HOOD RIVER NAMED A FINALIST FOR “BEST SMALL TOWN BEER SCENE”
2022 USA TODAY 10 BEST READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS
Hood River is one of only two PNW towns nominated. Winner to be crowned by popular vote, public encouraged to vote daily through October 24
(HOOD RIVER, Ore.) — As an epicenter for all things craft beer in the Pacific Northwest, including more than a dozen area breweries and the annual Hood River Hops Fest, it should come as no surprise that Hood River has been named one of 20 nationwide finalists in the Best Small Town Beer Scene category of the 2022 USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Hood River is one of only two PNW towns, and the only Oregon town, to be nominated.
“To be recognized in the company of some of the country’s most respected beer towns is a tremendous honor, and is a testament to what makes the Hood River beer scene — from the local ingredients and mountain-beach town vibe, to the beers themselves and the people behind them — so special,” said Katie Kadlub, CEO of Visit Hood River. “Whether enjoyed straight from the source at a local brewery, or at a neighborhood pub a thousand miles away, there’s a little bit of Hood River love in every bottle, can, growler, keg, or pint that began its journey here.”
Twenty finalists were chosen by a panel of experts before voting was turned over to the public to crown the winner. The public is invited to vote daily by visiting the Best Small Town Beer Scene section of the USA Today 10Best Awards, which also includes a current leaderboard and a list of competing towns. Voting closes at 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, October 24, and the top 10 winners will be announced on Friday, Nov. 4.
In nominating Hood River as a finalist in the category, contest organizers noted, “Local libations are almost always close at hand in Hood River, whether you’re touring the facilities at Full Sail Brew Pub, sampling from the 32 taps at 64 oz. Taphouse, or sipping Belgian-inspired brews at pFriem Family Brewers. Other options in town and nearby include Double Mountain Brewery, Ferment Brewing Company, and Solera Brewery.”
In addition to Hood River’s nomination, other finalists in the Small Town Beer Scene category include Avondale Estates (Ga.), Bar Harbor (Maine), Berlin (Md.), Boone (N.C.), Breckenridge (Colo.), Bryson City (N.C.), Decorah (Iowa), Derby (Conn.), Fredericksburg (Texas), Hammonton (N.J.), Maple Shade (N.J.), Portsmouth (N.H.), Rehoboth (Del.), Saratoga Springs (N.Y.), Sunnyside (Wash.), Taos (N.M.), Tarpon Springs (Fla.), Traverse City (Mich.), and Waitsfield (Vt.).
According to the most recent pre-pandemic information from the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis (Aug. 2019), Hood River has 13 times the U.S. average for breweries per capita, and nearly 25 times the volume of craft beer produced. For more information on Hood River and its renowned craft beer scene, visit www.visithoodriver.com.
About Hood River, Ore.:
Located at the crossroads of the spectacular Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and the magnificent Cascade Range and just an hour from Portland, Hood River is truly “Mother Nature’s Favorite”, offering outdoor recreation, dramatic vistas, historic landmarks, bountiful fruit, and fantastic food, wine, beer, and cider. With accommodations ranging from luxury hotels to historic B&Bs, Hood River is a four-season destination for families, sippers, outdoor enthusiasts, weddings, corporate events, and more. It was named Nature Lover’s Destination by Sunset Magazine in 2021, and a Top 10 Wine Destination for 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Visit Hood River supports economic development, community development, and destination marketing for Hood River, Cascade Locks, Mosier, Odell, Parkdale, Pine Grove, and Mount Hood. For more information, call 800-366-3530 or visit www.visithoodriver.com.
# # #