My latest print article out this week is about fresh hops, but more importantly it documents the trip I got to take with Deschutes Brewery back in August to pick up hops for a charity beer. Fresh hop beers are brewing in Central Oregon:

On Oct. 7, Deschutes Brewery is hosting the release party for Savin’ Freshies, a fresh hop pale ale that will raise money for the Native Fish Society (NFS).

Toby Nolan, the senior lead guide of tours at the Deschutes Brewery tasting room, is the originator behind the beer and the fundraising project. Savin’ Freshies is brewed with 50 pounds of fresh Centennial hops that Nolan collected from Goschie Farms in late August. He invited me along to learn about the concept and to catch a fascinating glimpse into how the just-harvested hops make it into the beer.

We left Bend about 7 a.m. on Aug. 23 bound for Silverton, about 15 miles east of Salem. Smoky haze from the Milli Fire shrouded everything east of Santiam Pass, but that didn’t dampen Nolan’s enthusiasm to talk about everything from beer to adventure guide management to fishing.

How does fishing tie into beer? The answer is the hops. Goschie Farms was the first hop farm in the country to earn Salmon-Safe certification, and grows all of its hops in accordance with Salmon-Safe guidelines.

That beer, Savin’ Freshies, will have an official release party on Saturday, October 7, at the Deschutes Bend Pub. $1 from every pint sold will benefit the Native Fish Society, and at the party that night there will be additional items up for raffle with the proceeds also benefiting the NFS.

It’ll be a good party, and a tasty beer (yes, I had a chance to taste it ahead of time!). Mark your calendars for the 7th!