United States
Homebrewing is legalised in the United States
Federal legislation removed the prohibition on brewing beer at home for personal use, an omission left over from the repeal of Prohibition.
What was going on around it
An event on its own is a date. These are the periods it belongs to, where the argument about what changed is actually made.
Why it matters
A substantial share of the founders of American craft breweries came out of the homebrewing culture this permitted.
How well this is established
| Certainty | Documented. Supported by contemporary records that survive and are agreed on. |
|---|---|
| When | 1978-10-14. |
| Where | United States |
Traditions
- American craft brewing — The post-1980 American movement built on intense hop character, reinterpretation of European styles, and rapid categorical change.
Either side of this
← 1972: Cascade is released · 1980: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale goes into production →
See the whole sequence on the beer history timeline.
Last reviewed 2026-08-16.