Next Saturday, October 18th, Deschutes Brewery is having a Fresh Hop Beer Tasting dinner at their Mountain Room. (I'm going.) Fresh (or wet) hop beers are a relatively new thing and Deschutes is taking to it in a big way; they plan to have seven fresh hop beers on tap.

Here are the details:

Saturday, October 18th
Doors open at 6:30 pm

Featuring 7 Deschutes Brewery Fresh Hop beers,
including Hop Trip & a fresh hop version of Mirror Pond!

Menu:
Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Ham (and a vegetarian friendly version too)
Roasted Fall Vegetables with Fresh Herbs
Braised Beef Short Ribs on Pumpkin Puree
Assorted Breads, Spreads & Crudités
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Wheat Malt Crust drizzled with Fresh Wort Caramel

$35 per person - Includes the following food, all beers, and gratuity.

Please call Sharon for reservations at 541.385.8606

I don't know if there's much availability left, but you have a week to reserve your spot. Like I mentioned, I'll be there, and it sounds like it's going to be a great time.

Tomorrow (Saturday the 11th) Bend Parks and Rec is putting on the "Original Central Oregon Pumpkin Festival" out at Tillicum Ranch west of Bend. Here's the blurb:

10am - 4pm
Come on out to beautiful Tillicum Ranch west of town. You'll find a field full of pumpkins to choose from, pony rides, farm animals, face painting, kids activities, a spooky barn, live entertainment and lots of good food. This event provides family fun in a ranch setting. No dogs please. Choose from a $10 kids all-activity day (includes a pumpkin) or .50 cents per activity. Adults are free.

Directions from Bend: Take Hwy 20 six miles west toward Sisters to Couch Market Road. Follow signs to the Pumpkin Festival.

That's actually a pretty good deal, except I'm not sure "Adults are free" applies to food.