So, why attend the DC Brewer’s Guild Hopfest? For starters, it’s more affordable than other festivals. Hopfest tickets can be yours for $45 (VIP tickets are $75). And those Hopfest tickets directly benefit the DC Brewer’s Guild, not some out of town company. Also worth noting that unlike other fests, (or, like some more expensive ones) the brewers themselves are there, so you can chat them up, nerd out, and seek brewing and fermenting advice.

DC Brewer's Guild Hopfest 2020

Compare it to another Fest, let’s say which hypothetically benefits a California-based event-planning organization, who might also produce LA Beer Fest, Chicago Beer Fest, Miami Beer Fest and the Santa Monica Wine Festival. Hopfest keeps it local and supports an organization that supports DC brewers. Not some guy in California (we love you California, please keep sending us your best beers).

There is only one Hopfest in DC and it’s on March 14. Entering its sixth year, the festival has grown and is hosted at DC’s oldest production brewery, DC Brau. It will feature older breweries, like Dogfish Head, who’ve been making quality products since 1995. But it will also feature newer breweries like Red Bear Brewing, founded in 2019.

According to Paul Dean, Executive Director of the Guild, there are between thirty-five and forty breweries participating. It’s important for DC residents to note there are a number of breweries from Northern Virginia that aren’t consistently in DC. While they’re not exactly out-of-market, Ocelot will be pouring, as well as Dynasty, Rocket Frog, and Caboose.

Bruery General Store General Manager Ethen Adams says one of his beers “may be Retreat,” their hazy double IPA, that he’s bringing, it just “depends on what will be the freshest IPA we have available when our next truck heads out from CA.” This kind of attention to detail in regards to freshness is a courtesy extended to Hopfest.

Sponsorship

To purchase tickets go here. VIP Tickets get you an hour early entrance and a commemorative gift. VIP Tickets are $75 and general admission tickets are $50.