Launch of the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame

More than four decades removed from its humble beginnings, the American craft beer industry will now formally recognize the individuals whose efforts elevated it to become one of the nation’s most favored beverages. The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame celebrates not the beer itself, but the human hands, minds, and passions that have made it what it is today. The first true, independent institution of its kind, the Hall’s mission is simple:

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame has been established to honor, celebrate, and commit to history those people who are responsible for initiating, sustaining, and promoting the American craft beer industry. This Hall is to ensure that the memories of their contributions and achievements will not fade with time.

People from all facets of the industry –brewery owners, brewers, writers, educators, and others—will be recognized by The Hall, chosen for their involvement in and support of the American craft beer industry. It is hoped that by recognizing the achievements and efforts of those who have helped push the industry into the modern era, it may inspire others to put their passions toward carrying it still further into the future.

While the ACBHOF is not yet a bricks-and-mortar location, it will reside online for all to visit and to enjoy. In addition to biographical information about the inductees, the website will provide historical perspectives of the industry, details about the key events that helped form it, and the greater significance that craft beer brings to other areas of American life

The ACBHOF is the vision of Marty Nachel, a long-time beer writer, beer judge, and beer educator, who wanted to recognize and memorialize the people who made the American craft beer industry happen. For this project, Nachel has organized an impressive team of Directors, Advisors and Electors that is a veritable who’s who in the American craft beer world.

“American craft brewers have changed the global landscape of beer,” says Nachel, “Forty-plus years into this ‘renaissance,’ I think their stories need to be etched in history.”

The inaugural class of inductees to The Hall will be announced in the Fall of 2024. The ACBHOF would like to recognize Hankscraft AJS Tap Handles for their generosity and expertise as the sponsors and producers of the trophies to be provided to the inaugural class.

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame is incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, and part of its mission is to raise funds for its charitable wing.