AHA Membership. Why/Why Not?

[blizzard]

Personally I hope our dues are NOT going to support this. It has nothing to do with homebrewing and our rights. Maybe Yooper can fill us in on how our membership dues are spent.

I believe the Brewers Association is related to, but separate from the AHA.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

The AHA is a division of the BA. I don't know if the dues crossover.

 

[RandallFlag]

By the way, I joined HBT just to post this. Hello everyone!

Thanks for the clarification (and link) and welcome to HBT. This group of guys and gals are awesome!!!

 

[RandallFlag]

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Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
Hello world. Now a proud member of the AHA.
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[Phunhog]

The AHA is a division of the BA. I don't know if the dues crossover.

You know I was looking at the BA website and ran some rough numbers. It would appear membership in the BA is around 6700 and membership in the AHA is around 43000. AHA membership is 43 dollars a year and BA membership varies based on brewery size and type of membership. If use an average cost of 300 dollars per BA membership you end up with a little more than 2 million dollars( it is probably a little more than that). AHA membership brings in around 1.8 million dollars ( it is probably a little bit lower). What was a bit of an eye opener for me was how much more staff the commercial side of the BA had compared to the AHA side. As a members of the AHA I think we need to do our due diligence in making sure OUR MONEY is being spent in a appropriate manner. I love being a member of the AHA for a variety of reasons......just want to make sure it is directly benefiting us.

 

[trentm]

While some of our interests/concerns differ, I am glad for the relationship and in fact this relationship is, to me, one of the greater benefits of being an AHA member. I'm all about competitions and here in CA and I think across the country, craft brewers support homebrewers in many ways. Including: competitions, meeting places for homebrew clubs, AHA rallies, many brewers volunteer as judges (great feedback from these folks), GABF Pro Am competition, and more. Considering all the craft beer industry does to support homebrewers, I am willing to give to their cause.

 

[mabrungard]

You know I was looking at the BA website and ran some rough numbers. It would appear membership in the BA is around 6700 and membership in the AHA is around 43000. AHA membership is 43 dollars a year and BA membership varies based on brewery size and type of membership. If use an average cost of 300 dollars per BA membership you end up with a little more than 2 million dollars( it is probably a little more than that). AHA membership brings in around 1.8 million dollars ( it is probably a little bit lower). What was a bit of an eye opener for me was how much more staff the commercial side of the BA had compared to the AHA side. As a members of the AHA I think we need to do our due diligence in making sure OUR MONEY is being spent in a appropriate manner. I love being a member of the AHA for a variety of reasons......just want to make sure it is directly benefiting us.

Thanks for pointing out the information above. As a AHA Governing Committee member, it's part of my job to help our members and prospective members. I posed the original question to AHA Director, Gary Glass and he responds below.

"In 2013, based on the numbers I reported in the members meeting at that AHA Conference, AHA revenue made up just under 15% of total revenue for the Brewers Association and our net surplus was 8% of the total net surplus for the Brewers Association. The BA professional division contributes far more to the Brewers Association’s bottom line than the AHA does. Being a part of the larger organization is very much a mutually beneficial situation. The AHA has access to far more resources than we would have if we were a stand-alone organization, which enables us to better serve the AHA membership."

As a member, I find that AHA does benefit from its direct association with BA. We have cozy relationships with many breweries across the country and those breweries provide direct support and benefits to AHA members. In almost every case, those brewers started the way that you and I started...at home brewing our first batch of beer and getting hooked on brewing. Having the clout of a BIG brewing family through BA is valuable to me.

Another benefit that was just created is that BA now has a lobbyist in DC. While we homebrewers haven't had to worry about the Feds trampling our rights, it's nice to know that we will have a voice there if something comes up. Remember, BA members support homebrewers since we are integral to their continued success.

 

[LabRatBrewer]

Thanks for the information mabrungard!

 

[Phunhog]

Great info!! Thanks Martin!

 

[robertus]

Thanks for the discussion, folks. I was asking myself the same question as OP.

I mean, I threw $25 at Homebrew Talk and you guys don't do anything for me. But seriously, I've become *much* better at this brewing thing on account of this site and community, and I'd like to see it thrive and grow. Sounds like, philosophically, an AHA membership is right in my wheelhouse.

Financially, it might be a tougher sell, but I suspect it'll pay for itself over the course of a year, between the LHBS discount and a couple of the brewpubs.

 

[Darwin18]

Nice write up Martin. Thanks for taking the time to put together that response.

 

[Mutant]

If the AHA was concerned about the members, they would respond to serious questioned posed of them.

 

[imasickboy]

Regardless of why this came back to the top of the new posts. I'm glad it did.

Is the AHA still relevant? Does a membership provide a tangible benefit these days? Personally, my local shop discontinued it's affiliation with the AHA, so there is no discount any longer. So, being the devil's advocate, what can the AHA do for me?

 

[beernutz]

If the AHA was concerned about the members, they would respond to serious questioned posed of them.

Sounds like there must be a story behind this comment.

I joined for a few years in a row back in the mid 90s but eventually got tired of Zymurgy which was basically the only AHA benefit at the time. I was also subscribing to the now defunct Brewing Techniques which I thought was a better value.

About 7 years ago I paid for two straight years when Alabama finally legalized homebrewing and again the only practical benefit was Zymurgy which ended up being over $6 per issue. There were no LHBCs or breweries which offered AHA discounts.

The one time I used the discount was in another city and I think I got a free pint glass which I could have bought for $5. Truth be told I ended up getting a tour of that brewery by the owner and I think he would have just given me the glass if I hadn't already paid for it.

