Oregon’s hop-growing region lies in the Willamette Valley, about 45 minutes south of Portland. Breweries all over the state make fresh hop beers, but if you want to sample, it’s easier in population centers like Portland, Eugene, Bend, Hood River, Salem, and Astoria. Many breweries make multiple types of fresh hop beers and can be rich environments. Even more reliable are craft beer bars and festivals, which carry many examples from breweries all over the region.
The first fresh hop beers start appearing at the end of August, but these are few and far between. Most beers take some time to produce (see How Fresh Hop Beers are Made), so they appear days or weeks later. Labor Day marks the real start of the season, but you’ll find the greatest number of beers between the middle of September and the middle of October. If you’re scheduling a visit, mid-to-late September is ideal; Oregon’s weather is usually nice, most of the fresh hop beers are still very fresh, and that’s when the festivals and pop-ups start.
Fresh Hop Festivals
Nothing beats a festival for sampling fresh hop beers. If you’re planning a visit, consider timing it to coincide with one of these:
- Fresh Hop Pop-Up, Portland, September 20 – October 6, 2024.
- Rose City Fresh Hop Festival (Portland), September 27-28, 2024.
- Hood River Hops Fest, October 5, 2024.