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With the arrival of Hood River Hops Fest comes the high tide of this year's fresh hop season, a wave of delicious green ales (and the occasional lager) which marks the height of one of the last truly seasonal beers in the world.
This week, you'll be able to find more farm-to-kettle beers in Portland than probably anywhere else on earth. It's a testament to how seriously we take our hops that brewers are willing to make the speedy drives from hop growers fields to their own brewhouses so quickly each year—a love letter which is typically taste-able in the final product.
So raise a glass in the name of hops this week; You'll wait a whole 'nother year for a chance to takes beers this damn fresh.
Thursday, September 22
Fresh Hop Pop-Up
A pop-up fresh-hop beer fest will be held in the Burnside Brewing parking lot through Saturday, Sept. 24. They'll be tapping one-off beers from Seattle's Fremont Brewing on Tuesday. Laurelwood, Breakside, Fort George and a mystery brewer will follow. Expect also schnitzel, kraut, and other Oktoberfest things—but remember in your heart that fresh hops are an Oregon native tradition. Parking lot closes at 8 pm nightly. Burnside Brewing, 701 E Burnside St. 11 am-8 pm, September 21-24. Free.
Fresh Harvest Festival
So you know that huge Hood River fresh-hop fest on the weekend? There are also options for the lazy. And locally inclined. At least 20 different fresh-hop beers will tap at the hall of geek-roguery Green Dragon, including Laurelwood and Breakside, which are both of mandatory. Also, fresh-hop Cider Riot? Whoa. Green Dragon, 928 SE 9th Ave. 5-10 pm. Free.
Friday, September 23
The Big Legrowlski Second Anniversary Party
The dude abides two years in business in NW Portland with live music, a costume party, and happy hour prices all evening. No word of what will bless the taps, but we imagine most selections will be as smooth as a fresh white Russian. The Big Legrowlski, 812 NW Couch St. 8 pm-2:30 am. Free.
Saturday, September 24
Hood River Hops Fest
This is the big one—the fresh-hop fest to rule them all, with an ungodly number of fresh-hop beers from breweries all over the state, tastin' like lupulin like a mofo. Over 40 different brewers will be represented, whether Gorge locals like Pfriem and Solera or Portland-area locals like Coin Toss, Ex Novo and Breakside. You want the most hop flavor, the farmiest it gets? This is the spot. $15 admission includes 5 tasters. Extra tastes $1. Columbia Lot, 5th and Columbia, Hood River. 12-8 pm. $15.
Hoplandia Fresh Hop Festival
Hoplandia launches its first foray into fresh hop beers this year with ales from Culmination, Ex Novo, and numerous other local stand-outs, in case you can't be bothered to make the trek to Hood River. Hoplandia, 8600 N Ivanhoe St. 12 pm-12 am, September 24-25. Free.
Sunday, September 25
Beers For Breakfast
Now you can get drunk at 9 am without having to go to an East Portland strip club! Great Notion—home to a blueberry muffin beer that tastes like blueberry muffins, and a pancake beer that tastes kinda like pancakes—will do what comes naturally and host a breakfast beerfest with seatings at 9 am and 11 am. It costs $50 for a pancake breakfast and 12 tasters (about 3 pints). Minors still pay $25, for what we can only assume is a breakfast with gold flakes in it. Great Notion Brewing, 2204 NE Alberta St. #101. 9 am. $50 for pancake breakfast if 21 plus, $25 for minors.
Monday, September 26
Burgers N' Breakside
The area's most critically-acclaimed brewery brings its hoppy wares North from Milwuakee tonight, marking the return of Jackson Wyatt's beloved burger night. With everything from fresh hop beers to a Russian imperial stout, there should be some amazing things to pair with that beef. N.W.I.P.A., 6350 SE Foster Rd. 5-8 pm. Free.
Willamette Week