Hop Fest is around the corner on September 15th and advance sale tickets are available now.  Tickets for the Taste of Hops; a food and pairing are $20 advance or $25 at the door.  Come experience a food and beer pairing like no other.  The Taste of Hops runs from 12-2 and matches an area restaurant and chocolatier with a craft brewery to create an appetizer or chocolate using beer as one of the ingredients. The Colgate Inn is preparing Barbecue Pulled Pork Lollipop with a cornbread cupcake paired with Good Nature Brown Ale. The Hamilton Inn is preparing Crawfish and Smoked Sausage Gumbo Shooter with Green Chile Marinated Grilled Shrimp paired with Abita Amber Beer. The Poolville Country Store in Earlville is preparing Chicory Porter Beef Dim Sum paired with Good Nature Brewing’s Chicory Porter. Ye Olde Landmark Tavern of Bouckville is preparing chilled corn soup with pickled vegetables and fried calamari paired with Ommegang’s Hennepin. Centro’s Restaurant in DeRuyter , Lune Chocolat of Manlius, and the Sherwood Inn of Skaneateles will also be participating. Tickets are limited- only 150 will be sold. Tickets are $20 advance or $25 at the door if available. Tickets can be purchased at ww.mchs1900.org/hopfest, or by sending a check payable to the Madison County Historical Society, or by contacting the participating restaurants.

After the Taste of Hops from 2:30-5:30 is the Craft Beer Sampling where samples of over 20 styles of craft beer are available from Binghamton Brewing, Butternuts Beer and Ale, Cooperstown Brewing, Cortland Beer, Empire Brewing, Good Nature Brewing, Ithaca Beer, Matt-Saranac, Middle Ages, Three Heads, Founders, Broooklyn, Sackets Harbor Brewing Company,  Sam Adams, Ommegang, and more!!  Tickets can be purchased at Kraig’s Kegs in Sherrill, Good Nature Brewing in Hamilton, the Madison County Historical Society, or www.mchs1900.org/hopfest.

The Hop Fest opens on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11 am, on the grounds of the Madison County Historical Society, 435 Main Street in Oneida.  Steve Miller, NYS first Hop Specialist in collaboration with owners and brewers of Good Nature Brewing, Carrie Blackmore and Matt Whalen will be presenting a program from 11am- 12:15 pm. There will also be video presentations from past Hop Fests throughout the afternoon. This year’s Hop King and Queen will be crowned at 2 pm.  Stop in the Hop Shop for some hop-related items and hop plants, and beer pint glasses. Throughout the afternoon purchase your raffle tickets to win great beer related merchandise. Visit with the American Home Brewers Association, Salt City Brew Club all day. Stop by the North East Hop Alliance and Foothill Hops tent to learn about hop growing in Madison County. Check out the Great Lakes Brewing News booth. 

For more information about the 17th Annual Madison County Hop Fest please contact the Madison County Historical Society at 435 Main Street in Oneida, 315-363-4136, 315-361-9735 or www.mchs1900.org/hopfest. Like Hop Fest on Facebook. 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 Paired Beer Dinner on September 14, Taste of Hops, Craft Beer Sampling, and Madison County Hop Kiln Tour on September 16. 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 beer-sampling tent.