American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Announces Inaugural Class of Nominees

Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron, Jordan, Jabbar, Johnson, Bird, Rice, Brown, Payton… these names have all been enshrined in history not just among their respective sports, but in the public zeitgeist, and soon names like Papazian, Maytag, Grossman, Jordan, and Calagione may join them.

Earlier this year long-time beer writer, beer judge, and beer educator, Marty Nachel sought to recognize and memorialize the people who made the American craft beer industry what it is today by launching the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame.

Comprised of a veritable who’s who of the American craft beer world, Nachel organized a group of Directors, Advisors, and Electors responsible for nominating and ultimately inducting future Hall of Famers who helped propel the industry forward in a meaningful way.

“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.”

Yesterday, the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame announced its inaugural class of nominees which will ultimately undergo a voting process by the Hall’s Electors in November with induction planned for February 2025.

American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Inaugural Nominees

Charlie Bamforth
Larry Bell
Sam Calagione
Fred Eckhardt
Teri Fahrendorf
Charles Finkel
Bert Grant
Ken Grossman
Julia Herz
Michael Jackson
Kim Jordan
Jim Koch
Fritz Maytag
Jack McAuliffe
Garrett Oliver
Charlie Papazian
Pete Slosberg
Carol Stoudt
Don Younger

“Craft beer is a community as much as an industry,” explains Board member and Secretary, Aaron Gore. “And like any community, it is important that we recognize those who have given so much to growing and fostering it. We’re proud to be able to provide a platform for that recognition, and to hopefully inspire others in their own efforts to do the same.”