State Of The Association – March 2026

Yo fellow beer drinkers! Hope you all had a good February.

I’ve been focused on connecting members through Chapters and Facebook Groups because BDOA works best when people are connecting locally.

My main goal this year is to get Chapters started in every state. If you’re not part of one yet, you can check out what it takes to start a Chapter here.

Here are a few ways we brought people together last month.

In February, we added a new Chapter in Shelby Township, MI. With 24 Chapter members, they met late February for their first official BDOA Chapter meeting.

We also had two big events: our UNO Tournament and Spare Beers 2 (Bowling tournament).

UNO Tournament

In January the Oregon and West Virginia Chapters hosted UNO tournaments in their respective states, and had over 80 people combined.

The Oregon Chapter partnered with Ratchet Brewery in Salem for the tournament, with the winner taking home $100 and a Championship Ring!

The WV Chapter partnered with Frank’s Place in Barboursville to host the Chapter UNO Tournament. By working with the bar, Chapter leadership secured an extra $100 from the bar to bump the grand prize up to $200.

Spare Beers 2 (Doubles Bowling Competition)

We had over 40 people compete across the USA. Although my team didn’t win, it was great to come together with members to hang out at the bowling alley and compete together while having fun and drinking beer.

I loved seeing all the bowling pics from Members across the country so thanks for sharing those!

On a personal note,

I’ve been playing basketball in a Sunday league (won both games last week!) and getting ready for March Madness and Fantasy Basketball playoffs!

(Should we have a BDOA fantasy league next year!?)

This month, we are hosting a March Madness Bracket for all Members – which you can join here.

Just be prepared for all of my shit talking if you join! Go Blue Devils!

Now on to some updates, upcoming events, and member voices.

BDOA Updates:

• Member Count: 2,356
• Biggest State: California – 209 members
• Smallest State: South Dakota – 3 Members
• Discord Count: 360+ members – Join the member-only Discord
• Spare Beers 2 Champions: Tyler Phipps (#928), Brianna Singer (#1,007) – from Milton, West Virginia

Upcoming Event:

• March Madness bracket this month: It will be a nationwide event with the Championship Plaque and prizes on the line for members. We will be using ESPN for the bracket and you can join the free bracket here.

• Mario Kart Tournament: Chapters can join and host their own tournament in April. BDOA will be putting up a $100 cash prize for first place for all Chapters that take part in the tournament. Want to put on your own tournament, email me to host a tournament at your Chapter.

(Click here to join Oregon’s Mario Kart Tournament.)

Member Voices:

Below are unedited messages submitted by Members ahead of each State of the Association (SOA). Submit a message for the May SOA.

This section gives Members a place to share accomplishments, connect with others nearby, and pass along updates.

1. Aldahir Ramirez #1,806 (California):
   St. Patricks day @Jameson Pub in Santa Monica for my Socal members?
2. Jim Crawford #1,999 (Pennsylvania):
   Here’s to a long life and a merry one,
   A quick death and an easy one,
   A pretty girl and a true one,
   A cold bottle and another one.
3. Cash Bergmann #1,535 (West Virginia):
   Beer is a beautiful thing, my all time favorite was shiner bock until I drank a troegenator double bock beer, and that was truly the best beer I’ve ever drank, if you live near Martinsburg WV hit me up I’d like a chapter closer than Charleston, contact Hayden for Cash’s email.
4. Anthony Rogers #1,057 (Virginia):
   Why does IPA get so much hate? My go to is voodoo ranger juice force IPA, my runner up is victory brewing juicy monkey, and 3rd is the tropical beer hug line. 🍻 Cheers from Virginia!
5. Julio D. Rodriguez #1,542 (Rhode Island):
   With baby number 2 on the way this month, I’ll be drinking less overall. But I’m still down to visit a brewery if anyone is ever in the RI/MA area!
6. Steve H. #1,453 (Pennsylvania):
   Greetings from the Keystone State, fellow beer drinkers! It’s been a pleasure chatting and laughing with you all as BDOA continues to grow.
   
