Want more? 2 Fresh Hop Tastivals remain

That’s right, Hood River was just the first of a veritable brewski trifecta. This weekend in Portland, and the next weekend in Eugene, there’s more.

Get details.

Thank you, everyone … tasters, sponsors, vendors and rain gods

Phew, that was fun.

Happy Hops Fest tasters

If you were on hand at the 2009 Hood River Hops Fest, you know of what I speak. We got a weather blessing — warm skies and sunshine in the early going, a big ol’ nimbus cloud about 3:30 that dumped for maybe 15 minutes or so, then dry skies all the way through cleanup, shortly after which, the rain resumed.

But by then, everyone was all hopped up and gone to their other lives.

So, we dodged the bullet that hit us in 2008. And lots of people showed up to enjoy it. Kudos to Charlie Devereux and Aaron Bray and the gang from Double Mountain, for pulling together the best beer line yet. Big tent, lots of room, lots of tastes.

Founding director Joanie Thomson still has the touch.

Props, too, to TCB Security and TCB Event Staffing, for doing a great job on the ID checks and securing the beer area. We love these guys, who first joined us in 2008. They’ll be back.

‘Jeat? Did … ya … eat? Hope so. We had some killer grub down food alley. Perfect with a cold, frosty one.

And the kids had a good time, too, climbing Metro Mountain’s wall, getting spray-on tattoos, hooping the hula and just being outside with Mom and Dad.

While waiting for the climbing wall, kids enjoyed the hula hoops.

Hope you enjoyed the other goodies for sale. Scrumptious Suds from Portland dished up some delish soap. Wendy Gray had bouquets o’lay. Oh, you know, there was lots more. You had to be there.

Thanks, again, to all our business sponsors for priming the pump. And ditto that, to everyone who loves beer and blogs about it, or puts words to newsprint, or yacks into the airwaves, for sharing the vibe.

And lastly, if you run into any of the community volunteers who made this happen, tell them thanks. We love the hundred or so people who showed up to pour beer. And set up tents. And fill tent anchors. And distribute garbage cans. And thanks to the Golden Crew who stuck around when all was said and done, to clean up the mess.

Norman Sylvester tuning up before bringing the blues to the brews.

I want to name names here, but if I try, I’m sure to miss someone. But I’ve got to applaud City Manager Bob Francis, Craig Holloway, Mari Beth Guenther, Mike Schock and his partner, Angela Burns, John Kasberger and Jon Davies and Tom Wood and … and … oh, lord, this is where my brain goes blank and, well, you know who you are, so thank you!

You’ve been waiting? Heck, so have we … for the beer list! Woo-hoo!

The 6th Annual Hood River Hops Fest will feature a cornucopia of 49 delicious brews from 26 Northwest breweries, including 31 Fresh Hop beers. At long last, here’s the lineup:

The Beer List:

Fresh Hop Beers:
Amnesia “Fresh Hoppalata”
Astoria “Hoptimus 2.0″ Imperial IPA
Big Horse “Vernon the Rabbit Slayer” Imperial IPA
Big Horse “The Strange” Hemp Ale
Bridgeport “Hop Harvest Ale”
Cascade Lakes “Fresh Hop Pale Ale”

Deschutes “Fresh Hop Mirror Pond” Pale Ale
Double Mountain “Killer Green” Fresh Hop IPA
Double Mountain “Fresh Vienna”
Ft George “Cohoperative Ale”
Full Sail “Lupulin Ale” (Crystal)
Full Sail “Lupulin Ale” (Cascade)
Hopworks “Sodbuster” Pale Ale
Laurelwood “Hop Bale” Pale Ale
Laurelwood “Organic Goodness” Pale Ale
Lucky Lab “The Mutt” Ale
Lucky Lab “Das Moot” Pilsner
MacTarnahan’s “Fresh Hop MacTarnahans” Ale
New Old Lompoc “Harvest Man” Red Ale
New Old Lompoc “Fresh Hop Crystal Wheat”
Ninkasi “Nugg E. Fresh Wet Hop Ale”
Oakshire “Fresh Hop Harvest Ale”
Pelican “Elemental Ale”
Rock Bottom “Hoodwinked Integrity-Style Ale”
Rock Bottom “Octoberfist”
Rogue “Chatoe Rogue First Growth Wet Hop Ale”
Sierra Nevada “Harvest Ale”
Three Creeks “Santiam Harvest” Farmhouse Ale
Upright  ”Fresh Hop of Bel Air” Saison-style Ale

Walking Man “Fresh Hop IPA”
Widmer “Hopturnal Emission”

