Freshly renamed and rebranded certified B Corp Hopworks Brewery is hosting the second Salmon-Safe IPA Festival on Saturday, April 22nd, 2023, at Hopworks’ Powell Brewpub in Portland, Oregon. The festival will feature 20 different beers made with certified Salmon-Safe hops and grain, from 18 brewers in five Western states. 

The festival, returning for the first time since its 2018 debut, was created to highlight the importance of a healthy, robust watershed to the brewing industry. The impact is two-fold: challenging brewers to use only Salmon-Safe ingredients in their beers can have a lasting impact on their brewing methods; and educating beer drinkers about the benefits of looking for the Salmon-Safe label on their brews can help create more demand for sustainably brewed beers.

“By sourcing Salmon-Safe hops and malts, the craft breweries at the festival are helping lead a movement towards climate-resilient agriculture that’s protective of Pacific Northwest salmon watersheds,” said Dan Kent, co-founder and executive director of Salmon-Safe. “And when consumers select a beer with the Salmon-Safe label, that inspires additional Northwest grain and hop growers to transition to environmentally innovative farming practices.”

Kicking off at noon on Earth Day, April 22, the festival will feature a variety of IPAs made with Salmon-Safe hops and grains. Participating breweries include Georgetown Brewing, pFriem Family Brewers, Steeplejack Brewing, New Belgium Brewing, Sunriver Brewing, and a collaboration brew from Aslan Brewing and Lost Grove Brewing. The Oregon Brew Crew, an alliance of homebrewers, will also be presenting two beers. The complete list of brewers can be found on the ticketing website. Live bands, a DJ, a burrito truck and a photo booth will add to the festive vibe. The event is sponsored in part by Salmon-Safe hop grower Roy Farms.

“It's super-important for brewers and beer lovers to understand the link between fresh beer and fresh water, and it all begins with selecting the right ingredients,” said Hopworks founder Christian Ettinger. “Beer is the perfect platform for enlightened discussion around impact reduction, and this festival is a great reminder that we should all vote with our time and our dollars to support organizations that are working to preserve the land and water around the Pacific Northwest.”

The Salmon-Safe IPA Fest strives to be a zero-waste event. Organizers encourage attendees to participate in a neighborhood cleanup, such as the SOLVE/Hopworks Earth Day Neighborhood Clean Up during the morning, and to travel by bike instead of car, if possible. 

Tickets are sold for two separate sessions. From Noon to 4:00 pm, all ages are welcome. From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, only attendees over the age of 21 will be admitted. A free Salmon-Safe Grower and Brewer panel discussion will take place from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Each ticket comes with a 16-ounce glass tasting mug, and ten tickets for four-ounce tastes of beer. Tickets are $30.00 per person over 21, and are on sale now. $5.00 from each festival ticket sold goes to Oregon Wild to support their work, which ultimately benefits every Oregonian.

"Oregon Wild is honored to be the beneficiary of the Salmon Safe IPA Festival,” said Jonathan Jelen, Oregon Wild’s development director. This generous support will help us be a stronger voice for protecting Oregon's forests and watersheds - including through a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance Wild & Scenic River protections for over 3,200 miles of Oregon's threatened rivers, creeks, and streams."

Why Salmon-Safe?

Event partner Salmon-Safe has certified more than 95,000 acres of farm and urban lands along the West Coast of the United States, helping implement farming practices and developments that protect water quality, maintain watershed health and restore habitat in Oregon, Washington, California and British Columbia. A thriving salmon population is a key indicator of a healthy Pacific Northwest watershed. With more than 80 percent of US hops sourced from the Yakima and Willamette Valley watersheds, choosing Salmon-Safe beer, wine and food products contributes directly to restoring this region’s waterways and native fish. 

Oregon Wild & The Brewshed® Alliance

Oregon Wild has been working since 1974 to protect and restore our region’s fish and wildlife, ancient forests, and the rich diversity of public lands and landscapes that make the state so unique. The Oregon Brewshed® Alliance was started by Oregon Wild to engage brewers and industry stakeholders in the act of protecting our watersheds. Because great beer depends on great water, Oregon’s brewing industry is intimately connected with the health of the region’s land and water. Brewshed® Alliance members include brewers, craft beer affiliates, and conservationists who pledge to educate the beer drinking community about protected watersheds and their essential role in the state’s renowned craft brewing industry. Members also advocate for clean water and forest protections and support Oregon Wild's conservation mission.

About Hopworks Urban Brewery 

Celebrating its 15th year in 2023, Hopworks was founded by Christian and Brandie Ettinger to create world-class beer and food with sustainable business practices that protect the environment and support our community. Family-owned and operated, Hopworks sources thoughtfully, operates efficiently and minimizes waste in an effort to protect the planet. The company’s 20-barrel brewery produces 10,000 barrels of beer a year for Hopworks’ brewpubs and distribution throughout Cascadia. Hopworks is the first Certified B Corporation brewery in the Pacific Northwest and is Certified Salmon-Safe. HopworksBeer.com | @hopworksbeer