Is an AHA membership worth it?

For those of you that are American Homebrewers Association, is it worth it? I already spend too much time on HBT and reading Palmer's, Morebeer/Northern Brewer/Austin catalogs.....

 

Probably not. But neither is membership to this forum.

"Worth it?" is subjective. You get a magazine that is very similar to BYO, which you can get cheaply. I think Zymurgy is better solely because it has an issue that contains the winning recipes from the NHC.

You get discounted entries to the NHC.

An AHA card will get you discounts at most LHBS and at a small set of bars (I was just at 21st Ammendment in San Fran and used it).

But, most significantly, you get the satisfaction of truly supporting the homebrewing movement in this country. The AHA is the lobbying force that keeps this hobby legal, as well as pushing for legalization in the last 2 remaining states where it is still illegal. If this this one isn't important to you, then the answer to your question is NO.

I've been a member for 3 years.

 

What he said!

FULL DISCLOSURE: I've been an AHA member for a little over two years now.

 

Appalling that we need a "lobbying force" to keep homebrewing legal in this country.

Screw the Tea Party. We need to found the Beer Party!

 

25% off Flying Saucer.... Tempting....

 

Don't join for the NHC discount. Getting in at all is harder than getting a bottle of Hunahpu's.

 

I'd say its worth it. You get discounts and a subscription to Zymurgy (with eZymurgy too for back issues). Also gets you member entry to NHC and GABF.

 

The magazine alone is worth the money. If you ever want to go to the GABF, the advance ticket sales, and members only session and line are priceless. Most brew pubs, and breweries will give you a discount of some kind or another.

If you frequent a place that gives a decent discount, it alone will save you more than the cost of membership. When I lived in Northern VA, Dogfish Ale House gave 15% off your food (VA laws didn't allow alcohol discounts, but at their MD location it is 15% off total bill). Gordon Biersch use to be 10%, but changed to just give 3 bucks.

 

pub discount list http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/directories/find-a-pub-discount

 

Thanks Jeep.
Aside from supporting the hobby, the discounts look like they will make it worth it to me.