is the AHA a scam??

[Steveruch]

Don’t get me wrong. I have a giant collection of Zymurgy going all the way back to when they had plain paper covers. I dig through old issues and look at them often. That’s probably why I notice repitition more. I also have all of the AHA style series books and have read most of them. I do support the AHA.

Just like I’m not interested in NEIPA, sour beers, Belgian beers or Kviek yeast, many probably are. Just like I am very interested in British styles, cask ale, pseudo lagers and clean beers, many others probably aren’t. I get that. It’s the nature of the beast.

There are things in there that I'm not especially interested in too, but I read all the articles as my tastes sometimes change and I might end up wishing I had paid closer attention. And I sometimes see things in articles about my non favorite styles that I can incorporate into ones I am interested in.

 

[Kent88]

Sure I put time and effort into my articles. The point I was trying to make is if you aren't happy with the articles write some of your own.

The point I was trying to make was that people who put on virtual conferences, and good content creators in general, are working hard.

 

[MaxStout]

My profession, like many others, requires a certain amount of continuing ed credits in order to to stay current and maintain licensing. My state requires a minimum number of hours of instruction, much of it live and in-person. During the pandemic, these seminars pivoted to live video. The video seminars were a mixed bag in presentation quality (it's been a learning experience for everyone doing remote video!). Some were well-executed, others droned on and on. But all of them were informative and helpful to my practice. So I try to cut the presenters some slack and be open-minded.

The AHA videos I have watched have been varied as well, but I always walk away with some bit of good information. I choose the seminars that are relevant to my interests. It's the same with the magazine. Not everything is relevant to me, but I manage to find a few things I need within the articles. The magazine, and moreover, AHA, has to try to appeal to as broad a spectrum of interests as possible. Sometimes that spreads things a little thin, but there's always something interesting or helpful to glean.

 

[dmtaylor]

No organization is perfect. Is every little facet flawless? Probably not. That being said, an organization is still good overall if it brings more value to its members than amplification of its flaws.

The AHA gives me great value and pleasure. I'm a proud and happy member. I don't serve on the board or anything like that. No one is paying me to say any of this. I just know and appreciate what they do for members, and for the hobby as a whole. For that they should be commended IMHO.

Goodbye, troll.

 

[BQ&W]

Methinks the OP needs some RDWHAH!

 

[soccerdad]

I was a member for a number of years. It's a solid organization with a good mission and a good publication. But - in the end I determined that I get as much here and at Brewersfriend and with a few you tube channels. So that's what I do now. VIVA AHA!

 

[Yooper]

Do people get paid to give talks at the AHA conference? They might be asking for more because it's tough to make content they feel is worthy of asking people to pay for.

No, we don't get paid for it. Not even a discount on rooms when it's in person. Some will be there out of the goodness of their hearts and the joy of doing it, some may have a book or software to promote in their bio- but for the most part it's just volunteering the time to do it (and it takes a ton of time to do the Powerpoint, the talks, etc). I think I spent a good 100 hours or so preparing for mine last year.

 

[Nagorg]

Making chicha? No thanks, I'll pass on the saliva brew.

^^^This! I almost puked reading that article..

 

[Kent88]

for the most part it's just volunteering the time to do it (and it takes a ton of time to do the Powerpoint, the talks, etc). I think I spent a good 100 hours or so preparing for mine last year.

It's pretty cool that people are volunteering like that.

Even though I'm not an AHA member, nor have I seen your presentation, I appreciate that you put so much effort into this, and things like it.

 

[Jayjay1976]

i have 3 supporting memberships to HBT? (wait man you're missing something? not saying it's as fancy as a AHA magazine, but gotta keep the ole' lights on for HBT, it might be a scam, but they might teach someone how to brew once in a while?)

Hey thanks Bracco, for the supporting membership! I'll be sure to pay it forward!!

 

[Yooper]

AHA no. Online Conferences yes. I "went" to 2 last year that pivoted virtual after many years of well attended in person conferences. For the virtual pivots, one went free, one my employer paid nearly 10x the price of the AHA conference. Both were a complete waste for me and I heard similar feedback from peers. Neither had much in the way of on-demand recordings available, it was all live or pre-recorded but only available at a set time. Since people were producing their own content the production quality varied from unwatchable to better done than my local news. Unfortunately the quality of the content didn't always line up with the quality of the production leaving only a few sessions that were really well done. Lastly...most sessions weren't interactive like a web meeting, more like watching TV. Most sessions muted attendees and only responded to questions from the chat. That said, I have no idea how AHA intends to run theirs...maybe they will allow more interaction.

