I am thrilled to announce that as of March 18, 2026, the Ogopogo Brewers Challenge has officially incorporated as a non-profit society in British Columbia (Incorporation Number S0084882). This transition from a hobbyist event to a formal organization provides a permanent home for high-standard beer evaluation in the Okanagan.
Our new constitution defines five core purposes that will guide everything we do:
- Annual Competition: We will host sanctioned events (the capstone of which is the Ogopogo Brewers Challenge) that provide objective, professional sensory feedback to all entrants.
- Brewing Education: We plan to offer public workshops and technical clinics to improve brewing science and appreciation.
- Judge Certification: We will facilitate training and examination for individuals pursuing the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) standards.
- Industry Excellence: We aim to maintain a pool of qualified experts to champion high standards in regional brewing.
- Community Engagement: We focus on building collaborative environments between commercial breweries, homebrewers, and the public.
This structure protects the integrity of the challenge and allows us to reinvest back into the brewing community.
Hey there, im a home brewer, wondering how i can get into these competitions and be a part of these events. I live in Salmon arm so definitely excited to see this locally. Any help or links would be great!
Thank you, Tyler McGill
Hi Tyler! Thanks for reaching out! We would love to have you participate in the events. We have two events you might be interested in for sure. First, we have the Homebrew competition (our 2nd Annual Ogopogo Brewer’s Challenge) in late August. Judging will be the 24th/25th of August. We will be updating the announcement on-line probably next week with details on entry deadlines/etc. The cost to enter a beer will be $10. Secondly, we have our Brewers Challenge Roadshow Series starting in May. We tried to find a venue in Vernon for it but unfortunately, with the Silverstar brewing fire, we couldn’t make that happen. Graciously, Cutwater Brewing in Lake Country has agreed to host it and that will be happening on the 14th of May. Here’s the link to the event:
https://simply-beer.com/roadshow-series-road-to-august/ You can also reach us via email for any other details or questions at ogopogobrewers@gmail.com. Look forward to hearing from/seeing you! James Clark