While the American Homebrewers Association was founded back in 1978, their momentum has really taken off over the past few years. You may have noticed local events offering more craft beer tastings, your friends drinking something you’ve never seen before, and more customers stepping outside of their comfort zone to try something new. I don’t know about you, but as we’re seeing more craft beers out there, I’m feeling inspired. It’s cool to know that anyone with a genuine interest can make their own beer. The tricky part, however, is doing it well.

As a bartender, you may not have the time or interest in brewing your own beer, but you may want to think about your local chapter as a resource. If there’s something this group knows…it’s beer. And my experience was that they were all eager to tell you about their beer and provide feedback about yours. The Richmond, Virginia meeting was jam-packed with an eclectic group, each of them ready to share their homebrew and beer knowledge - all you had to do was ask.

Check out a meeting some time. You don’t have to join to attend just one meeting. By attending you’ll get to experience many different kinds of craft beer, learn about them, and network with like-minded people. You’re also likely to have a few laughs…because this group enjoys havin’ a good time. Click here to find an AHA meeting near you…