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Boulder, Colo. • December 6, 2018 – On Friday, December 7, the American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) celebrates its 40th birthday. Founded in 1978 by Charlie Papazian, the AHA has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community for four decades, serving tens of thousands of members, plus the 1.1 million homebrewers nationwide, with events, publications, resources, and more.

“At a time when most American-made beers were light-tasting lagers, Charlie started a movement that showed people how to brew their own full-flavored beers and cultivate their craft, turning brewing into careers for some and comradery and community for many,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association.

Homebrewing History

January 17, 1920: Prohibition begins as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect, banning the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol, including beer made at home.

Prohibition begins as the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution went into effect, banning the manufacture, sale and transportation of alcohol, including beer made at home. December 5, 1933: The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, however, the repeal’s legislation mistakenly left out the legalization of home beer making (home wine making was legalized at that time).

The 21st Amendment repealed Prohibition, however, the repeal’s legislation mistakenly left out the legalization of home beer making (home wine making was legalized at that time). October 14, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, creating an exemption from taxation of beer brewed at home for personal or family use.

President Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337, creating an exemption from taxation of beer brewed at home for personal or family use. December 7, 1978: AHA is formed with the publication of the first issue of Zymurgy ® magazine.

AHA is formed with the publication of the first issue of Zymurgy magazine. February 1, 1979: Homebrewing becomes legal on a federal level in the U.S.

Homebrewing becomes legal on a federal level in the U.S. May 5, 1979: AHA holds first ever National Homebrew Competition and Gala Homebrewers Ball.

AHA holds first ever National Homebrew Competition and Gala Homebrewers Ball. September 1984: Charlie Papazian publishes The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, widely regarded as the bible for homebrewers.

Charlie Papazian publishes The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, widely regarded as the bible for homebrewers. May 2, 1988: Representative David Skaggs of Colorado declares May 7th as National Homebrew Day before Congress.

Representative David Skaggs of Colorado declares May 7th as National Homebrew Day before Congress. May 31, 2005: The first year of the famous Great American Beer Festival ® Pro-Am competition where AHA members teamed up with professional brewers to scale up their award-winning recipes. The AHA estimates that at least 90 percent of professional brewers began as homebrewers.

The first year of the famous Great American Beer Festival Pro-Am competition where AHA members teamed up with professional brewers to scale up their award-winning recipes. The AHA estimates that at least 90 percent of professional brewers began as homebrewers. September 1, 2012: The White House reveals its homebrewing recipes. Although many of the nation’s founding fathers were homebrewers, White House Honey Ale is the first beer known to have been brewed in the White House.

The White House reveals its homebrewing recipes. Although many of the nation’s founding fathers were homebrewers, White House Honey Ale is the first beer known to have been brewed in the White House. 2013: Alabama and Mississippi legalize homebrewing, officially making homebrew legal in all 50 states.

Alabama and Mississippi legalize homebrewing, officially making homebrew legal in all 50 states. December 2016: AHA hosts the first-ever Hill Staff Homebrew Competition.

AHA hosts the first-ever Hill Staff Homebrew Competition. 2018: 1.1 million homebrewers produced and estimated 1.4 million barrels of beer, or one percent of total U.S. beer production.

“The AHA helped take homebrewing from outlawed to mainstream,” added Glass. “The homebrewing revolution started by the founding of the AHA and became a catalyst for the explosive growth of today’s craft brewing community. Who could have predicted that Charlie’s simple wooden spoon, ingenuity, and passion would spawn a community of more than one million homebrewers and 7,000 small and independent U.S. craft breweries.”

To celebrate its 40th anniversary, the AHA is offering a 24-hour flash sale on December 7 with a 40 percent discount on digital memberships. View details on the American Homebrewers Association website.

Contact

Alex Kofsky, on behalf of the American Homebrewers Association, (212) 255-75417

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About the American Homebrewers Association: The American Homebrewers Association® (AHA) has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 46,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association organizes events including Homebrew Con™ and the National Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy® magazine for homebrewers and beer lovers, and offers money-saving deals and recipes via the Brew Guru® mobile app. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association (BA), whose independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers. The BA’s Brewers Publications® division is the leading publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers and anyone interested in making their own beer are invited to learn more at HomebrewersAssociation.org. Follow the AHA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.