The American Homebrewers Association is folding their largest event, Homebrew Con, into the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colorado in 2024. This comes after reports of falling attendance at the annual gathering, which migrates to different cities across the country similar to the Brewers Association’s Craft Brewers Conference. The Homebrewers Association is a sister organization of the Brewers Association, both non-profits created to organize and celebrate homebrewers and small and independent pro brewers respectively.

Rebranded the Homebrew HQ at GABF®, it will feature AHA-only exclusive events and the Homebrew Headquarters inside the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), Oct. 10-12, in Denver, allowing AHA members to have a focused presence at the nation’s largest beer festival. Organizers say Homebrew Con is merely taking a hiatus this year, to return to it’s regular format in 2025, but homebrewers in the know are skeptical that it will return as the event they once knew and loved. Many in the homebrewing community see this as a dumbing down of homebrew con, and are not excited to see it as an adjacent side event to the main GABF which draws a rowdy crowd of drinkers and beer nerds to Denver each year. On the positive side, it will likely boost attendance for GABF which has also seen falling numbers both in ticket sales and breweries attending, and this could introduce many of them to homebrewing.

What’s on Tap for Homebrew HQ

• Homebrew HQ at GABF: This AHA member-only area will be open during all Great American Beer Festival sessions, where you can sample 2024 Pro-Am beers, taste the delicious homebrews of Homebrew Rockstars, learn how to taste beer like a pro at You Be the Judge, watch live homebrewing demonstrations, explore the homebrew marketplace, plus much more to come! 
  A GABF ticket is required to attend the festival. AHA members will be required to show their membership card to access Homebrew HQ.

• AHA Member Gathering: Mingle with fellow members at the Colorado Convention Center, date and time TBD.
  Pre-registration, AHA membership, and a GABF ticket are required to attend.

• Exclusive Headline Speakers: AHA members are invited to hear from homebrewing luminaries before the Great American Beer Festival session starts, dates and times TBD.
  Pre-registration, AHA membership, and a GABF ticket are required to attend.

• National Homebrew Competition (NHC) Awards: On Thursday, Oct. 10, the results of the world’s largest homebrew competition will be announced live from the floor of the Great American Beer Festival.
  A GABF ticket for Thursday, Oct. 10, is required to attend the NHC awards ceremony.

• Educational Opportunities: On Friday, Oct. 11, attend Club Officer Bootcamp or Beer Judge Certification Program Exams in the Colorado Convention Center.
  Pre-registration and AHA membership required for bootcamp; register for BJCP exams on their website.

• Local Savings: Flash your membership card to save at AHA Member Deal locations in Denver and the Front Range.