Peaks and Pints Fresh Hoptoberfest For Days
For the sixth consecutive September, Peaks and Pints is throwing a month-long autumn beer party marrying up two popular seasonal beers — fresh hops and Oktoberfest. Launching a week later than previous years due to late fresh hops, Peaks & Pints will tap fresh hop and Oktoberfest beers daily Friday, Sept. 9 through Sunday, Oct, 9. Expect, at least, two draft bright, hop-hazy fresh-hop beers AND two draft clean, hearty Oktoberfest-style lagers. This year, we’re calling our annual celebration, “Peaks and Pints Fresh Hoptoberfest For Days,” as we’re including other regional fresh hop and Oktoberfest celebration in a monthlong calendar.
SEPTEMBER 9
The party began in October 1810, when a great horse race was organized to celebrate the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen. Everyone had so much fun that it was held again, and eventually became an annual event, dubbed “Oktoberfest” in 1872. Peaks & Pints will have two Oktoberfest beers on tap, plus two draft fresh hop beers. 11 a.m. to midnight, Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 10
McMenamins throws down their sixth Kennedy School Oktoberfest Brewfest with more than a dozen German-style craft beers, plus burgers, brats, and warm pretzels to nosh on while enjoying live music. 1-7 p.m., Kennedy School, 5736 N.E. 33rd Ave., Portland, Oregon.
SEPTEMBER 11
In keeping with our multi-rooted sensibilities, Peaks & Pints throws the best regional seasonal beers on tap from both Germany and our beloved Pacific Northwest. You’ll find an array of bright, hop-hazy fresh-hop beers, just hours from field to kettle and mere days from the fermenter to your glass. And drink to your health with sturdy mugs of clean, hearty Oktoberfest-style lagers from Germany and nearby. We’ll wager our pretzel will go well with both! 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 12
Most of the year, brewers coax flavor and aroma out of dried and pelleted hops. But in late summer early fall, when the precious hop cones are plump and fragrant, many brewers’ experiment with fresh- (or “wet”-) hopped IPAs and pale ales. Straight from the fields, fresh hops lend juicy, earthy notes that are often compared to newly mown grass. Unlike Oktoberfest styles, wet-hopped beer should be consumed as quickly as possible after brewing, as all those delicate nuances dissipate quite quickly. Peaks and Pints will have fresh hop beers and Octoberfest beers on tap. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 13
Given the Teutonic predilection with precision, you’d think the Germans would have at least gotten the name for Oktoberfest right. Why not call it “Septemberfest” or “Autumnfest,” since the annual celebration takes place primarily during the month of September? Then again, Oktoberfest just has a nice ring to it, a yearly reminder that fall is once again with us, and that it’s OK to eat pretzels and drink cold beer in funny leather shorts. Stop by Peaks & Pints and choose between two Oktoberfest draft beers, as well as at least two fresh hop draft beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 14
Back in the day, German brewers ramped up in March, brewing a strong, malty lager that could last through the beer-less summer months. That style became known as Märzen, from the German word for March. Stored in cool caves and allowed to slowly ferment, the crisp yet robust beer became a perfect transition into the colder fall months, eventually fueling raucous Oktoberfest celebrations around the world. Peaks & Pints will also tap Märzen-style beers over the next month, next to fresh hop lagers, pales, and IPA. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 15
The tight-knit community of Mount Angel was settled by German pioneers in the 1800s, which might explain the Bavarian-style buildings downtown, and folks in this city 40 miles south of Portland, Oregon, put on one of the best traditional Oktoberfest. Sept. 15-18, 5 N. Garfield, Mt. Angel, Oregon
SEPTEMBER 16-OCTOBER 2
Portland’s seventh Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest returns to the food cart pod Prost! Marketplace. Ten food trucks and 10 rotating fresh hop taps will fill the 17-day fresh hop marathon. Created by the Portland Beer Fest folks, the Fest kicks off with fresh hops from Von Ebert, Gigantic, Threshold, Double Mountain, Sunriver, Baerlic, Level, Little Beast, ForeLand, and Zoiglhaus. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, through Oct. 6, 4233 N. Mississippi, Portland
SEPTEMBER 16-18
For three days in the streets of Fremont, beer enthusiasts will celebrate German-style beers during the largest Oktoberfest in Seattle, Fremont Oktoberfest. In addition to the beer, expect food, ax throwing, Texas Chainsaw Pumpkin Carving, Stein Hoisting, and a great big game of Street Scramble. 5-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Fremont neighborhood, Seattle
