Hop To It

Ah, fall. The time of harvest. The time for us all to slow down, reap the benefits of summer's labor and enjoy the season's bounty. Crisp apples and juicy pears. Round, orange pumpkins. Fresh, wet hops. Wait, what? Yes, the Byrds were right; to everything there is a season, and this, my friends, is the season of fresh hops. If you haven't already, it's time to try the seasonal brew wonder known as the fresh hop ale. And you're in luck! Just head over to the Schlafly Fresh Hop Ale Festival at Schlafly Bottleworks (7260 Southwest Avenue, Maplewood; 314-241-2337 or www.schlafly.com), where several local breweries, such as Mattingly Brewing Company and Square One Brewery, will be pouring their renditions of this favorite from the fresh hops Schlafly has flown in from Washington for the occasion. From noon to 4 p.m. today you can sample an ale while enjoying live music by the Foggy Memory Boys and grabbing some of the grub available for purchase. So feel free to sip, savor and pause for a moment to ponder the changing of the seasons. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door — don't wait too long, because they're going quickly.
Sat., Oct. 17, 2009