Ride The Columbia Gorge Express From Portland to the 2024 Hood River Hops Fest
For its 20th year, the Hood River Hops Fest is making a move…a move to the Hood River Event Site along the scenic Columbia River Gorge. This year’s milestone event that takes place on Saturday, October 5, 2024 and will feature nearly 30 breweries from all across Oregon and Washington, each brewery bringing its best fresh hop beers.
The Hood River Hops Fest is Oregon’s largest fresh hop festival and will delight hop lovers with a spectacular beer lineup in setting that is unmatched. In its previous years, the festival was held in downtown Hood River but for this year it makes a move to the waterfront, across from Ferment Brewing. The family friendly fest will take place from 11:00am – 7:00pm and will include more than just beer as there will be live music, food and other vendors to take a look at.
However, one issue that we have faced when traveling from Portland to Hood River is arriving back home safely after consuming a few beers. One way to do this without the added expense of staying overnight in Hood River is to utilize the Columbia Gorge Express. This shuttle service offers riders an easy way to travel the Columbia River Gorge from Portland, hassle free and at an affordable rate!
This fall, the Columbia Gorge Express offers seven daily departures from Portland’s Gateway Transit Center and Hood River. Each run offers dramatic fall views up the Gorge, arriving in Hood River
in just over an hour. Once there, riders will immediately transfer to the local Hood River Connect, which drops them at the Hood River Waterfront, making for a short walk to the festival.
If you want to ride your bike while in Hood River, the Columbia Gorge Express can carry up to 9 bikes per bus, so passengers can pedal around Hood River once they arrive. What a great way to explore the Gorge!
To rider the Columbia Gorge Express, there are a couple of ticket options. One can purchase one-way fares from Portland’s Gateway Transit Center for just $10. However, the best deal is to purchase an annual Gorge Transit Pass for just $40. This is an excellent value to take advantage of all of the beauty of the Gorge!
To purchase Columbia Gorge Express or any other Columbia Area Transit fares, click here. And as a special offer, Hood River Hops Fest attendees who arrive car-free will receive one free drink token to be used at festival!
Take a peek at the list of breweries pouring at the event. We are told that there will be over 40 fresh hop beers being served!
2024 Hood River Hops Fest Breweries:
Binary Brewing
Breakside Brewery
Chehalem Valley Brewery
Claim 52 Brewing
Creekside Brewing
Double Mountain Brewing
Everybody’s Brewing
Ferment Brewing Company
Fire on the Mountain Brewing Co.
Fort George Brewery
Freebridge Brewing
Full Sail Brewing Company
Gigantic Brewing Company
Hopworks Urban Brewery
Kings & Daughters Brewery
Mac and Jacks Brewing Co.
Migration Brewing
Mt Hood Brewing
Pelican Brewing
pFriem Family Brewers
Rogue Ales
Silver Falls Brewery
Solera Brewery
Stickmen Brewing Company
Sunriver Brewing
Thunder Island Brewing Co.
Wild Ride Brewing
Working Hands Fermentation
There are a few ticket options for entry into the 2024 Hood River Hops Fest. New this year is that the festival is not including a take home glass with each entry. Official glassware is not required to participate in the festival’s beer tasting. If not purchasing glassware, please help the event reduce its waste footprint by bringing your own drinkware. Jars, mugs, steins, and glasses are all welcome! Otherwise, your beer sample will be served in a plastic cup.
GRAND TASTING PACKAGE – $30 in advance | $35 day-of
Includes entry and
– 12 beer tokens (advance purchase)
– 10 beer tokens (day-of purchase)
SMALL TASTING PACKAGE – $20 in advance | $25 day-of
Includes entry and
– 6 beer tokens (advance purchase)
– 5 beer tokens (day-of purchase)
COMMEMORATIVE GLASSWARE ADD-ON – $7 in advance | $10 day-of
A limited number of commemorative glasses will be available to purchase on site. If you think you may want to drink, buy a tasting package.
DESIGNATED DRIVER TICKET – $10 in advance | $15 day-of
Includes entry ONLY. No tasting glass or tokens.
UNDER 21 – FREE
Includes entry ONLY. (add-on to adult ticket required)
Each pour is 3 ounces. Additional tokens will be available at the event for $2.00 each. To purchase any of these ticket options in advance, click here.
Beyond the tasty fresh hop beers, the Hood River Hops Fest will once again host some fantastic live music during the event. There will be four bands performing throughout the afternoon until the early evening. The lineup is as follows Joanna Lee Sousa (11:30 AM-1:00 PM), Shane Brown & The Sound (1:30-3:00 PM), Nietos De Beni (3:30-5:00 PM), and Chiringa (5:30-7:00 PM).
Hood River County is surrounded by world-renowned hop-growing regions, and since 2003 brewers have gathered each October in Hood River to share their fresh-hop beer creations. This year is no different and the organizers look forward to see many familiar faces at this year’s event!
For more information about taking the shuttle and the Gorge Pass visit gorgepass.com or call 833-3GO-PASS.
Hood River Event Site – Portway Ave – Hood River, OR
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.