Central Oregon-based homebrewers, take note! The Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization (COHO) is presenting a regional homebrewing competition, the 2022 Central Oregon Pro-Am Brewing Challenge, which will pair up winning homebrewers with commercial breweries to brew their winning beers. If you’ve wanted to have a pro brewery brew and release one of your beers, read on.

The competition is open to any Central Oregon resident homebrewer, they don’t have to be members of COHO to enter. The deadline to register and enter a beer is July 30, and judging will take place about a week later. Winning entries will be paired up with breweries and they will work with the homebrewers to brew sometime between late August and early October (depending on scheduling). Then on November 5, all of the beers will be served at a People’s Choice event at the Boneyard Pub.

Currently 10 local breweries are signed up to participate, and the competition website offers up some guidelines as to what each brewery’s styles preferences are (if any), so keep that in mind as you craft your recipe.

Here’s the press release:

Homebrewers, do you want to take your brewing up a level? How about brewing your own recipe with the pros at one of your favorite local commercial breweries? Can you imagine seeing your beer on tap to be enjoyed by Central Oregon beer lovers? Here’s your chance!

Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization (COHO) presents the Central Oregon Pro-Am Brewing Challenge, pairing homebrewers with commercial breweries to craft unique beers and compete for top honors at a people’s choice judging.

This competition is open to any Central Oregon resident homebrewer age 21 or older and is not limited to any particular category or style of beer, within the below guidelines. The beers will not be judged to a specific BJCP style, but to technical merit and appeal for commercial brewing. Full guidelines can be viewed as the competition website, and include:

• Up to three entries may be submitted. It is possible for one brewer to have multiple winning entries.
• Any style is acceptable; however, process and ingredients should take into account feasibility for commercial brewing. Note: not all breweries can accommodate lagers.
• A brief description of the beer is required. BJCP style is requested for flighting purposes only, not for judging. A complete printed recipe must be provided.
• Entrants may designate a charity to receive part of the competition proceeds. Charities should have 501(c)(3) status and a presence in Central Oregon. They must be organized for the public benefit and are subject to approval by the COHO board and the participating brewery.
• A $10 fee per entry is required.

Participating breweries include Bevel Craft Brewing, Boneyard Beer, Crux Fermentation Project, Deschutes Brewery, Initiative Brewing, Mecca Grade Estate Malt & Tasting Room, Monkless Belgian Ales, Porter Brewing Company, Spider City Brewing, and Wild Ride Brewing. This may be subject to change.

The deadline for registration is July 30, 2022, and beers can be dropped-off (or mailed in) from July 20–30. Judging will be held August 8 by a panel of judges consisting of professional brewers and other beer experts, and participating breweries will choose which homebrewer’s winning beer they will brew. Brewing these winning beers will take place from late August through early October as scheduling allows, to be served at the breweries’ taprooms and a special Pro-Am People’s Choice event held at the Boneyard Pub on November 5.

For full details and rules, please visit the competition website page at https://beerawardsplatform.com/co-pro-am.

Now is a great time to be brewing for this competition!