Today’s homebrewers enjoy unprecedented access to purpose-built brewing equipment, but the do-it-yourself spirit remains very much a part of homebrewing culture. Zymurgy’s annual gadgets feature is dedicated to that spirit.