FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Cindy Jones, Association of Brewers +1.303.447.0816 x 144, cindy(a)aob.org www.beertown.org ___________________________________________ AMERICAN HOMEBREWERS ASSOCIATION 2003 NATIONAL HOMEBREW COMPETITION CELEBRATES ITS 25th YEAR Boulder, Colo. * April 1, 2003- The American Homebrewers Association® 2003 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) will celebrate its 25th anniversary, as first-round entries are due April 9 - 18, 2003. Hundreds of judges are expected to evaluate more than 3,000 NHC first-round entries at nine regional-judging sites in the United States and Canada the week of April 25. This year's number of entries is expected to exceed last year's 3,074 entries. "With more than twice as many entries as the next largest competition, winning an award at the National Homebrew Competition is an honor unlike any other in the world of homebrewing," said Gary Glass, NHC Director. "Getting up on stage at the National Homebrew Competition awards banquet before a cheering crowd of the most accomplished amateur brewers in North America is a thrill that will never be forgotten." The American Homebrewers Association NHC is an international competition that recognizes the most outstanding homebrewed beer, mead and cider being produced by amateur brewers worldwide. The American Homebrewers Association is a division of the Association of Brewers, established 1978 in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A. In 1979, 34 entries competed in the first NHC held in Boulder, Colo. Now the more than 3,000-entry competition is recognized as the world's largest competition devoted to amateur brewers. An additional regional-judging site, the East Region based in Cleveland, was added this year to accommodate for the growth of the competition. The competition's judge panels have evaluated an amazing number of more than 38,817 homebrews during the 24 years of competition. A panel of brewing experts will judge the competition entries. First-round winners will advance to the second round of judging, which will be held at the American Homebrewers Association National Homebrewers Conference in Chicago June 19 - 21, 2002. Awards for the best beer in the competition's beer-style categories will be presented at the grand banquet Friday night of the conference. "The prestige of this competition attracts the best judges in the country," said Glass. "Every year we get judges coming from hundreds of miles away to judge at the National Homebrew Competition. You will not find a more qualified set of judges anywhere than the Best of Show panel that determines the Homebrewer of the Year during the NHC finals." Homebrewer of the Year award, sponsored by Munton's P.L.C., is the Best of Show beer judged best from all gold medal winners in 24 beer-style categories. The Ninkasi Award, named after the Sumerian Goddess of Beer Brewers, will be given the winningest brewer in the second round of the NHC judging. Amateur brewers earn points toward the award by placing in the 24 beer-style categories during the second round. Gold medals earn six points, silver medals earn four points and bronze medals earn two points. The Ninkasi Award is sponsored by Boston Beer Company. American Homebrewers Association members receive competition entry-fee discounts. For more information on the AHA National Homebrew Competition, visit www.beertown.org or contact Gary Glass, Association of Brewers, at gary(a)aob.org. Thank you to all 2003 AHA National Homebrew Competition sponsors. A list of NHC sponsors is below. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ American Homebrewers Association 2003 National Homebrewers Competition Sponsors As of April 1, 2003 Alaskan Brewing Co. Alternative Beverage Anchor Brewing Co. Anderson Valley Brewing Co. Austin Homebrew Bacchus and Barleycorn BJ's Pizza Grill and Brewery Boston Beer Company Brew & Grow Briess Malting Company Coopers Brew Products Deschutes Brewery Home Brew Supply Homebrew Headquarters Marin Brewing Co. Muntons p.l.c. Northwestern Extract Redhook Ale Brewery Redstone Meadery S.A. Bieres de Chimay c/o Manneken-Brussel Imports Inc. St Louis Wine & Beer Making Steinbart Wholesale The Beverage People Washington Hop Commission Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. ________________________________________________________ Based in Boulder, Colo., U.S.A., the Association of Brewers (AOB) is a not-for-profit educational and trade association for small and craft brewers. Its mission is to make quality beer and brewing knowledge accessible to all. Visit the website: www.beertown.org to learn more. The Association of Brewers has an additional membership division of 8,000+ homebrewers: American Homebrewers Association. The association's activities include events and publishing: World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, National Homebrewers Conference, National Homebrew Competition and American Beer Month (July), Zymurgy magazine, The New Brewer magazine and books on beer and brewing. # # # Contact: Cindy Jones, Association of Brewers +1.303.447.0816 x 144, cindy(a)aob.org www.beertown.org