For fans of quality craft beer, there may be no finer time of year than September and October.
End-of-summer hop harvests lead to tap lists laden with fresh-hop beers and a calendar that's chock-full of local Oktoberfest celebrations: You'll find most breweries churning out smooth-drinking seasonal lagers, including dunkels, Märzens, and more. (And, of course, pumpkin beers have their fans.)
So if you're looking to enjoy the seasonal bounty—whether at a local Oktoberfest celebration, broader beer festival, or local biergarten—here's a guide to making the most of fall throughout the Willamette Valley.
When: 11am-8pm Sun. and Thurs., 11am-10pm Fri.-Sat. through October 2024
Where: TopWire Hop Project, 8668 Crosby Road NE, Woodburn
In 1900, Albert Crosby planted his first hops on a plot of land near Woodburn; more than 120 years later, his company—Crosby Hop Farm—remains a leader in local hop production.
In 2020, the farm opened TopWire Hop Project—a summertime beer garden where visitors can hang out in the midst of a hop field while sipping brews crafted from ingredients grown on that very farm. Learn more about TopWire Hop Project and the history of growing hops in the Willamette Valley.
On September 7, 2024, TopWire will host its first annual Oregon Hop Festival—which celebrates the craft, community, and heritage of hop farming in the Beaver State.
The fun includes:
Tickets cost $25 per person, are available on the TopWire website, and include admission, a commemorative glass, one beer, a harvest tour, and a sensory experience
When: 12-7 p.m. Sept. 7, 2024
Where: Avery Park, 1310 SW Avery Park Drive, Corvallis
You could spend months drinking your way through the best breweries in the Willamette Valley—or you could just attend Septembeerfest in the heart of Corvallis and enjoy them all in one fell swoop.
The annual beer festival, put on by the Heart of the Valley Homebrewers homebrew club, taps more than 65 ales, lagers, ciders, and meads from craft purveyors mostly spread across the Willamette Valley. The craft beer selection runs the gamut from seasonal selections—think doppelbock, Märzen, and other Oktoberfest styles—to IPAs, porters, and farmhouse beers. Other attractions include live music, fare from local food vendors, and a free shuttle to and from the festival.
2 Towns Ciderhouse celebrates yet another fall season with its annual Harvest Party on October 19, 2024, in Corvallis.
Visitors can choose among dozens of craft beverages on tap—including cider, cocktails, hard tea, seltzer, and more—while enjoying live music, fresh fare from local food trucks, cidery tours, and other fun attractions (like a photo booth and raffle).
Photo by Molly Bermea and courtesy of Visit Corvallis
Photo by Isabella Medina and courtesy of Visit Corvallis
To celebrate the changing season, Block 15 Brewing will host its Bloktoberfest event on Oct. 11-12, 2024, in the heart of downtown Corvallis.
Admission to the weekend-long festival includes live music, German-style beer from Block 15, games and contests, German fare and cuisine from local food carts. It all takes place under a tent to protect festival-goers from the elements.