SEPTEMBER 17
McMenamins will host its inaugural Fresh Hopped Fest at its Wilsonville Old Church location in Wilsonville. The festival will feature McMenamins Thundercone Fresh Hop alongside 20 other fresh hop offerings. McMenamins Old Church & Pub, 30340 SW Boones Ferry Road, Wilsonville, Oregon
SEPTEMBER 18
These days, a true German Märzen larger isn’t as easy to is hard as festbiers, Maibocks and dunkels. Whatever the name, a pint of malty, dark lager is the perfect accompaniment for the changing seasons, and Peaks and Pints will keep them on tap through Oct. 9, as well as at least two fresh hop beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 19
Germans don’t call their annual beer event “Oktoberfest;” they prefer the term “Wies’n.” Why Wies’n? Long before beer, bratwurst and lederhosen became Oktoberfest icons, Crown Prince Ludwig married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. This was back in October 1810. Being a people person, Prince Ludwig (who would eventually become crazy King Ludwig I) invited the entire city of Munich to attend his nuptials, held on the lush fields in front of Munich’s city gates. Following the happy affair, those fields were re-named “Theresienwiese (Theresa’s fields), after the crown princess. In time though, the locals seemed to have forgotten Theresa and shortened the name of the fields where Oktoberfest is held simply to “Wies’n.” Peaks & Pints will most certainly tap Wies’n beers, along with Märzen and festbiers, in addition to fresh hop beers through Oct. 9. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 20
According to most beer historians, hops were first cultivated by growers in the Hallertau region of Bavaria in southern Germany. Going back to at least the 11th century, hops were added to beer not only to preserve it but enhance its flavor. Improving on 1,000 years of tradition might seem like a fool’s errand, but brewers have continued to experiment with hops, crossbreeding them into countless varieties to create the kaleidoscope of styles and tastes we enjoy today. Peaks & Pints will tap at least two fresh hop beers, in addition to two Oktoberfest-style beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 21
Since 2011, the United States has experienced a 15-percent increase in the number of hop-acres harvested. Washington state’s Yakima Valley accounts for about 78 percent of the nation’s entire hop production. The Yakima Valley relies heavily on irrigation, so hop crops are unaffected by climate or weather, leaving the door open for Washington to pass Germany as the world hop leader. Brewers can drive to local farms on their lunch break and be home by dinnertime. Embracing proximity, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho produce some of the best fresh hop beers in the world, some of which will be on tap at Peaks & Pints side-by-side with Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 22
The process of making a fresh hop ale is deceptively simple: pluck the hops from the bine (yes, that’s spelled right) and drop them in the wort. The trick is doing it in as little time as possible to ensure maximum freshness. The resulting flavor is as fascinating as the process is picturesque. Because wet-hopped beers can only be brewed and consumed during a short window in early fall, their release has become cause for celebration across the Northwest, including Peaks and Pints throughout Oct. 9, along with Oktoberfest beers on tap. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 23-25
The city of Kirkland hosts an adult-only Oktoberfest celebration of Bavarian customs and life. In addition to large pours of German-style lagers, expect ribs, sausages, music on two stages, seven DJs, games, and contests. Marina Park, 25 Lakeshore Plaza, Kirkland
SEPTEMBER 24
The Sisters Fresh Hop Festival showcases fresh hop beers from 20-plus Oregon breweries alongside live music, food carts and more at Three Creeks Brewing’s production facility. As a charity event, previous years raised more than $10,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Noon to 6 p.m., 265 E. Barclay Dr., Sisters, Oregon
SEPTEMBER 25
As many know, beer is flavored with hops. If you’ve been on a brewery tour, you might have held these pungent cones in your hand. For the most part, hops are dried. Drying hops increases their shelf life as well as the predictability of the characteristics they’ll impart on the beer. But drying hops reduces their fragrant and flavor-giving essential oils. With fresh hops, the hop cones are picked straight from the vine and added to brews within hours of harvesting, imparting a woodsy and earthy flavor to brews. Peaks & Pints has at least two fresh hop beers on tap, as well as two Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 26
