FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1st Annual Midwest Hop Conference Comes to Starved Rock Country

Regional hop growers, brewers, and industry professionals set to gather for specialty crop updates and member driven alignment for the central state cooperation of hop production.

UTICA, IL — On Saturday February 16th, the first annual Midwest Hop Conference offers farmers, brewers and all trades people in the hops market and supporting industries including consumers, financiers and litigators to gather for a union of information for the Illinois market. Sponsored in-part by Compeer Financial and co-hosted by Tangled Roots Brewing Company and CL Hop Farms, both of Ottawa, IL, the cost is $100 per person to attend a full day conference led by regional experts beginning at 8am at Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center in Utica, IL.

Hops is a specialty crop grown successfully in most Midwestern states since the early 19th century with considerable economic impact as narrow margins in conventional commodities shift farmers and farming communities toward premium streams of revenue.

With the establishment of nearly 400 craft breweries in Illinois alone and heightened consumer demand for sourcing ingredients locally, aligning a regional organization of connected growers, brewers, traders, financiers, researchers and legislators serves to establish a healthy Midwestern US stake hold in the business of hops and related small grains such as barley for malting.

Speakers will present programs surrounding the cost and risk associated with specialty crop farming, legislation and regulatory framework surrounding the hop industry, branding and sales of hops and barley in a local, regional and world trade market, and the coalition between growers and brewers to strengthen hops as a local commodity. Guest speakers include Danielle D’Allessandro, Executive Director of the Illinois Craft Brewers Guild (ICBG), Grant McCarty, University of Illinois Extension Educator on hops as a specialty crop and Dr. Matthew McCarroll, Director, Fermentation Science Institute and Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Continuing Education credits may be considered for certain University of Illinois Extension and Beginning Farmers programs.

Tangled Roots Brewing Company and CL Hop Farms, both of Ottawa, IL, will co-host the conference sponsored in part by Compeer Financial on Saturday, February 16th in Starved Rock Country at the Starved Rock Lodge & Conference Center in Utica, IL. Pre-registration is encouraged. Cost of $100 per attendee includes Expert Panel Q&A, Farm to Foam beer tasting and catered lunch. Farmers, Brewers, Educators and all hop enthusiasts are invited to attend.

Seats are limited, pre-registration is suggested by visiting www.illinoishops.com/midwesthops For more details on the event or to request a media pass, please contact CL Hop Farms at (815) 312-4677 or via email by contacting growlocalATillinoishops.com

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