Things to do, places to eat, shows to see, places to stay in Madison County, NY      

On Saturday, September 19 from 12-2pm at the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street will be The Taste of Hops: a food and beer pairing. This event is one of the many activities happening at the 14th Annual Madison County Hop Fest on September 19th!

From 2:30-5:30 on the society’s grounds under the Brewery Sampling Tent come sample over 40 styles of craft beer from the following breweries: Matt-Saranac; High Falls; Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, BluePoint; Butternuts; Magic Hat; Southern Tier, Long Trail, Ithaca, Sam Adams, Flying Bison, Middle Ages, Cooperstown, Ommegang, Brooklyn, Smuttynose, and more!! Tickets for the Brewery Sampling are $25 advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at Kraig’s Kegs in Sherrill, the Madison County Historical Society, or online at www.mchs1900.org.

The Taste of Hops: a food and beer pairing event matches an area restaurant with a craft brewery to create an appetizer, or chocolate that uses beer as one of the ingredients. We are excited to announce this year’s line-up of participating restaurants and breweries.  The Colgate Inn of Hamilton is preparing St. Louis Pork Ribs paired with Sackets Harbor Brewery’s 1812 Amber; Copper Turret of Morrisville is preparing Brooklyn Lager Steamed Pork Dumplings paired with Brooklyn Brewery’s IPA; Meyers Chocolates of Oneida is creating delicious milk and dark chocolate truffles filled with LongTrail’s Harvest Ale; Ye Olde Landmark Tavern of Bouckville will be making beer-braised pork tacos with a variety of condiments paired with Landmark Brewery’s Sunrise Amber. Tickets are limited- only 150 will be sold.   Tickets are $15 advance or $20 at the door if available. Tickets can be purchased online, or by sending a check payable to the Madison County Historical Society, or by contacting the participating restaurants and chocolatier.

The Hop Fest opens on Saturday, Sept. 19 at 10:00 am- 5:30 pm with presentations by guest speakers on a variety of hop related topics throughout the afternoon and the crowning of the Madison County Hop Fest Queen at 2:00 pm. Stop in the Hop Shop for some hop-related items and hop plants. Throughout the afternoon purchase your raffle tickets to win great beer related merchandise. Visit with Home Brew Clubs all day. Make your reservations now for the paired brew dinner at the Copper Turret in Morrisville on Friday, Sept.18 and the Hop Tour on Sunday, September 20. Tickets for the dinner are $40 and $45 for the tour. Both events require reservations by Sept.8th, as seats are limited!

For more information about the 14th Annual Madison County Hop Fest and all the events happening throughout the weekend of Sept. 18-20, please contact the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street in Oneida, 315-363-4136, 315-361-9735 or www.mchs1900.org. All proceeds from the Madison County Hop Fest support the educational programming at the Madison County Historical Society.   There is no admission to attend the Hop Fest. Admission is charged for the Brew Dinner, Taste of Hops, Brewery Sampling, and the Hop Tour.  No one under the age of 21 will be permitted to enter the events where beer is served. Proper id is required for entrance to all areas where beer is served! Please do not bring children, strollers, or pets to the event. Tickets will be available for designated drivers (who must be 21 years of age) at the entrance of the brewery sampling tent.