While very similar with their aromatic personas and burst of juicy flavors, there is a slight distinction between fresh hop beers and wet hop beers per Brewers Association guidelines. Fresh hop beers are brewed with the newly harvested hops off the bine, typically still in whole cones and within a week or two of being harvested. These hops are not broken down or processed, thus still considered “fresh,” though they may have begun to dry out naturally or dried to preserve as much of the hop flavor as possible. Wet hop beers are brewed with fresh, completely undried hops, going straight to boil within 24-36 hours of coming off the vine. The limited nature of both styles tends to make them highly regarded and having them as soon as possible is the best plan of action. Typically, hops are added during the boil, when the wort is heated and boiled for 60 to 90 minutes. For bitterness, hops are added at the beginning of the boil; for aroma and flavor, they’re added right at the end. Some brewers like to add wet hops to the boil at various stages, other like to save their wet hops for use only later in the process. Many like to create what is called a “hopback,” which is a vessel that holds hot wort as wet hops infuse into the liquid, creating what is essentially a fresh-hop tea. Relatively low levels of acids are extracted at this temperature; it’s an approach that’s mostly about extracting big hop aroma and flavor. That’s all wet and dandy, but let’s get to drinking at least two wet hop beers — plus two Oktoberfest beers — at Peaks & Pints. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 27
Innovative hop stars Ruse Brewing’s fresh hop beers come and go as quickly as shooting stars. Checking in with the Portland’s Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest you’ll notice Tuesday, Sept. 27 is Ruse Brewing Fresh Hop Night. This is your chance to try six of the Portland brewery’s fresh hops in one place. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, through Oct. 6, 4233 N. Mississippi, Portland
SEPTEMBER 28
Most Oktoberfest beers are colored a deep auburn, with a light hoppiness and flavors that start caramel-sweet and end dry and nutty. This style use to be the only served at Germany’s Oktoberfest, the world’s biggest celebration of beer. Festbier, sometimes called wies’n, festibiere or Oktoberfestbier — a name that can only be used by Breweries in Munich — has taken the place of Marzën in the beer tents dotting the Theresienwiese (Therese’s meadow) in Munich during the two-week Oktoberfest celebration. Golden in color and very easy to drink festbier was developed and pioneered by Paulaner. The brewery debuted it during the festival in the early 1970s. Stop by Peaks & Pints for a pint of festbier alongside several fresh hop beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 29
Since fresh hops have not been put through hop oil analysis, the exact oil content of fresh hops is not known. The characteristics of hops change year to year, and crop to crop. Alpha acids used for bitterness calculations must be estimated based on expected values for the hop type. Fresh hops have not yet been dried – that means water makes up most of their weight. Compared to a dried hop, a wet hop will weigh about five times more. That means that if you would normally use one ounce of a dried hop to bitter, you’ll need five ounces of wet hops to achieve the same bitterness or aromatics. Stop by Peaks & Pints and taste several fresh hop beers, as well as Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1
Celebrated annually during the first three weekends of October, the Leavenworth Oktoberfest welcomes more than 10,000 visitors every year. You’ll enjoy music, a never-ending flow of beer, sausages, and barbecue ribs, and people dressed in traditional Bavarian attire, or their best attempts at what it should look like. The Leavenworth Oktoberfest celebration is typically divided into four party locations with each featuring some of the best German bands and dance groups. You won’t want to miss the Leavenworth Oktoberfest parade on Saturday at noon with Bavarian marching bands, horse-drawn wagons, dressed in polkas and waving flags from different parts of the world. The Keg Tapping Opening Ceremony typically happens after the parade at 1 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 2
Bend, Oregon, is an outdoor lover’s paradise, but it also boasts the Northwest’s highest concentration of breweries. Beer is big in Bend, and in October, and Bend Oktoberfest will consume downtown Bend’s street. In addition to plenty of beer and German costumes, Oktoberfest holds a yodeling competition, wiener dog races, and lots of sauerkraut. 916 NW Wall St., Bend
SEPTEMBER 30-OCTOBER 1