Other Beers:
Amnesia “Copacetic” IPA
Astoria “Bitter Bitch” Double IPA
Bridgeport “Hop Czar” Imperial IPA
Cascade Lakes “Kolsch”
Elliott Glacier “Gnarl Ridge Double Dry-hopped IPA”
Elliott Glacier “Belgian Espresso Stout”
Everybody’s “IPA”
Everybody’s “Common Ale”
Ft George “Divinity”
Full Sail “Nate’s Ubergehopft Fest Bier”
Hopworks “7 Grain Survival Stout”
MacTarnahan’s “Humbug’r Winter Ale’
Oakshire “Overcast Espresso Stout”
Pelican “Doryman’s Dark” Ale
Three Creeks “Desperado Imperial IPA”
Upright “Four”
Walking Man “Hoptoberfest”
Widmer “w’10” Black IPA

Your brewpinion natters

It takes teamwork to get’r done

Volunteers come in all sizes and shapes -- some with their own matching taste-wear. Look for the fine folks from AmeriTitle to return to the tasting zone again this year.

Walking Man shares beer details

Brewers are busy people. Sometimes, they’re working on their contributions to Hops Fest right down to the wire. Which is why we love those that get out front enough to tell us — and you — what they have up their mash tun.

Jacob Leonard, a brewer at Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson, recently sent a description of the beers that they will pour at Hops Fest. One is a familiar favorite. The other is … all hopped up. Check our Brewers page for details.

Thank you, to all our generous sponsors

Hood River County Chamber of Commerce is host and organizer of the Hops Fest, through its Downtown Business Council. In addition, the Chamber and its Visitor Council have provided invaluable marketing support. Thanks.

CH2M Hill OMI has been a major sponsor of Hops Fest for several years. Not exactly a household word to most of us, these fine folks are responsible for keeping the city's wastewater treatment facility running smoothly. We who live to play in the river applaud you.

Thanks to the City of Hood River, Hops Fest happens every year. City officials have been great boosters of the event, providing labor and equipment to make it happen. Heck, without City Manager Bob Francis, we'd never figure out how to assemble one of our tents.

Bob Stone Freeway Auto Center in The Dalles is ground zero for the best Gorge vehicles, bar none. The only challenge is, many of us in the Gorge find ourselves getting into other people's cars, because everyone has a Subaru -- or wants to.

Hood River Supply is the go-to place for all your hardware and lawn and yard care needs. Everything from tools to light bulbs, fencing to mauls, they've got all all -- and at a great price.

Mt. Hood Meadows is the closest ski area to Hops Fest. Too bad snow seldom arrives early enough for a Hops Fest double -- multiple turns in the morning, suds sippin' in the afternoon. Good schnee, Buddies.

AmeriTitle provides title insurance and escrow services to home sellers and buyers in Hood River and elsewhere around the West. Beyond that, they like to send their team to Hops Fest to help out with guest services (i.e. pouring) each year. We love it.

Full Sail Brewing Company

Hood River County Commission on Children and Families

Gorge Networks is the hometown provider of Internet access and VOIP phone services. They'll help you get connected.

In addition to the above title sponsors, we wish to thank local sponsors:

Columbia River Insurance

Hood River Bagel Co.

Andrew’s Pizza and Skylight Theater

The Crazy Pepper Cantina

You like music? Here’s what’s rockin’

This just in — the lineup on stage at Hops Fest. We’ve got The High Five Oktoberfest Band doing traditional oompah style, longtime Portland favorite Norman Sylvester kicking out blues and R&B, more blues from Geno Michaels & Soul City, and closing her down, the high energy of Speed Queen Underground and its punk rock stylings.

Is that an oxymoron — punk rock … stylings? Oh, well, you get the drift. Get the details at our Entertainment page.

Volunteers make Hops Fest go — and have a great time

A member of the Amerititle volunteer team obviously enjoyed Hops Fest in 2008

Would you or your group like to volunteer at Hood River Hops Fest in 2009? It’s a great bonding experience, and a fun way to meet hundreds of your closest beer-loving compatriots. Volunteers get a mug and tasting tokens or, if they work the last shift, an invite to an after-event beer and pizza party at Double Mountain Brewing, a block away. Get on board: Call 541-386-8860.

Mark your calendar — Hops Fest is Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009

Join us for the 6th Annual Hood River Hops Fest — one of three fresh hop tastivals sponsored by the Oregon Brewers Guild and the Oregon Bounty program of Travel Oregon.

The event runs from noon to 9 p.m. in downtown Hood River, in the spacious parking area between Cascade and Columbia Streets, 5th and 7th Avenues.

We’re planning to host more than 20 Northwest brewers, each providing one of their favorite brews, plus a fresh-hopped brew just for this event.

Admission is free. Wristbands and tasting mugs for those 21 and over run $5. Taste tokens good for a 4-ounce pour run $1.

For information, or to volunteer, contact us.