The second annual Long Island Fresh Hop Fest – the largest fresh hop fest on the east coast – is returning to the East End on Saturday, September 23. Held at LI Hops, a 43-acre farm located on the North Fork, festivalgoers can expect to sip on exceptional locally brewed beers that were crafted with locally grown and harvested hops – many of which were specially created in small batches solely for this happening.
“What a unique experience for local beer lovers to come to an event and see how local breweries like mine are using local hops in everyday production and to have the ability to taste the unique flavors offered by a fresh hopped beer,” explained Greg Martin, co-owner of Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead.
Featured sips will include Jamesport Farm Brewery’s Fresh Hop Winedout (made with their home grown LI hops), Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.’s Pale Ale (made with local grain and Chinook hops from NOFO Hops), Long Ireland Brewing Company’s Fresh Hop Co-Op Session IPA (featuring hops from LI HOPS, Wesnofske Farms, and NOFO Hops), BrickHouse Brewery’s Single Malt Single Hop Ale (Cascade hops from Long Island’s Condzella Farms), Lithology Brewing Co.’s all NY ingredient pale ale fermented on a strain of wild yeast they harvested, isolated, and propagated themselves), Port Jeff Brewing Company’s Fresh Hop Pale Ale (brewed with Cascade hops from Condzella Farms), and Blue Point Brewing Company will offer several wet hop beers, as well as a Wet Hop Pils Cask.
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Long Island Fresh Hop Fest is the largest fresh hop fest on the east coast. (Photo: Joseph Caggiano Photography) |
Additionally, guests can toast to the start of fall with locally crafted pumpkin beers like the Pumpkin Spice ale from Jamesport Farm Brewery and limited-release seasonal brews like Long Ireland Brewing Company’s Octoberfest (a Märzen-style lager) or hopped cider from The Riverhead Ciderhouse, Vermont’s Stowe, Maine’s Urban Farm Fermentory, Ohio’s Cidergeist, and Hudson Valley’s Indian Ladder Farm Cidery and Brewery. Moustache Brewing Co., Tweaking Frog Brewing Company, Great South Bay Brewery, Southampton Publick House, Chatham Brewing, Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, and Stormalong will also be represented.
Attendees will have the unique opportunity to sample special limited-edition fresh hop-infused beers alongside the traditional version of the same beer. Fresh (wet) hops are picked at peak season and used immediately to optimize freshness – typically within 24 hours, which means the beers are available in smaller batches during a limited time frame. If the samplings have piqued your interest, brewers will be onsite to speak about the process and why they selected those particular beers to fresh hop.
“It will be a great showcase of the farming and brewing culture on Long Island,” Martin added.
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Expect to sip on exceptional locally brewed beers that were crafted with locally grown and harvested hops. (Photo: Joseph Caggiano Photography) |
Hop Fest will also feature live music from multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter, Dan Donnelly, food for purchase prepared by local Jamesport-based caterer Christopher Michael Catering, and educational seminars where festivalgoers can learn even more about the Wet Hop/Fresh Hop trend.
The Fresh Hop Festival, produced by Starfish Junction, will be held on Saturday, September 23 from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
Tickets are $45 (which includes all sampling and a souvenir glass taster) in advance, $50 on the day of the event, and $10 for a Designated Driver tickets. Attendees must be 21-years-old or older.
LI Hops farm is located at 5873 Sound Avenue in Riverhead. For more information, visit www.lifreshhopfestival.com.