   As we slowly start to emerge from the harshness of winter, thoughts of warm jackets on cold days are giving way to thoughts of cold brews on warm days. With that said, I pose a question to all:
   
   What is your go-to summer beer? Something sweet like a Leinenkugel’s Summer Shandy or a Sam Adam’s Porch Rocker? Something easy going like a Mich Ultra or a Bud Light? What about flavors such as the always wonderful Busch Apple or Garage Beer: Lime? Craft or macro? Let me know what you like and why!
   
   I’d also like to take a second to ask all of my fellow BDOA members here in the Commonwealth to check out the Pennsylvania Chapter Facebook group, and help us become more active and continue to grow our little state specific community. Yuengling or IC Light, Sheetz or Wawa, Penguins or Flyers, Primanti’s or Cheesesteaks, come talk all things beer and all things PA with your fellow PA BDOA brothers and sisters! Several of our members are in the Pittsburgh area, and we’d love to see a regional Pittsburgh Chapter (or others) get started up if there’s enough interest!
   
   Lastly, a big thanks to Member #001 and all the others who put in work across the various platforms to help grow, moderate, and administrate the group. Thanks for all you do, and congratulations on 2,000+ members!
   
   Cheers!
   -Steve #1453
7. Dante, #1,067 (Massachusetts):
   We should all add each other on Untappd, maybe send a form in the email for people to share their handles
8. Alex T. Smith, #2,215 (Minnesota):
   Hello fellow Beer Drinkers of America! It is with great joy that I share that my favorite domestic beer, Yuengling Lager, has finally made its way to the great state of Wisconsin! I grew up and lived most of my life out east, in Ohio and West Virginia. When I turned 21, and began developing a taste for beer, Yuengling, which was established in Pennsylvania back in 1829 and is America’s oldest brewery, became my absolute favorite for a light, easy drinking beer. This beer tastes exactly like how I remember my early 20’s. Over a year ago, I moved to Duluth and was saddened to discover that neither Minnesota, or the nearby Wisconsin, had any distributers for my favorite beer. I missed it so much, that whenever I would travel back east, I would pick up a pack of Yuengling to bring back with me, and save for special occasions. Just the other week I had finished my very last bottle, and was disappointed to be without my favorite beer until the next time I went back to visit friends and family. To my surprise, in a recent trip to the nearby city of Superior Wisconsin, I saw a dive bar with a neon Yuengling sign in the window. I found the closest place to park and went inside to ask about it. The bartender said that about two weeks ago (early February 2026) Wisconsin had started distributing it. Of course I had to order a glass, and I’ve never had one that tasted better. Later on in the day I saw a billboard that said “Yuengling. Worth the 196 Year Wait. Now Available in Wisconsin.” I had to pull over and take a picture. So my fellow drinkers, if you live in a state that has Yuengling, particularly if you haven’t tried it before, have a glass and help me toast to my reunion with my dear old friend!
9. Michael Gasior #493 (Minnesota):
   Hello Fellow Beer Drinkers!! My name is Michael and I’m from Minnesota, looking to start our chapter, so if you or you know someone in MN that hasn’t joined BDOA yet, or has joined but isn’t part of a chapter, give them my email! BDOA is an amazing, inclusive, fun for all 21+ group! If you’re a BDOA member that is part of a chapter, but has questions, hit me up! I’ll assist anyone, any way I can! Email Hayden to contact Michael.

Closing Remarks:

That’s all for this month. I appreciate you all and look forward to connecting and growing the association with you.

As always, I’m here to chat, so email me back or message me on Instagram if you would like to chat, make suggestions, or get more involved!

Cheers!
Hayden R.
#001

Ps. BDOA is for everyone, so if you have ideas for events and competitions – let me know! Message me on Instagram below or reply to this email!