The Portland Fresh Hops Festival returns to Oaks Amusement Park to celebrate its 18th anniversary. This annual event hosted by the Oregon Brewers Guild brings together many of the Guild’s member breweries serving fresh hop beers from this season’s hop harvest. 4-8 p.m. Friday, noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, 7805 SE Oaks Park Way, Portland
OCTOBER 1
The Hood River Hops Fest is an annual celebration of beer’s bitter friend — freshly harvested hops. Hood River County is surrounded by world-renowned hop-growing regions, and since 2003 brewers have gathered in downtown Hood River to share their fresh-hop beer creations. The family-friendly event features more than 30 breweries with more than 40 fresh-hop beers, plus a variety of food vendors, live music, and an awesome collectible mug. Noon to 7 p.m., Columbia Parking Lot, 5 5th St., Hood River, Oregon
OCTOBER 2
Portland’s Fresh Hop Pop-Up Beer Fest ends with discounted growler prices. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, through Oct. 6, 4233 N. Mississippi, Portland
OCTOBER 3
Fresh Hoptoberfest continues at Peaks & Pints featuring at least two fresh hop beers and two Oktoberfest beers on tap. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
OCTOBER 4
Breweries in the Pacific Northwest have an advantage in the market because the hop fields are so close to the beer makers. The wet hops must go from the farm to the kettle within a window sometimes as narrow as four hours. Taste the freshness at Peaks & Pints as fresh hop beers will be on tap, along with Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
OCTOBER 5
Many breweries now grow hops on-site to bypass the process of driving to pick up the hops or being delivered by plane. As for style of beer, they are primarily brewed using a simple pale ale or IPA recipe with grain bills simple, keeping with the pale ale/IPA theme that showcase the hops in optimal wet condition. Fresh Hop beers usually range from 5 to 7 percent ABV, with IBU ratings from 35 to 70, and from modestly to fully hopped out brews. Taste the freshness at Peaks & Pints as fresh hop beers will be on tap, along with Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
OCTOBER 6
Hop fields during harvest offer a delightful combination of aromas that emanate from these wonderful flowers. Expect a blend of bright citrus peel, aromatic cooking herbs such as parsley and celery, fresh cannabis, whispers of pine needle, and oftentimes pungent “OG” aka onion and garlic. When utilized in a way that preserves these qualities in the finished brew these attributes simply jump out of the glass and into your nostrils then dominate your palate with dank, bright, fresh hoppy goodness. Smell the freshness at Peaks & Pints as fresh hop beers will be on tap, along with Oktoberfest beers. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
OCTOBER 7-8
The Seattle Fresh Hop Festival will offer three sessions, each featuring a plethora of fresh hop beer, food trucks, entertainment and more. On Friday night arrive for “Meet the Brewers” and on Saturday afternoon, dogs are welcome and are encouraged to compete in the Hoppiest Hound Competition. 5-9 p.m. Friday, 1-4 and 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Hangar 30, Magnuson Park, 6310 NE 74th St., Seattle
OCTOBER 7-9
Oktoberfest Northwest has Washington’s largest Munich-style Festhalle Biergarten, is the official home of the Hammerschlagen Tournament of Champions and hosts a variety of other activities including a revamped Stein Dash 5K that includes beer stops along the route, Wiener Dog Races and costume contests, a Sports Haus to watch your fav teams play, bar games like beer pong and corn hole, and several authentic Bavarian style musical acts including host and& headliner the ‘Queen of Oktoberfest’ Manuela Horn. Oktoberfest Northwest is an all-ages event until 7 p.m. each evening (and all-day Sunday. Washington State Fair Events Center, 110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup
OCTOBER 8
Situated in the heart of America’s hop country, the Yakima Fresh Hop Festival is the premiere fresh hop festival in all the land. More than 70 breweries will come together on a Saturday evening to serve its fresh hop beers in the beautiful Yakima Valley. The Fresh Hop Ale Festival brings beer lovers from all over the world to the home of the hops. The Yakima Valley produces over 70 percent of our nations’ hops. And it is these freshly harvested hops that the breweries must use in the beer served at the festival. Plus, each brewery submits a beer into judging and winners are announced during the festival. 4-10 p.m., SOZO Sports Complex, 2200 S. 36th Ave., Yakima
OCTOBER 9
Sunday, Oct. 9, marks the last day of Peaks & Pints Fresh Hoptoberfest — where fresh hop beers on draft meet Oktoberfest beers on draft. Expect fresh hop beers on tap to continue for the next couple of weeks. 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Peaks & Pints, 3816 N. 26th St., Basecamp Proctor, Tacoma
LINK: Peaks & Pints cooler inventory
