2022’s Guide to Fresh Hops & 2022’s Guide to Oktoberfest
If there’s one period in the year that shows the largest change, it has got to be Autumn. Whether it’s the sight of leaves, slowly transitioning from hues of green to yellows and browns, falling, or the days getting cooler and shorter, there is nothing like Autumn. And as you pull out your zip up or pullover sweatshirts, update your footwear from flip-flops to shoes and boots, the farmers of the region are preparing or are already undertaking the harvest.
For the Pacific Northwest, home to nations glut of hops, the men and women of the hop fields have started their 24-hour harvest of hops varieties ranging from the familiar Centennial, Cascade, or Simcoe; to newer hops like BRU-1, Strata, or Sabro. Meanwhile, with their fermenters emptied, their recipes laid out, the brewers of the region are preparing for that call, asking them to recover bushels of hops, not yet dried in the humid warehouses of the hop kilns. But for some, the allure of driving minutes or hours, is not for them. Instead, they celebrate the harvest a different way, much like those in Germany did many centuries ago.
Owing to inspiration, courtesy Munich’s Oktoberfest, brewers around the region (and abroad) have brewed unique lagers, inspired by the tradition of Oktoberfest. Going by names like Vienna, Oktoberfest, Festbier, or Märzen, this month signals the return of Oktoberfest in the Pacific Northwest.
So we thought, as we recognize the importance of the Autumn, er Fall, season, we would assemble another edition of our Guide to Fresh Hops and Guide to Oktoberfest, but with a twist. We’re merging them.
That’s right, after reaching out to countless brewers, those who have historically responded to our invitations for entry, we have assembled a list of breweries that are planning or have already released a fresh hop or Oktoberfest-inspired lager.
Further down this article, you’ll find a helpful guide to the various beers in planning, along with helpful information on hops, the farms that grow them, and of course the beers. Besides listing those who will produce beer, we have included a helpful calendar that will list events related to the celebration of hops or Oktoberfest.
Guide to Fresh Hops
For 2022
So, what does it mean to enjoy a fresh hop beer?
For the uninitiated, a fresh hop beer is one that incorporates hops which have not gone through the traditional dehydrating process. Hops which are not dried prior to use are often used for flavor or aromatic purposes. On rare occasions, a brewer may choose to use the hops during each stage of the brewing process (e.g. bittering, flavor, and aroma).
Living in the Pacific Northwest, you have a unique opportunity to enjoy beers made with hops which are anywhere from 5 minutes to several hours from the brewery . Make no mistake, these uniquely-brewed beers will only be around for a limited time and will evolve quickly once they leave they go from brewery to glass. Which is why you need to consider trying these now and while they're fresh.
Within this guide, we have included the state whose breweries have shared the beer style, hops, and the farms which all contribute to the beer in your hand. Should you wish to learn more about the hops included in brewer's notes, you are welcome to visit our Find Your Hop section which included history, photos, and 2019 examples of breweries which are using fresh hop versions of these flowers.
Don't worry if your favorite brewery isn't listed as some breweries rely on the farms who nourish the brewery with their preferred hop(s). When the hop(s) are ready to harvest you can be assured the brewery will notify us what hops are being used and when the beer will be released.
As always this is your opportunity to let us know if we overlooked something. So if you see an omission, associated with your favorite independent, craft, brewery then let us know.
Cheers to the hop harvest and a truly unique style of beer - the fresh hopped.
Events
Oktoberfest
A Beer Guide for 2022
I do think most people in the US think of more of the Marzen style when they think of Oktoberfest. I think that's starting to change a little as more breweries are starting to make the Wiesn beer that is seen at Oktoberfest in Munich. We chose to make our Oktoberfest beer in the Marzen style as that was the specific style that inspired my dad, Rick Allen, to start the brewery.
Bobtoberfest is one of my favorite beers we make. It's delicious and we release Bob when the summer is slowly starting to change to fall and that's one of my favorite times of year.
-Lisa Allen, Head Brewer at German-inspired brewery Heater Allen
Willkommen Zum Oktoberfest!!!
Oktoberfest. Those of age or who know a family or friend with memorabilia emblazoned with this word have heard of it. People have traveled distances to attend a festival, for the opportunity to wear a lederhosen or dirndl, while hoisting a stein. But do you know the history of Oktoberfest, beyond the presumption that beer, brats, pretzels, and music are included? Well, if you don't, here's the quick and dirty breakdown.
The Oktoberfest (German pronunciation: [ɔkˈtoːbɐˌfɛst]) is the world's largest Volksfest (beer festival and travelling funfair). It is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. It is a 16 to 18 day folk festival running from mid- or late September to the first Sunday in October, with more than six million people from around the world attending the event every year. Locally, it is called d’Wiesn, after the colloquial name for the fairgrounds, Theresienwiese. The Oktoberfest is an important part of Bavarian culture, having been held since the year 1810. Other cities across the world also hold Oktoberfest celebrations that are modeled after the original Munich event.
During the event, large quantities of Oktoberfest Beer are consumed. During the 16-day festival in 2013, for example, 7.7 million litres (66,000 US bbl; 1,700,000 imp gal) were served.[1] Visitors also enjoy numerous attractions, such as amusement rides, sidestalls, and games. There is also a wide variety of traditional foods available.
The Munich Oktoberfest originally took place in the 16-day period leading up to the first Sunday in October. In 1994, this longstanding schedule was modified in response to German reunification. As such, if the first Sunday in October falls on the 1st or the 2nd, then the festival would run until 3 October (German Unity Day). Thus, the festival now runs for 17 days when the first Sunday is 2 October and 18 days when it is 1 October. In 2010, the festival lasted until the first Monday in October (4 October), to mark the event's bicentennial. -Source, Wikipedia
History lesson out of the way, you now have a reminder or clarification on why breweries throughout the world look forward to Oktoberfest. Obviously, 2021 has a huge asterisk because of the ongoing global pandemic affected by SARS COVID-2. Recognizing that health and safety are important, we reached out to hundreds of breweries to see if they would like to share their list of Oktoberfest-inspired lagers.
From the traditional Oktoberfest, to the popular Festbier, there are many options to choose from in the first ever Oktoberfest Beer Guide. Plus, we have sourced a handful of festivals throughout the region celebrating Oktoberfest. Breaking it down for you, we have two guides, one by style and one by release date. All you need to do is choose.
Events
About the data.
Several weeks ago, we reached out to hundreds of breweries. We asked them to confirm they were producing either a fresh-hopped ale or lager or an Oktoberfest-inspired beer. If you know a brewery that would like to be listed here, we encourage you to reach out to them and have them contact us, via our Contact page.
