Music, education, and whole lotta beer! There is probably no more highly anticipated hop harvest event around Australia than Bridge Road's unique High Country Hop; a festival that nowadays combines multiple facets, from a technical symposium aimed at people from the beer industry, usually hosted a few days before the main event, to a festival that gathers multiple breweries in the same space and where punters can try a variety of beers, enjoy food from different food trucks/stalls and listen to an amazing lineup of bands, solo artists and DJs. It's one of the High Country’s (VIC) most anticipated festivals.
This annual event is based around HPA's hop harvest which happens throughout March, with local brewers, Bridge Road, passionate about all things Fresh Hops. Every year, since 2009, Bridge Road has been brewing a Fresh Hop beer with whole cones from these hop bines called 'Harvest Ale' (changed names a few times over the years). This tradition doubled up in 2012 when they decided to brew a second brew called 'Dark Harvest' in collaboration with Danish brewing stalwarts 'Mikkeller'.
From 2022, these two releases have been made in collaboration with different breweries, usually with one local and one international brewery: some previous examples are Firestone Walker (US), Adnams (UK) and Garage Project (NZ). In your box you'll find some delicious Fresh Hop brews, including both of this year's ‘Harvest’ releases by Bridge Road with Philter joining on Hazy Harvest and American icons Stone Brewing from San Diego collaborating on Dark Harvest.
Attending the symposium this year, Stone Brewing gave us some great insight into the American beer industry, who tend to lead the worldwide trends. Our General Manager, Ben Duval, got the chance to meet up with Jeremy Moynier, representing Stone, while at the festival this year: "I hung out with the Stone head brewer Jeremy and he was a dude - has worked for Stone for 20 years! He brews a lot more Japanese lager these days haha".
High Country Hops is truly a celebration of collaboration, community, beer education, music and HOPS & we’re already excited to see what Bridge Road comes up with for next year. Cheers to the Harvest!
Image: Bridge Road Brewers
SHOP
With the Victorian hop harvest happening in March each year, Fresh Hop beers are incredibly seasonal! Get 'em while they're fresh!
