Courtesy of Okemo Mountain Resort
Hops in the Hills guests enjoy samples of their favorite brews in complimentary festival glasses.
Aug. 7-9 — LUDLOW — Okemo Mountain Resort will host its annual Hops in the Hills Beer and Wine Festival, a Vermont Chamber of Commerce Top Ten summer event, Aug. 7 through 9. Jackson Gore will be the setting for enjoying the great outdoors and sampling a variety of beer and wine from regional and national producers. Live concerts will accompany the tasting all three days and an on-site marketplace will feature food and craft vendors. New this year, the location of the event is moving from the Paleo Field at Jackson Gore to the courtyard at the Jackson Gore Inn. Also new this year, a beer pairing dinner will be offered at Coleman Brook Tavern. Mike Whitty from von Trapp Brewing will lead an evening’s journey through the nuances of roasted malts and herbal hops paired perfectly with the diverse flavors of executive chef Scot Emerson’s four-course beer pairing dinner on Friday, Aug. 7. The warm wood tones of Coleman Brook Tavern’s wine room will supply the ambience for this culinary adventure that matches fresh, locally produced foods with fine Vermont craft beer. Dinner is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Dinner reservations are required and available by calling 802-228-1600.
Hops in the Hills attendees will be able to sample beer from a selection of more than two dozen breweries, wine from a similar number of vineyards, and hard cider from several cideries, from 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 7; noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 9. The musical lineup for the weekend includes East Coast Soul on Friday evening, Big Fez & The Surfmatics followed by Gang of Thieves, on Saturday, and Seeking Homer followed by CK3, on Sunday.
In addition to beer and wine sampling on Saturday, Hops in the Hills attendees may take part in determining this year’s winner of the Okemo Valley Chicken Wing Championship. Each $5 pack of tickets allows guests to sample five chicken wings prepared by local restaurants, and cast one vote for their favorite wing. This year’s Chicken Wing Champion will be announced at the end of the day.
Admission to Hops in the Hills Beer and Wine Festival is free and open to all ages. Soft drinks and barbecue items will be available for purchase. Beer and wine tasters must be 21 or older and present a valid ID. Pricing for tasting varies according to the size and style, ranging from six ounces to 22 ounces, of tasting glass purchased.
Okemo’s Adventure Zone and Evolution Bike Park will be operating throughout the weekend. Visitors can rip, zip and flip their way from one gravity-gripping adventure to the next. Among Okemo’s Adventure Zone features are a mountain coaster, a treetop challenge course, bungee trampoline jumping, miniature golf, a new mining sluice and much more. Each of Okemo’s Adventure Zone features is priced individually or visitors can purchase an Adventure Zone Day Pass wristband. Lift-served mountain biking is operating at Okemo’s Clock Tower base area daily.
For more info, call 802-228-1600 or visit okemo.com.
