Several prominent Wine Country brewers will be on hand Oct. 19 at Sierra Nevada’s first-ever “Single, Fresh, Wet & Wild Harvest Festival” in the hop garden at the Chico brewery. On tap are Lagunitas, Russian River, Marin Brewing, and Moylans, with more breweries possibly added later. They will join state and national standouts, including cult favorite Kern River and national players like Pennsylvania’s Victory Brewing and Colorado’s New Belgium. The full list is worth a read because there are some great breweries, many of which are difficult or impossible to find in the Bay Area, including Sweetwater out of Atlanta, Founders from Michigan, and  Captain Lawrence from Upstate New York. Possibly most amazing is the inclusion of Vermont’s Lawson’s Finest Liquids, a cult brewery so far underground that owner Sean Lawson doesn’t even disclose the address of his brew house, must less offer tours or tastings. This is basically the only place outside of a handful of taprooms in Vermont where you will find this stuff.

The festival celebrates hops in all their glory and proceeds will support the 300-member California Craft Brewers Association.

Tickets are $75 each or $30 for a designated driver. The brewery advises to buy early since tickets are limited and this is likely to sell out.

– Sean Scully

(Logo courtesy Sierra Nevada)