West Virginia homebrew clubs to celebrate Big Brew Day 2018

If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about homebrewing, we’ve got an opportunity for you. West Virginia homebrew clubs will be hosting several Big Brew Day events around the state on Saturday, May 5, in honor of National Homebrew Day.

At these Big Brew Day events, you will find experienced and award-winning local homebrewers brewing up batches of beer and ready to explain the ins and outs of making great beer at home. Expect some folks to be brewing the official Big Brew Day recipes and others to be brewing many different styles. While it’s good to be there early if you want to see the entire brewing process, feel free to drop in anytime throughout the day and enjoy the camaraderie of the local brewing community.

This year’s official Big Brew recipes—Rocky Raccoon’s Honey Lager and Dusty Mud Irish-style Stout—were handpicked by the legendary Charlie Papazian. Heralded as the “godfather of homebrewing,” Papazian is the founder of the American Homebrewers Association, which this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

In honor of National Homebrew Day (which falls every year on May 7), the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) celebrates AHA Big Brew on the first Saturday in May. Throughout the day on May 5, hundreds of bars, breweries, shops and homebrew clubs nationwide will host their local communities to brew on-site for a national, same-day homebrewing session. At 1:00 EDT, all homebrewers and beer lovers are encouraged to raise their glass in a worldwide, simultaneous toast.

West Virginia homebrew club activities

Harrison County Homebrewers Club

The club will be holding its Cinco de Big Blur Dayo at the new Freedom shelter at the VA park in Clarksburg on  May 5. The will be brewing a big variety of  stuff. Come ready to participate in a big bottle share and cookout. This year they will be debuting their group collaboration from last year using wild yeast harvested during the event. Contact them through the club Facebook page.

Time: 10:00 am until the last person leaves
Address: Veteran’s Memorial Park, S. Chestnut St., Clarksburg, WV

Greater Huntington Homebrewers Association (GHHA)

A Big Brew Day meet up will be hosted by Cathy and Allen Gawthrop on May 5. Anyone who wants to brew with them should let them know. Everyone is welcome no matter if you’re brewing or not. Please, stop by to say hello anytime during the day.  Club Facebook page.

Time: 10:00 am and finish about 6:00 pm.
Provided: Brats, sauerkraut and potato salad
Bring: Food to share, beer to share, lawn chairs
Address: 1040 Marina Drive, Hurricane, WV (Teays Valley)

Wheeling Alers

The Wheeling Alers will meet at member Kurt Reed’s house to help christen his recently built electric brewing system. They will be brewing the Dusty Mud Irish-style Stout recipe. Anyone interested in attending should contact the club through the Wheeling Alers Facebook page for more details.

Time: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm

Fairmont Homebrewers Club

Club member Dave Amiano is hosting their Big Brew on May 5. Contact the club on Facebook for more details and directions to the event.

Time: 9:00 am through the afternoon

Morgantown Area Society of Homebrewers (MASH)

To get information on the club Big Brew Day activity, contact the club through the MASH Facebook page.

Time:  9:00 am until ?

Homebrewing is fun

There over 1.1 million homebrewers in the United States, 40 percent of whom started homebrewing only within the last four years. American Homebrewers Association Big Brew is a toast to the nation’s homebrewers and their shared love and appreciation for homebrewed beer, mead and cider. In 1988, May 7 was announced before Congress as National Homebrew Day, and so the AHA created AHA Big Brew, held each year on the first Saturday in May, to celebrate National Homebrew Day across the U.S. and globe.