How It All Began
“In April of 2012, 12 homebrewers in the Annapolis area met on HomeBrewTalk.com and decided to form a club. One month later, we came together for the first meeting, and since no one Craigslist-murdered anyone, we decided to meet again. We then spent the next 30 days working on a clever name for the club, which we’re obviously still working on today. The club members also wrote up a club constitution, making sure it stated those members not paying attention would do all the work while the remaining members spent the rest of the year brewing and drinking great beers.
In the months that followed, friendships were made, brewing tips were shared and collaboration beers were brewed. The result was Annapolis Homebrew Club quickly making a name for itself, with members taking home several first and second place prizes from homebrew competitions across Maryland. Highlights from that first year include the club’s first President, Nathan Waters, taking Best of Show at the Anne Arundel County Fair, and Best of Show in the Maryland Microbrew Festival by founding member Kyle Cogar, whose beer was put on tap at Buffalo Wild Wings locations across the state.
Today the club’s programs are stronger than ever with an annual series of competitions designed to both challenge an advanced homebrewer and teach newcomers the skills to brew a wide variety of great beers. As membership grew the club began a community outreach program organizing public events that both further the club’s mission to educate about homebrewing, and raises funds for local charities. The club’s Brews by the Bay event raised awareness and funds for the Annapolis Maritime Museum’s Oyster Education program, and the first annual Pints for Paws event in 2015 raised over $7,000 for Anne Arundel County SPCA as part of Annapolis Beer Week. It is now an annual event. The club also participates in other annual homebrewing events that raise tens of thousands of dollars for Maryland charities.
Over the years several Annapolis Homebrew Club members have gone on to become professional brewers, and the club is proud to include them among their ranks. You can drink some great Maryland craft beers brewed by current and former members like Head Brewer Adam Davis of Backshore Brewing Co. in Ocean City, Head Brewer Matt Ducey of Calvert Brewing Co., and Assistant Brewer Mike Navas of Jailbreak Brewing Co. in Laurel.
The Annapolis Homebrew Club is an active member of the Free State Homebrew Club Guild, a collection of homebrew clubs across Maryland.”
Nathan Waters
AHBC Founding Member
First AHBC President