Inaugural Class of 2025 American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Inductees

This past October, the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame announced its inaugural Class of 2025 Nominees. The list included 19 worthy individuals that have made a substantial impact on craft beer with nine making the cut as part of the inaugural class.

The American Craft Beer Hall of Fame was founded with the mission of honoring and remembering those who have contributed to the growth and success of the country’s craft beer industry, The Hall hopes to inspire current and future generations to continue to innovate and collaborate so that it may thrive for many years to come.

A board of over 100 electors, made up of many of craft beer’s supposed most respected and notable analysts, commentators, and advocates, came to consensus on the following 19 nominees for enshrinement in The Hall (in alphabetical order).

• 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

Of these 19 nominees, the board selected nine, with three additional people, to be enshrined as the inaugural class of the virtual American Craft Beer Hall of Fame. These individuals are listed below. The ten that did not get inducted will still be eligible to enter The Hall next year and into the future.

2025 American Craft Beer Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Bert Grant – Founder of Yakima Brewing & Malting Co. / Grant’s Brewery Pub
• Charles Finkel (+ Rose Ann Finkel) – Founders of Merchant du Vin and Pike Brewing
• Charlie Papazian – Founder of the American Home Brewing Association & Homebrewing Inspiration
• Fred Eckhardt – Beer Writer
• Fritz Maytag – Former Owner of Anchor Brewing Co.
• Jack McAuliffe (+ Suzy Stern and Jane Zimmerman) – Founders of New Albion Brewing
• Jim Koch – Founder of Boston Beer Co.
• Ken Grossman – Founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 
• Michael Jackson – Beer Writer

This list of inductees are the forefathers of the modern day craft beer industry. Each one of these individuals has made a lasting impact on craft beer and will now be immortalized in the virtual American Craft Beer Hall of Fame!

If you missed the livestream like us, the Hall has posted it as a video on YouTube. It’s a bit choppy but may be worthy of a view.

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. To learn more about the American Craft Beer Hall of Fame, visit americancraftbeerhalloffame.com.