Earlier today, the newly organized American Craft Beer Hall of Fame, announced the first class of inductees in a coordinated livestream from multiple locations. You can watch the ceremony on YouTube. The brainchild of Marty Nachel, the Hall of Fame welcomed a dozen members to the inaugural class.

American Craft Beer Hall of Fame:

The 2025 Inaugural Class

Fred Eckhardt, the Dean of American Beer Writers

Charles and Rose Ann Finkel, founders of Merchant du Vin and Pike Brewing

Bert Grant, founder of Yakima Brewing & Malting Co., a.k.a. Grant’s Brewery Pub

Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing

Michael Jackson, the Beer Hunter

Jim Koch, founder of Boston Beer Co., makers of Samuel Adams Boston Lager

Fritz Maytag, owner of Anchor Brewing, and the Father of the Microbrewery

Jack McAuliffe, Suzy Stern Denison, and Jane Zimmerman, founders of New Albion Brewing

Charlie Papazian, founder of the American Home Brewing Association, today’s Brewers Association, the Great American Beer Festival, the World beer Cup, and the author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing