From that AHA…
November 3, 2007 was the American Homebrewers Association’s (AHA) Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day; on this day more than 1,900 participants brewed 1,970 gallons of beer at 152 sites worldwide. Over 550 new homebrewers learned to brew this year on Teach A Friend to Homebrew Day. The AHA celebrates brewing and encourages new brewers to enjoy the hobby of homebrewing through Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day every year on the first Saturday in November.
In its ninth installment, Teach a Friend to Homebrew Day is even bigger than last year with 14% more participants.
Homebrewing is a hobby that is increasing in popularity again and something that almost anyone 21 years and older can enjoy. The AHA estimates that there are more than 500,000 homebrewers nationwide. Homebrewing requires a stove and simple ingredients and supplies that can be purchased at your local homebrew supply store. The equipment to get started homebrewing costs about $80. The ingredients to make 5 gallons of beer cost $25 to $35 and result in about 2 cases of beer when bottled. The process of brewing takes a few hours, fermenting takes a week, bottling takes about an hour, bottle conditioning takes two weeks… then the beer is ready to chill and enjoy.
Gary Glass, the director for AHA says, “One of the great things about homebrewers is that they are happy to share their knowledge and to pass on the joy that they find in homebrewing to others–that’s really what Teach A Friend To Homebrew Day is all about.”
Homebrewers gather for this event at different locations worldwide. This year (2007) we had sites in the US, Canada, UK, and Denmark. For information on this year’s event go to: http://www.beertown.org/events/teach/