Since you didn't attend last year, that blanket statement of how others are run is really unfair. I personally DID have an equipment issue, but I still finished it and it was available later (with questions asked); however the rest were terrific. Sure, we missed the samples but it was really well-done, and I learned a lot in the seminars.
If you attended last year and have criticisms, the governing committee and seminar selection committee would have loved to hear it before this year's selections. We spent many many hours reviewing all of the seminar proposals, discussing them all. Some panel discussions are not really doable or at least not well done virtually, and so were postponed to next year, but this is not a mickey mouse operation and is incredibly well done, well thought out, and presented.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

In direct reply to

is the whole thing a scam? what would this hobby be like if the group people thought was a nonprofit was a nonprofit really working hard to promote homebrewing

I'll offer this from a previous decade (and a different hobby):

Paul Rinaldo’s rule of Amateur Radio Progress:

Progress is made in Amateur Radio by letting energetic individuals move forward. Conversly, nothing in Amateur Radio is accomplished by complaining about other individual’s projects. Simple summary: If you don’t like their project, then go do or support your own choices. Get out of their way.

https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2008/01/paul-rinaldos-rule-of-amateur-radio-progress/

Maybe it fits here, maybe it doesn't.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Since you didn't attend last year, that blanket statement of how others are run is really unfair.

FWIW, I purchased the live seminars last year. It was a good choice for me. Good content, good discussion.

For those with AHA membership, the 2020 presentations (like many other years of HomeBrew Con) are available as a benefit.

We spent many many hours reviewing all of the seminar proposals, discussing them all.

And I want to add a "Thank you" to you (and the others) for taking the time to edit/curate this content. For me, it's definitely a part of the value that an AHA membership offers.

 

[Jayjay1976]

In direct reply to



I'll offer this from a previous decade (and a different hobby):



https://www.k0nr.com/wordpress/2008/01/paul-rinaldos-rule-of-amateur-radio-progress/

Maybe it fits here, maybe it doesn't.

Ham radio haha, nerd!

My other hobby is building model tugboats, so fellow nerd tip of the hat!

I wanted to get into amateur radio but Morse code isn't something I think I could ever learn.

 

[Kent88]

My other hobby is building model tugboats, so fellow nerd tip of the hat!

/Offtopic

 

[mashpaddled]

I've never attended NHC or HomebrewCon but I've been an AHA member for about a decade shortly after beginning homebrewing. Primarily I joined for Zymurgy and the discount program. These days the discount program is a lot less valuable due to smaller discounts and Zymurgy is a lot of recycling content with less and less about homebrewing. I have other fermentation hobbies so it's not a huge deal but it seems less and less content is aimed at experienced brewers or well researched. I do watch quite a few of the conference videos afterwards.

AHA isn't a scam but it is increasingly disappointing. The governing committee admits (elsewhere) to having no real voice and exerts no effort to have one. Last year they wiped out Gary's position and made the AHA less prominent in the BA. I don't have any interest in funding an industry group I don't belong to, especially given the many problems in the industry unaddressed by the BA. So I'm not terribly sure why I would continue to pay for a membership when the organization isn't doing much for the hobby I care about and the benefits of membership are getting increasingly less valuable.

 

[bracconiere]

So I'm not terribly sure why I would continue to pay for a membership when the organization isn't doing much for the hobby I care about and the benefits of membership are getting increasingly less valuable.

thankfully there's not much push back on brewing beer for yourself....

 

[Jayjay1976]

I keep my AHA membership active in the hopes that eventually home distillation will be legalized, although I doubt they will ever take on that pointless battle. It'd be like rolling turds up a hill, only the turds get you drunk quick. Pointless but somehow still worth doing.

I should reach out to NORML, ask what those dudes would do.

 

[Jayjay1976]

@freemontbrwr is obvs a freeloader and a troll.

"Freemont" is spelled Fremont BTW.

 

[passedpawn]

woops

 

[passedpawn]

Ham radio haha, nerd!

My other hobby is building model tugboats, so fellow nerd tip of the hat!

I wanted to get into amateur radio but Morse code isn't something I think I could ever learn.

I believe morse code is long removed from the test. I studied for it recently. I like RF.

 

[bracconiere]

if only it was ok to make your own 1.75 for $1.25! lol

 

[grampamark]

My AHA membership is due for renewal, like, right now. I’m kind of on the fence as to whether I’ll renew. Homebrewing, no matter how seriously one pursues it, is still a hobby. Hobbies don’t really require political representation. The businesses which sell us stuff might benefit from a trade organization, but that isn’t a very compelling argument, for me anyway. And, I find Zymurgy to be more of a homebrewing lifestyle magazine than a technical publication.

