Nation’s Best Homebrews Awarded in Beervana

Over 3,200 homebrewers and beer enthusiasts gathered at the 40th Annual Homebrewers Conference presented by the American Homebrewers Association^® (AHA) from June 28th to 30th, 2018, at the Oregon Convention Center, where they attended seminars, bonded over brews and had their beers judged in the world’s largest beer competition.

On June 28, Homebrew Con’s opening day, the US Senate passed a resolution honoring the 40th year of the AHA and its founder, Charlie Papazian, who was the conference’s keynote speaker.

Since 1979, the AHA National Homebrew Competition has recognized the most outstanding homemade beer, mead and cider produced by homebrewers worldwide each year. This year’s submissions included 8,405 entries from 3,517 homebrewers located in 50 states, Washington, D.C., and 18 countries. Over its 40-year history, the National Homebrew Competition has evaluated 143,240 brews. The first competition, held in 1979 in Boulder (CO), judged 34 beers.

This year’s winners include Michael Rogers of Wichita (KS), who earned the Homebrewer of the Year Award; Nathan Williams of Somerville (MA), who won the Cidermaker of the Year Award; and Michael Wilcox of Wichita (KS), who received the Meadmaker of the Year Award.

For the complete list of winners please visit homebrewersassociation

“This has been a milestone year for the American Homebrewers Association. It’s inspiring to see such a great turnout at this year’s conference, and to see such a strong comradery and passion among homebrewers who have traveled far and wide to celebrate their love of homebrewing,” said Gary Glass, director, American Homebrewers Association.

In addition to the competition, the conference provided attendees the opportunity to enhance their brewing skills and homebrew knowledge through over 60 seminars focused on beer styles, the brewing process, ingredients, recipe formulation, sensory analysis, and yeast & formation.

“We wouldn’t be where we are today without Charlie’s vision, devotion and passion to this community,” added Glass. “We thank him for the strong foundation he has built for over one million homebrewers in this country. He leaves a lasting legacy.”

Conference-goers also enjoyed a series of events where they sampled each other’s brews and commercial craft beers. The Homebrew Expo & Social Club and Club Night were opportunities for participants to try beers and meads from homebrew clubs and breweries across the country, while making new brew-savvy friends.

In 2019, Homebrew Con will be held from June 27th to 29th for the first time since 1993 in the New England area in Providence, Rhode Island.