One of my favorite local beer festivals is taking place this Saturday, October 1: the Sisters Fresh Hop Festival! This year is the seventh annual event, taking place at Village Green Park from noon to 8pm, and the price is still right: $5 for the glass, and $1 for a four-ounce taste.

This year features 25 breweries (actually 23 breweries, one cidery, and one kombucha maker), which means at least 25 different fresh hop beverages. I’m being conservative with that count, because many will bring two fresh hop beers, so I expect more like 30-40 on tap.

Fresh hop season is one of my favorite (beer) times of the year, and seeing this many breweries represented is fantastic! This is also such a low-key, orderly festival that it’s a great end to summer.

Bonus: my print article in the Bulletin newspaper this week is on fresh hops and this fest. Check it out!

Finally, here is the official press release for the Fresh Hop Fest:

Join us in Sisters for the 7th Annual Sisters Fresh Hop Festival, benefiting the American Cancer Society. The event runs from 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. in Sisters Village Green Park. All ages are welcome in the tent, but you must be 21+ to purchase a pint glass and tasting tickets. There will be free live music by Bigfoot Mojo featuring Pete Kartsounes and The Rye Smiles.

The Sisters Fresh Hop Festival features unique fresh hop brews from 25 breweries around the state of Oregon. Participating breweries bring at least one fresh hop beer (meaning the hops go from farm to kettle within hours!) Adding to the fun, the breweries compete for the People’s Choice award – the coveted Golden Bunny!

Tasting pint glasses and tickets are required to taste the beer,. The cost is $5 per pint glass and $1 per ticket for a 4 oz taste.

Breweries for the 2016 festival include:
Alameda Brewing Co. – Portland, Oregon
Base Camp Brewing Company – Portland, Oregon
Bucha Buena Kombucha – Bend, Oregon
Buoy Beer Co. – Astoria, Oregon
Burnside Brewing Company – Portland, Oregon
Cascade Lakes Brewing Company – Bend, Oregon
Crux Fermentation Project – Bend, Oregon
Deschutes Brewery – Bend, Oregon
Gilgamesh Brewing – Salem, Oregon
Goodlife Brewing – Bend, Oregon
Immersion Brewing – Bend, Oregon
Mazama Brewing Company – Salem, Oregon
McKenzie Brewing – Eugene, Oregon
McMenamin’s Old St. Francis School – Bend, Oregon
Ninkasi Brewing – Eugene, Oregon
Ordnance Brewing – Boardman, Oregon
Pelican Brewing – Pacific City, Oregon
Red Tank Cider – Bend, Oregon
Riverbend Brewing – Bend, Oregon
Seven Brides Brewing – Silverton, Oregon
Silver Moon Brewing – Bend, Oregon
Sunriver Brewing – Sunriver, Oregon
Three Creeks Brewing Co. – Sisters, Oregon
Wild Ride Brewing – Redmond, Oregon
Worthy Brewing – Bend, Oregon