Hood River, Oregon is a city of scenic wonders and the home of many breweries. It’s also the location of a festival that pays tribute to hops and the different beers made from these amazing, fragrant plants. The event is the Hood River Hops Fest, scheduled for Saturday, September 24 and now in its 13th year.
Every beer lover knows the difference that fresh hops make and the Hood River Hops Fest is one of the best events in the nation to get your fill of fresh hop beer. In all, there will be more than 60 varieties of beer made with hops just picked from the vine. Local breweries such as Double Mountain Brewery, Full Sail Brewing and pFriem Family Brewers will each pour their own fresh hop ales with other fresh hop beers also available from other breweries in the Pacific Northwest region and other areas of the United States. There will even be a few local hop ciders to sample and some select wines from Naked Winery.
One enhancement to the 2016 fest is the Hood River Hops Fest Awards, a competition that will select a People’s Choice and Top of the Hops awards. The Oregon Beer Awards’ have a new Fresh Hop category and it will also be judged during the competition with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals awarded to the best beers. The winners will be crowned in a separate ceremony at the Oregon Beer Awards, scheduled for Portland on February 28, 2017.
Mike Glover, CEO of the Hood River Chamber of Commerce, says adding the awards should help make the festival even more memorable than before and he looks forward to working with the Oregon Beer Awards and its new Fresh Hop category.
“Hood River Hops Fest is a celebration of our region’s numerous craft breweries, which love creating unique, seasonal beers with fresh, local hops,” said Glover. “We’re excited to take the festival excitement and competitive spirit up a notch this year with the new Hood River Hops Fest awards, which will let festival-goers call out their favorites. We’re also thrilled to partner with Oregon Beer Awards as they launch their new Fresh Hop category. They recognize that the Hood River Hops Fest is the place to be to taste the best fresh hop beers Oregon has to offer!”
Hood River Hops Fest is mainly a tribute to hops and the beers that owe their flavor to them, but there is much more to do at this event than drink beer. The festival will feature locally made foods, arts and crafts, live music, and even a children’s play area, which is open until 5 p.m. If you want to bring the kiddos, feel free to do so, but bear in mind that the Hood River Hops Fest becomes child free from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m.
The fall season is arguably the best time of the year to visit this Pacific Northwest region due to the natural beauty and the crisp fall air. If you’re planning a vacation to Hood River, Oregon you might want to consider adding a few extra days to your excursion and scheduling additional activities, such as picking apples at the Hood River County Fruit Loop, riding a bicycle on the scenic Historic Columbia River Highway State Trail from Hood River to Mosier, and enjoying food from the many local restaurants that feature farm-to-table meals. And, of course, there are countless breweries in the area worth visiting, many of which can be mapped at the Breweries in the Gorge website,breweriesinthegorge.com.
Hood River Hops Fest is one of the Northwest’s finest small town festivals and a great idea for a weekend getaway or longer. For information on purchasing tickets, visit hoodriver.org/hops-fest. Oregon is a place of great natural beauty and the Hood River Hops Fest is the perfect place to breathe in the fresh mountain air, view the incredible scenery and fall foliage, and admire the delicious craft beers made in this region. It’s all waiting for you in Hood River Oregon on Saturday, September 24, 2016.
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