Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More
Fresh Hops in Portland
Celebrate the hop harvest with sudsy festivals and seasonal beers.
Molly Woodstock
Molly Woodstock has been writing and editing content for Travel Portland since 2014. Read More
Love the bitter, tangy taste of an IPA? You can thank hops, the fragrant, cone-shaped flowers that brewers use to flavor and preserve their beers. While most brews feature dried hops, the autumn hop harvest in the surrounding Willamette Valley gives Portland beermakers the “hop-portunity” to snag fresh-picked (aka “wet” hops) for one-off, limited edition creations loaded with peak season flavors. Some brewers are so giddy about the harvest they have been know to ride cargo-style bikes to local farms to gather the yields, demonstrating Portlanders’ easy access to world-class ingredients and our natural tendency to be a little “weird.” Celebrate the season in true Beervana style with these pints and parties.
Events
Each October, the Portland Fresh Hops Fest fills Oaks Amusement Park with fresh hop beers from across Oregon. Past participants include local legends like Widmer Brothers, as well as regional all-stars like Eugene’s Ninkasi, Astoria’s Fort George and Bend-based Deschutes.
The biggest event of its kind in the state — if not the world — the Hood River Hops Fest features more than 60 fresh hop beers from dozens of Northwest breweries. Sample seasonal specials by Hood River locals like Double Mountain, Full Sail and pFriem Family Brewers, including a handful of fruity hop ciders. The party also features live music, Willamette Valley wine, arts and crafts from local makers and a family-friendly play area.
Beer Festivals
Oregon Brewers Festival
Portland hosts dozens of beer festivals every year, but none compares to the Oregon Brewers Festival. With offerings from 80 craft brewers, the event draws nearly 70,000 attendees to the downtown waterfront every July.
Portland Beer Week
Portland Beer Week spotlights Portland’s breweries, high-quality brews and vibrant beer culture.
Beer Festivals in Portland
Portland isn't shy about its love of beer — the city has nearly as many beer festivals as it does breweries.
Still Thirsty?
Oregon towns Eugene, Sisters, Silverton, Independence and St. Paul all host their own fresh hop fetes — dates and details available via Oregon Craft Beer.
Beers
You don’t need to buy a festival ticket to taste a wet hop brew. Many of Portland’s more than 60 breweries celebrate the hops harvest with limited edition beers crafted with freshly-picked ingredients.
Each September, the McMenamins team rushes more than 1,000 pounds (453.6 kg) of fresh Brewer’s Gold hops from Salem’s Sodbuster Farms to their two dozen breweries throughout the Northwest. D\ubbed “The Running of the Brewers,” this annual event heralds hundreds of delicious barrels of Thundercone Fresh Hop Ale, available at all 66 (and counting) McMenamins locations (while supplies last).
Around Labor Day, the Deschutes Brewery crew fills bags with fresh Nugget, Centennial and Fresh Crystal hops from a nearby farm, hurrying back to toss the flowers in the brew kettles within four hours of picking. The resulting Fresh Hop Pale Ale packs a bright citrus punch and pleasant fall spice — the unique combo even took home “World’s Best Harvest Pale Ale” at the 2011 World Beer Awards.
Still Thirsty?
Stop by any local brewery in late September and chances are good that you’ll find a fresh hop masterpiece on tap. Recent favorites include “Hopularity Contest” at Base Camp Brewing and “1.21 Gigahops Fresh Hop Brown” at StormBreaker Brewing. If you’re lucky, you might snag a sip of a fresh hop version of Widmer’s famous Hefeweizen or a bottle of a wet-hop Workhorse IPA from Laurelwood Brewing. With such abundant fresh flavors, Portland beer lovers are a very lucky bunch. But don’t delay — another bountiful season of fresh hops beer will be over before you know it!
Upcoming suds events
BrewLights
Enjoy the twinkling magical wonderland of ZooLights – without any kids! Join up for the third annual BrewLights, a ZooLights brew festival experience just for the 21-and-over crowd with dozens of local beer, cider and seltzer vendors to sample from. Enjoy local food carts, dance to live music, meet wildlife close-up and get your photo…
Brewvana's Beers & Barrels Tour
The combination of beer and whiskey is a match made in heaven. Beer and whiskey are surprisingly similar in ingredients and process. In fact, you have to make beer to make whiskey! You’ll start at a brewery first to learn about the ingredients and brewing process for beer and taste a variety of styles. Next,…
Yoga & Beer
Join up for detox + retox at Ecliptic Brewing for a Sunday morning class in their taproom before they open to the public. This Yoga + Beer event will begin with a 75-minute, all-levels, flow yoga class taught by Beer Yogi and Yoga Instructor, Mikki Trowbridge. After class, yogis are invited to stay and enjoy…
Yoga + Beer at Ecliptic Brewing
Join up on Sunday morning, before Ecliptic opens to the public, for class in their taproom. This Yoga + Beer event will begin with a 75-minute all levels flow yoga class taught by Beer Yogi and Yoga Instructor Seville Strickler. After class, yogis are invited to stay and enjoy a pint. Lunch will also be…
Black Beer Friday
Come to the Dark Side and escape Black Friday madness at Ecliptic Brewing. This year, Ecliptic is celebrating Black Beer Friday with the release of its Barrel-Aged Sedna Tiramisu Stout. You can be among the first to try this beer while also indulging in all-day Dark Side specials, including: Dark Side Taster Tray featuring Barrel-Aged…
Holiday Ale Festival
The Holiday Ale Festival, set beneath the region’s largest decorated holiday tree, returns every year with more than 50 big, bold beers designed to keep revelers warm on cold winter nights.
NW Coffee Beer Invitational
The Northwest’s two favorite brews are in the spotlight again for the seventh NW Coffee Beer Invitational. Twenty talented brewers and beverage makers were asked to create freshly made beer with locally roasted coffee. With the emphasis on flavors and an ABV requirement of 7% or less, this event promises inspired combinations. Entries will be…
PDX Beer Week
Portland Beer Week spotlights Portland’s breweries, high-quality brews and vibrant beer culture.