Thursday Tidbits
Everybody's Brewing’s Pumpkin Spiced Fall Salad
Grapes, Hops & Harvest
We’re still technically hanging onto summer, but the Gorge is starting to look — and taste — a lot like harvest. Grapes are ready for stomping and sipping, fresh hops are making their way into the taps, apples and pears are coming in by the bin, and fall is already sneaking onto a few menus.
Get Your Grape On
More grape stomping is coming! Phelps Creek Vineyards is turning its Fall Wine Club Party into a Harvest Hoedown, and everyone’s invited. Head out Saturday, Oct. 3, from 1–5 p.m. for grape stomping, live music, harvest BBQ and, of course, plenty of Phelps Creek wine.
At AniChe Cellars, there’s a new Puck in town. Their new all-the-time sparkling wine is made with estate Pinot Gris and Riesling from Hecate’s Key Vineyard in the Columbia Gorge AVA. Club members get first access, but there’s enough to share — stop in for a taste, a glass or a bottle with friends.
Also new at AniChe Cellars is Orlando 2024, an estate Tempranillo made with Gorge-grown fruit from Clusterflock Vineyards in Husum. Club members get first dibs, with a limited amount available for everyone else to taste.
And over at Grateful Vineyard, pear salad is on the menu and flights + fondue season has arrived.
Fresh Hop Season Is Here
Full Sail Brewing Co. has its full fresh hop lineup on tap at the Brew Pub: Fresh Hop Strata IPA with guava and a resinous finish; Fresh Hop Cascade IPA with grapefruit, pine and citrus; and Fresh Hop Luminosa Hazy IPA with notes of peach lemonade and strawberry jam. All three are made with fresh, wet hops picked at PNW farms and added during harvest.
Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery is marking the 2026 hop harvest with the return of four fresh hop favorites: Killer Red, Killer Green, Fresh Hop Iowa Bar Fight and Killer Lion. It wouldn’t be fresh hop season in Hood River without Killer Red and Killer Green making their annual return.
Ferment Brewing is getting into fresh hop season with Lórien, a fresh hop West Coast Pils conditioned on freshly picked whole Lórien cones. Crisp and floral with plenty of fresh-hop character, it’s one to catch while the season lasts.
In Carson, Backwoods Brewing is pouring Original Lumberjack IPA, made with Cascade, Citra and Amarillo hops, with notes of pine, white grape and melon. It’s 6.2% ABV and available on draft and in 12-ounce six-packs.
Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson has Mind Crawler back on tap — a pine, berry and citrus IPA hopped with Mosaic and a touch of Chinook. It joins a full 10-tap lineup right now. Pub hours are noon–9 p.m.
Fall Is Sneaking Onto the Menu
Everybody’s Brewing isn’t waiting for the calendar. The Pumpkin Spiced Fall Salad is on special all week with mixed greens, roasted squash, Gorgonzola, candied walnuts, house-made bourbon apple, pickled red onions and pumpkin-spiced balsamic vinaigrette. Fall in a bowl? You bet.
At Celilo Restaurant, roasted chicken breast is paired with a sweet corn salad, shaved onions, cherry tomatoes, mint vinaigrette and ajo blanco sauce — a pretty good snapshot of that spot where late summer and early fall meet.
At Divots Restaurant at Indian Creek Golf Course, the specials are lined up for the next few days: Shanghai Steak Stir Fry today, a Fisherman’s Basket on Friday, and AAA Alberta Roast Beef & Yorkshire Dinner on Saturday.
Love & Hominy is pouring a beautiful Picante Peach Marg for one more taste of summer.
And for something decidedly fall, KickStand Coffee & Kitchen is pouring Pumpkin Pie Lattes — even better with a seat by the fire pit.
The Fruit Stands Are Busy
The Farmer in Odell is picking and picking. Honeycrisp apples are coming in, along with corn, onions, potatoes, and mixed greens. Build a late-summer salad with blueberries, apples, pears or nectarines, or go savory with cherry tomatoes, fresh corn and carrots. The shop also has new mugs, jewelry, flowers and gifts. Open Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. at 4137 Sylvester Drive in Hood River.
At McCurdy Farms, Fuji and Golden Delicious apples are ready for picking, and Comice and d’Anjou pears will be at the fruit stand this Friday, Sept. 18.
Catch Them This Weekend
Gorges Tortes will be back at the Hood River Farmers Market this Saturday.
And Columbia Gorge Crepes will be at Pearl’s Place on Sundays from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Catch them there on Sept. 20, Sept. 27, and Oct. 4.
All pretty good reasons to head out hungry (or thirsty) this weekend.
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