Homebrew Con is still dead, at least for now

Nine years ago this month I attended my first Homebrew Con. At the end of Homebrew Con 2023 in San Diego, which regrettably I was unable to attend, the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) announced that Homebrew Con would be taking place at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). When that was announced, a lot of people smelled a rat. Those concerns were validated at least to some extent when the AHA announced that Homebrew Con was on hiatus, and in it's place was "Homebrew HQ at GABF".

This revised event was to have some educational seminars, but what it won't have is a vendor expo with homebrew clubs pouring during the day, or the highlight of Homebrew Con: Club Night. The AHA was seemingly putting on a homebrewing event without homebrew. In the end they had an improvised Club Night, but by all accounts it was not the same.

12x12 Samuel Adams Winter Break Variety Pack

Beers Included: Cold Brew Coffee Stout, Winter White Ale, Winter Lager, Old Fezzewig 

Purchase Date: 6 December 2025

Initial Impressions

I broke my rules and bought this pack in early November when I was up in New Hampshire for a weekend. It was cold enough that it felt like winter. Not taking tasting notes at that time, I had to go back and buy this one again. 

For some reason I was intrigued by the Cold Brew Coffee Stout. I love dark beers, but generally prefer what I call "stout-flavored-stout". I guess I was excited to see any kind of stout in this sampler. Winter Lager has always been a stalwart; even if the recipe has been changed like other Sam Seasonals.

Interestingly, the marketing company I work for doing brand ambassador work posted Sam Adams tastings with instructions to tell drinkers that Winter White was replacing Winter Lager as Sam's winter seasonal.

Beer, cigar, fresh air and lake views

Old Fezzewig is a beer I look for every year. 

12x12 Market Basket More for Your Dollar Lager

Beers included: Market Basket More for Your Dollar Lager, or is it just Market Basket Lager?

Purchase date: 6 December 2025

Purchase price: $12.99

Initial impressions

As much as I respect the business Market Basket runs, we don't shop there for one simple reason. As Yogi Berra once said, "Nobody goes there, it's too crowded".

This skid was in a store five days after packaging.

If you do not live in New England, it is hard to explain the kind of following the grocery chain Market Basket has. With it's slogan "More for Your Dollar", Market Basket is known for it's low prices, how well the company takes care of its employees, and the terminally squabbling DeMoulas family that owns it all. The first two items lead to the store having as loyal of a following as any store I can think of. That loyalty extends to Market Basket's house brands as well. When More for Your Dollar Lager launched it was a bit of a sensation. I kind of wish I got my hands on some sooner.

12x12 Woodstock Inn Variety Pack

Beers included: Pig's Ear Brown Ale, Lost River, Peachy Wheat Ale and 4000 Footer IPA

Purchase date: 6 September 2025

Purchase price: $16.99

Brewers choice is always fun.

Initial Impressions

Woodstock Inn is the first one of my former accounts to be reviewed in this series. When I worked for Muntons, Woodstock Inn was a steady, if not particularly huge customer. They'd buy a pallet of torrefied wheat per month, and specialty malts including 40L Crystal and Chocolate Malt a little less frequently.

I was excited to find this sampler when I was up in New Hampshire for Jamboree. Having the flagship Pig's Ear Brown Ale included also gave me a great commercial beer for my side-by-side with my Long Leash Brown Ale