All of that said, I have an appreciation for what the people who manage and administer the AHA do. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was very much involved with organization work at the state and national levels (agriculture related). I served as President of a state grain growers association and was on the board of directors of the national association for most of the 1980s. So, I’ve BTDT and wore out the T-shirt. I spent 18 years as a road warrior, trying to make the world safe for wheat growers. It was a great experience, which I have likened to getting advanced degrees in Political Science and Economics. The reality of being an unpaid volunteer, however, means that my out of pocket costs over that time were nearly the same as if I’d gone back to school and actually earned those letters.

So, while I know exactly what the folks who keep the doors open and the lights on at the AHA do, I’m not sure I‘m going to send them the price of a couple of batches of homebrew one more time. At this point in my life, I might just rather have the beer.

 

[trboyden]

Freedom... It's a wonderful thing... and the best part is, you are free not to do stuff... you are also free to complain about said stuff, but we prefer if you just keep that to yourself.

One of the better things AHA helps to provide, thanks to your membership, is access to insurance to cover brew club events. It's not glamourous, it doesn't help you brew better beer, but it definitely would be expensive to acquire on your own, if you could at all, and many venues require it these days. If you are a member of a local club, in order to get the insurance (without having to pay a premium), a majority of members need to be AHA members. So, by having a membership, you are helping out your local club. I also find the quality of said clubs is better and tend not to be just a drunk-fest.

Laws also don't tend to be permanent. Although you can legally brew in all 50 states today, there is no guaranty that it will stay that way. You can be sure the big breweries and liquor store chains are working behind the scenes to lobby that privilege away, just as there are many groups lobbying to ban firearm rights. A lot of the stuff the AHA does is not visible to members, but it is vitally important. Luckily, our hobby doesn't have all the negativity around it that firearms do. If it did, and those lobbying groups chose to do a big campaign to blame drunk driving on AHA members, you can be sure it would be a lot harder to homebrew legally.

 

[matt_m]

Since you didn't attend last year, that blanket statement of how others are run is really unfair.

Perhaps I was a bit harsh calling it a scam but the dynamics of an online conference are dramatically different than an in person conference. It was not intended to be a slam on the presenters who most likely aren't AV professionals and likely aren't used to presenting to a camera. I had two poor experiences and heard about others. I won't be paying for online conferences for the foreseeable future...but look forward to a chance to attend my first Homebrew Con when it returns to an in-person event.

 

[Yooper]

Perhaps I was a bit harsh calling it a scam but the dynamics of an online conference are dramatically different than an in person conference. It was not intended to be a slam on the presenters who most likely aren't AV professionals and likely aren't used to presenting to a camera. I had two poor experiences and heard about others. I won't be paying for online conferences for the foreseeable future...but look forward to a chance to attend my first Homebrew Con when it returns to an in-person event.

See you in Pittsburgh in 2022!

 

[BrewZer]

AHA is no more a scam than any other interest-based membership organization.

Have a few people been able to make a living in the process? Yes. Good on them, turning their passion into an income stream!

Is it necessary? IMHO, as long as the production of alcohol is regulated by a faceless government agency with a vested interest in maintaining its own existence, those who wish to indulge in making their own beer need national-level advocacy to represent their interests* and counter bureaucracy's natural proclivity to impose restrictions.

* in a perfectly legal, non-violent, and peaceful manner

 

[bwible]

I find Zymurgy to be more of a homebrewing lifestyle magazine than a technical publication.

On this one point, I must disagree. Over the years I find Zymurgy to be much more about the science of brewing, especially compared to BYO which I call the “Just do it” magazine.

I find Zymurgy has more technical articles and discusses science more. I find BYO has more “how to” articles about building bottle cleaning stations and things like that.

 

[bwible]

AHA is no more a scam than any other interest-based membership organization.

Have a few people been able to make a living in the process? Yes. Good on them, turning their passion into an income stream!

Is it necessary? IMHO, as long as the production of alcohol is regulated by a faceless government agency with a vested interest in maintaining its own existence, those who wish to indulge in making their own beer need national-level advocacy to represent their interests* and counter bureaucracy's natural proclivity to impose restrictions.

* in a perfectly legal, non-violent, and peaceful manner

The “govt” where I live now says they will not prosecute pot possession up to 2 oz.
In CA, they won’t prosecute shoplifting up to $100 value.
Times they are a changin’

 

[Gozie Boy]

The “govt” where I live now says they will not prosecute pot possession up to 2 oz.
In CA, they won’t prosecute shoplifting up to $100 value.
Times they are a changin’

Not a good time for dollar stores in CA!!