Justin Crossley to headline Homebrew Con 2026 in Asheville

Justin Crossley is not just another conference name on a banner. For longtime homebrewers, he is one of the most recognizable voices in beer media, the founder of The Brewing Network and a 20-year broadcasting veteran who helped turn beer talk into something the hobby could rally around.

The American Homebrewers Association tapped Crossley as the headline speaker for Homebrew Con 2026, and the choice says a lot about what the organization wants this year’s gathering to feel like. Homebrew Con is set for Asheville, North Carolina, on June 19 and 20, with Final Round judging for the National Homebrew Competition scheduled for June 17 and 18. That puts the competition scene at the center of the week, with the conference building around the brewers, clubs, judges, educators and suppliers who make the hobby move.

The timing matters even more because this will be the AHA’s first annual gathering as an independent association. In that context, Crossley fits the moment cleanly. He has spent years covering beer festivals, interviewing brewers and serving as a connector inside the broader beer and homebrewing world, which gives him a kind of built-in credibility with the crowd that typically fills Homebrew Con seats. His presence points to a conference that wants to lean into community know-how and practical brewing insight, not just formal presentations.

The rest of the program backs that up. The AHA has lined up Brewer Talks, the Homebrew Expo, hospitality events, Club Night, the National Homebrew Competition Awards Ceremony and the Knock-Out Party, giving attendees a full slate of places to learn, compare notes and see what other brewers are making. For club brewers and competition regulars, the sequence is especially important: NHC Final Round judging comes first, then the main conference follows, turning Asheville into a weeklong hub for serious homebrewing activity.

For anyone deciding whether the trip is worth it, Crossley’s headlining slot is a strong clue. His name brings instant recognition, but it also signals a show built around the hobby’s core strengths, competition, community and direct access to people who know the process from the inside. In a year when the AHA is marking a new chapter, Asheville looks set to be the place where that reset takes shape.