Regardless of if you are a homebrewer yourself or not, if you are a beer drinker you owe thanks to the majority of professional brewers out there that started out as homebrewers. In honor of National Homebrew Day, which falls on May 7 every year, the American Homebrewers Association celebrates AHA Big Brew on the first Saturday in May.

For the AHA Big Brew, homebrew clubs, breweries, bars and shops across the country will host events that invite the public out to join them for a homebrewing session. It can be an informative experience for those interested in getting into homebrewing, or it can just be fun to see them in action.

Keep reading below for more information, and visit the AHA Big Brew website to find an event to attend. There are currently 14 registered events throughout Washington, with several in the Puget Sound area and on the Eastside.

Press Release:

WHAT:           In honor of National Homebrew Day (which falls every year on May 7), each year the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) celebrates AHA Big Brew on the first Saturday in May. This year, throughout the day on May 2, hundreds of bars, breweries, shops and clubs all over the country will host their local communities to brew on-site for a national, same-day homebrewing session. At noon CDT, all homebrewers and beer lovers are encouraged to raise a glass of homebrew in a simultaneous toast that celebrates those who craft outstanding homemade beer, mead and cider for their friends and loved ones. A number of suggested recipes are selected for AHA Big Brew participants to follow. This year’s chosen recipes—Columbus Pale Ale, Old School Barleywine and Killer Kölsch—are all past National Homebrew Competition (NHC) medal winners featured in the forthcoming book Modern Homebrew Recipes by three-time NHC Ninkasi Award winner Gordon Strong.

WHEN:           All day long! Saturday, May 2

                        A simultaneous toast occurs at 12:00 p.m. CDT

WHERE:         Everywhere! From homebrewers’ homes and backyards, to the shops that provide the ingredients and supplies, to local breweries and craft beer bars worldwide. View an interactive map of AHA Big Brew event locations across the country. Register your local AHA Big Brew event and join the conversation on Twitter with #BigBrew15.

WHO:              Everyone! As long as they’re 21 and over, of course.

WHY:                  There are over 1.2 million homebrewers in the United States. With one in every 200 adults in the U.S. now crafting their own beer, homebrewing has become one of the country’s fastest growing hobbies. AHA Big Brew is a toast to the nation’s homebrewers and their shared love and appreciation for homebrewed beer, mead and cider. In 2014, 8,000 people celebrated the AHA National Homebrew Day at 437 registered sites. Additionally, 2,200 batches created 17,550 gallons of homebrew enjoyed around the world. Last year, 49 U.S. states and 14 countries participated.

###

About the American Homebrewers Association:

The American Homebrewers Association has worked on behalf of the homebrewing community since 1978 and celebrates a membership of more than 44,000 homebrewers. The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) organizes events including the National Homebrewers Conference andNational Homebrew Competition. The AHA also publishes Zymurgy magazine. The AHA is part of the Brewers Association, whose Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

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

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.