New Fresh Hop Beer Festival Debuts in Oregon’s Willamette Valley During 2026 Hop Harvest Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Fresh Hop Beer Festival Launches in Independence, Oregon, Celebrating Hop Harvest Season and Pacific Northwest Brewing Culture

Fresh Hop Fiesta to bring breweries, hop growers, and beer enthusiasts together in the heart of Oregon hop country

INDEPENDENCE, Ore. - A new fresh hop beer festival is coming to the heart of Oregon hop country this fall.

The Hop & Heritage Festival's Fresh Hop Fiesta will debut on Saturday, September 26, 2026, in downtown Independence, Oregon, bringing together Pacific Northwest breweries, hop growers, and craft beer enthusiasts to celebrate the culmination of hop harvest season and the once-a-year beers that define it.

Presented by Parallel 45 Brewing, Coleman Hops, and the Independence Downtown Association, this invitational festival will serve as a featured event within the long-running Hop & Heritage Festival, a community-focused celebration that honors the agricultural roots, culture, and small businesses of Independence and the surrounding Willamette Valley.

Held at Parallel 45 Brewing, the Fresh Hop Fiesta will showcase 20 fresh hop beers from Pacific Northwest breweries, each brewed with hops harvested during the 2026 hop harvest. The festival's unique tasting experience will organize beers by hop variety, allowing attendees to explore how different hop cultivars influence aroma, flavor, and brewing expression.

"Fresh hop season is one of the most exciting times in craft beer because it only happens once a year," said Ryan Booth, owner of Parallel 45 Brewing. "We wanted to create an event that connects brewers, hop growers, and craft beer enthusiasts directly to harvest in a meaningful way while celebrating the region and community that make these beers possible."

Located in Oregon's Willamette Valley, Independence sits near some of the Pacific Northwest's most productive hop-growing regions, including Coleman Agriculture's Alluvial Hop Farm. The area has deep agricultural roots and remains a vital part of the global hop supply chain, producing hops used by breweries throughout the United States and around the world.

Festival organizers anticipate between 800 and 1,000 attendees for the inaugural event. In addition to fresh hop beer tastings, attendees can enjoy:

• Hop variety-focused tasting zones
• Brewer-led discussions and storytelling sessions
• Hop sensory and educational experiences
• Harvest-themed installations and photo opportunities
• Flash tattoo pop-up
• Downtown vendor marketplace with local businesses and artisans
• Live music and community programming
• Food vendors and festival activities throughout downtown Independence

Hosted within Parallel 45 Brewing's indoor event venue and 10,000-square-foot parking lot, the Fresh Hop Fiesta is designed as a beer garden-style experience to complement the broader Hop & Heritage Festival, while highlighting the agricultural heritage and brewing traditions that define the Pacific Northwest.

Participation will be limited to 20 breweries to maintain a high-quality tasting experience and provide strong visibility for participating brewery partners.

In addition to celebrating fresh-hopped beer craft culture, the festival will serve as a community fundraising initiative. Proceeds will benefit the local non-profits Independence Downtown Association and Ella Curran Food Bank, helping support local economic development and community services.

Additional brewery announcements, ticket information, and festival programming details will be released in the months leading up to the 2026 hop harvest season.

Event Information

Hop & Heritage Festival: Fresh Hop Fiesta
Saturday, September 26, 2026
12:00 PM-6:00 PM
First Pour VIP Admission: 11:00 AM

Parallel 45 Brewing
240 Monmouth Street, Independence, OR 97351

Website: hopandheritage.com

Media Contact

Ryan Booth, Parallel 45 Brewing
ryan @ p45brewing.com

Ivy Hover, Coleman Hops
ivy @ colemanag.com