Last year I again joined because a new area homebrew club was formed by a friend and he wanted it to be registered with the AHA to get insurance. The AHA requires 75% of the registered club to be AHA members in order to have the insurance cost reimbursed.

It turned out that very few other club participants joined AHA so the club never registered and the benefit I was trying to convey to the club with my membership went for almost nothing since again Zymurgy isn't worth the >$6 cost to me. So for the fourth period in my life I'm a non-AHA member.

 

[TBC]

Regardless of why this came back to the top of the new posts. I'm glad it did.

Is the AHA still relevant? Does a membership provide a tangible benefit these days? Personally, my local shop discontinued it's affiliation with the AHA, so there is no discount any longer. So, being the devil's advocate, what can the AHA do for me?

I let my membership lapse after about 8 years due to them wanting an extra $5 for Zymurgy in print version. That aggravated me since that was all I was getting for my membership at the time.

Now what can the AHA do for you! You can get a free tasting tour at Troegs, 30% off growler fills at CKW, 20% off food and drink at Iron Hill, $2 off growler fills at St Boniface, and a 10% discount on ingredients and equipment at Roots beer distributor. Looking at their website it does seem that they have added a lot more deals than they had in the past. Maybe one day I will reconsider.

 

[soccerdad]

I let my membership lapse. I semi enjoyed Zymurgy, but since I live in BF Egypt, there is no HBS to get a discount, the Brew Guru app has no one close to me and I get better info here.

 

[Godot]

I semi enjoyed Zymurgy, but since I live in BF Egypt, there is no HBS to get a discount, the Brew Guru app has no one close to me and I get better info here.

This. I wish they had a discounted option for Non-Americans to purchase Zymergy magazine. There's no store discounts or lobbying benefits or competitions for people living outside of the US, yet it cost $10 more (plus exchange costs) to get the magazine sent. Nine dollars (U.S.) a copy for the magazine -- it better be increadible.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

So, being the devil's advocate, what can the AHA do for me?

I find that the member-only content is worth more than the cost of membership: presentations from the annual HomeBrew Con; National Homebrew Competition
winning recipes (gold, silver, and bronze); back issues (unedited) from Zymurgy, ...

 

[sleev-les]

I joined a few months ago. There are not a lot of deals near me, but in Baltimore there are a ton of bars/restaurants that have deals. My LHBS doesn't have a discount either. I do like readying zymurgy and being able to go to Homebrewcon. Plus always good having an org go to bat for you if a state tries to hurt homebrewers with garbage laws.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I find that the member-only content is worth more than the cost of membership: presentations from the annual HomeBrew Con; National Homebrew Competition
winning recipes (gold, silver, and bronze); back issues (unedited) from Zymurgy, ...

Same for me. They are one of the best resources out there for decent recipes and ideas and some of the Homebrew Con seminars are great. The magazine is so-so, but sometimes there are some really good articles. I also appreciate what they do to support homebrewing and legislation. On top of that, the last two years I have gotten a book each year I renewed ("Brewing Classic Styles" and "Session Beers"). Definitely worth the $38 in my book.

 

[mabrungard]

This. I wish they had a discounted option for Non-Americans to purchase Zymergy magazine.

There is no way around the cost of mailing a magazine around the world. If its low cost you want, the electronic only membership gives you access to all the old issues and the current issues. I like holding a Mag in my hands, but the online presentation isn't bad.

 

[dmtaylor]

I give to the AHA mainly just because it's the right thing to do. They've done SO much to help out homebrewers over the past 40 years, it cannot be measured. They promoted the hobby for like ever, and were instrumental in getting the craft beer industry where it is today with so much selection and high quality. They lobbied in many U.S. states within the last 10-15 years to legalize homebrewing in every state and to allow homebrew to be served in public places without harrassment from police or naysayers (YES this happened MANY times all over the USA (including here in Wisconsin)). Without their aid and support over so many years we might very likely still be living in the dark ages of homebrewing in the '80s and '90s, and with nothing on the commercial shelves besides like Becks and Heineken as anything fancier than BudMilloors -- anybody else still remember those days!?

I love Zymurgy magazine. But even without that or the discounts, I'd still consider giving to the AHA anyway because they kick so much butt behind the scenes. Any beer lover who thinks otherwise is sorely mistaken and should really look into all they've done and continue to do today.

Note: I am not an officer in the AHA or affiliated in any way. These expressions are truly my own and I give them freely and without reservation. I just know what they do and love them for it.

 

[mabrungard]

As Dave said, without AHA, homebrewers have very little voice. Together, the members of AHA actually have a voice and its worked to change laws and improve the hobby. I appreciate being a AHA member and having those members as friends. It's still worth it.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

As Dave said, without AHA, homebrewers have very little voice. Together, the members of AHA actually have a voice and its worked to change laws and improve the hobby. I appreciate being a AHA member and having those members as friends. It's still worth it.

Plus they often have solid articles and seminars by industry rock stars...like that Martin Brungard guy!

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

... discounted option for Non-Americans to purchase Zymergy magazine. ... Nine dollars (U.S.) a copy for the magazine -- it better be increadible.

If you are thinking about going down the digital subscription route, see if you can find a free 30 day trial (maybe here https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/membership/free-trial/ ?).

I find that the magazine reads well (as a magazine) on an iPad - so I'm a very happy digital subscriber. Be aware that the web browser interface for the magazine is unique - after working with the web browser interface (with a very open mind) for a few minutes, I found that it was usable for reading articles.