Fresh hop beer season has arrived – beers and festivals are here

 

Each year it seems the very first sign of fresh hop beer season involves Two Beers Brewing. For whatever reason, they have a line on some early hops. Apparently grown on one particular side of one particular hill on one particular hop farm, these hops are the first to “come ready” every year. On Wednesday, August 9th the hops were harvested, immediately driven to Seattle, and then hand-picked from the bines by a group of enthusiastic volunteers. Within 24 hours these hops found their way into the brew kettle.

Don’t know what all this “fresh hop” talk is about, check out this post I did a few years back.

Two Beers Brewing releases its first batch of 2017 Fresh Hop IPA on Wednesday, August 23rd at the brewery’s taproom in Seattle. Soon thereafter it will be available in cans. In the coming weeks a lot of other breweries will begin to release their fresh hop creations.


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One of the best ways to enjoy fresh hop beer is to attend one of the region’s three fresh hop beer festivals. Although it may be tough to get tickets for the Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival, and even tougher to get a hotel room in Yakima that weekend, the events in Seattle and Hood River should have plenty of tickets remaining.

Here’s information about all three festivals.


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Hood River Hops Fest

September 23, 2017
Noon – 8:00
Location: Columbia Lot, 5th and Columbia, downtown, Hood River, OR 97031
Contact: (541) 386-2000
Website

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Presented by CH2M and awarded silver medal for best beer festival from the Willamette Week, Oregon Beer Awards, the Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend, freshly harvested hops. Hood River County is surrounded by world-renowned hop growing regions, and since 2003 brewers have gathered each September in downtown Hood River to share their fresh-hop beer creations. The family friendly event features a variety of food vendors, over 50 breweries with over 75 fresh hop beers, rocking live music, and an awesome collectable mug. Mark your calendars this is a festival not to be missed!

  • 21+ Entry Only Ticket: $10
  • 21+ Beer Garden Ticket: $15 presale; $20 day-of. Includes entry, commemorative glass mug and five 3.5 oz. taste tokens
  • Under 21: Free admission. Note: The venue is open to people 21 or older only from 5pm until closing at 8pm

Yakima Fresh Hop Ale Festival

Fresh Hop Ale Festival will be hosted at the Millennium Plaza in downtown Yakima WA. Party starts at 5 PM September 30th, 2017. VIP’s get access one hour early (4 PM)

General Admission Tickets include:

  • Access to over 40+ breweries
  • Wineries & Cideries
  • Live Music
  • Collectible Pint Glass
  • Special Beers on Beer Bike
  • Food & merchandise available
  • Beer Garden Games
  • $10 Scrip
  • $45 Per Ticket

4th Street Theatre Beer Experience tickets include:

  • Must check in through the 4th Street Theater. Luxury Beer lounge.
  • 3:00 PM exclusive early entry into 4th Street Beer Experience
  • 4:00 PM early entrance into festival grounds
  • Gourmet catered food
  • Exclusive Beers & Wine
  • Meet and greet brewers
  • Exclusive bottle sampling
  • Private access through the theatre to festival grounds
  • Exclusive BEER Experience Glass
  • Ample seating
  • Includes $20 in drink scrip
  • Private bathrooms
  • Dance Floor
  • Fresh Hop Ale Festival General Admission
  • $150
  • Does not include entrance to the VIP Garden

There are also VIP tables and single tickets available. For more information, visit the website.

2nd Annual Seattle Fresh Hops Festival

Saturday, October 7th, 2017
Hale’s Palladium
4301 Leary Way NW
1-4 pm & 6-9 pm
Tickets $25 Advance/ $30 Door
CLICK HERE for tickets!

If you love hops, you can’t miss the 2nd Annual Seattle Fresh Hops Festival! TWO sessions to choose from! 20+ breweries will sample just released fresh hops brews. Food and sliders will be available from Hale’s.

The Yakima Valley of Washington State is one of the most important hop growing regions in the world. Because of the boom in the beer industry, especially craft brewing in the U.S., demand for hops is at an all-time high. And our own Yakima Valley contains approximately 75% of the total U.S. hop acreage! Approximately 2/3’s of the hops produced in the Yakima Valley are exported to countries all over the globe. Depending on the variety of hops, growers begin to harvest late August thru September.

Once a year brewmasters descend on Yakima’s Hop Country to hand pick their favorite varieties of hops, all with varying degrees of bitterness and aromatics. And they can’t wait to brew a batch or too with what they’ve chosen! Join in the fun and experience the wide range of fresh hop style beers and see what the excitement is all about!

  • 20 Corners Brewing
  • Bad Jimmy’s Brewery
  • Cole Street Brewing
  • Diamond Knot Craft Brewing
  • Elysian Brewing Company
  • Fremont Brewing
  • Lowercase Brewing
  • Lucky Envelope Brewing
  • pFriem Family Brewers
  • Rogue Ales
  • Triplehorn Brewing Co
  • Wingman Brewers
  • More TBA

 


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