75 breweries on tap for return of Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest. Here’s what to know

Last May, the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance hosted the inaugural Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest at Beaver Stadium, with more than 70 participating breweries and thousands in attendance.

The event — a first for Beaver Stadium — was an “instant success,” according to Eric Engelbarts, executive director of the Happy Valley Sports & Entertainment Alliance.

“We couldn’t have asked for anything better, honestly,” Engelbarts said. “It’s a quality event — the quality of craft breweries that came and the entertainment lineup we had — but then also the venue, Beaver Stadium, is just a draw within itself.”

Including brewers and volunteers, last year’s festival drew nearly 3,000 attendees.

This year, Engelbarts is looking forward to another successful event, but anticipates crowds will be lower due to a necessary venue change. With renovations at Beaver Stadium underway, it just wasn’t possible to hold the festival on the football field again.

“We sent a survey out to our attendees from this previous year and asked, ‘Hey, if [the event] wasn’t in the stadium, where would you be interested in going?’” Engelbarts explained, noting that, in 2024, the festival attracted some attendees who weren’t even all that interested in the breweries or entertainment; they simply wanted access to Beaver Stadium. “Essentially, it came back that they’d like to be nestled up to the stadium or really anywhere on Penn State’s campus would’ve been great.”

As such, this year’s event will be held in the Porter North tailgating lot situated next to both Beaver Stadium and Medlar Field at Lubrano Park. Attendees will have access to the amenities at Medlar Field, such as restrooms and concessions. Retaining the event’s Penn State connection, versus moving to a non-university venue, was important for its continued success, said Engelbarts.

The Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest will once again welcome around 75 breweries from around the region, both returning breweries that attended last year, as well as some newcomers. This year’s entertainment includes Channing Wilson, Donny Burns & The 3rd Degree and Ted & The Hi‑Fis.

“Not everyone heard our headliner last year. [They played] during the VIP hour, but this year, during general admission, everyone will have the opportunity to hear up-and-coming country star Channing Wilson and his band,” Engelbarts said.

Three ticket options are available. A $69.50 general admission ticket allows for unlimited sampling of more than 100 beers from the various breweries. A $99.50 VIP ticket allows for exclusive, one-hour early access to the event. A $24.50 designated driver ticket is available for attendees who will not be sampling the beers on offer; designated driver ticketholders must be accompanied by a general admission or VIP ticketholder.

If you’ve already snagged your tickets — which Engelbarts advises you do in advance, via www.hoppyvalleybrewersfest.com, to avoid wait times and long lines the day of — Engelbarts offered a few tips based off last year’s festival.

“We are expecting it to be hot, so ... make sure that you’re hydrated. Do not drink alcohol before coming to this event,” he said. “Your only limit [for beer samples] is what you’re able to responsibly consume, and we want to make sure you have a good time.”

That said, Engelbarts noted that attendees last year were very well-behaved. “The crowd this attracts are those individuals that are really interested in high-end craft beer, or interested in the process. They want to taste a variety [of beers] and are not necessarily there for the alcohol per se,” he said.

The second annual Hoppy Valley Brewers Fest takes place July 19, 4-8 p.m.