Madison County has been the hops hub for over 200 years, did you now that? Indeed, they have! It was once considered the hops capital of the country, with Upstate counties providing nearly 80% of hops!

In case you are wondering "What the heck is a hop?!" hops is a crop. Hops is an important ingredient in beer. Beer was the staple beverage of the early American colonies, because the water supply was so dirtied and unreliable. I'd also heard that hops has important nutrients and few calories, although I doubt hops would be a replacement for crash diets that work.

Madison County is having their annual Hops Festival. Looks like fun!

The 15th Annual Madison County Hop Fest starts Friday, Sept. 17 at 6pm with a paired beer dinner at Blue Barbecue located at 249 Genesee Street in Chittenango. On Saturday, September 18, on-site at the Madison County Historical Society, located at 435 Main Street in Oneida, the day commences at 11 am with video presentations on hop culture, home brew clubs, raffle, hopshop, hop growing displays, and of course craft beer sampling. From12-2 pm join us for the Taste of Hops: a food & beer pairing featuring appetizers from Blue Barbecue, Johnnie’s Pier 31, Someplace Else, The Colgate Inn, Ye Olde Landmark Tavern, and Zabroso. From 2:30-5:30 pm, join us under the beer tent for brewery samplings from some of your favorite craft breweries- Landmark, Cooperstown, Ithaca, Saranac, LongTrail, Middle Ages, Ommegang, Magic Hat, Flying Bison, and more! There will be over 40 styles of craft beer to sample. Visit the Hopshop to purchase hop plants and event shirts! Visit with Home Brew Clubs. See who will be crowned Hop King 2010!

There is no admission fee to attend the festival, but admission is charged for the Four-course Paired Beer Dinner, Taste of Hops, and Beer Sampling. See that website link for more details.