With temperatures soaring well over the 90-degree mark, Hops in the Hills provided opportunity to enjoy a cold beer to hydrate and beat the heat. There was plenty of variety to be had, courtesy of the nearly 30 breweries from as far away as Nashville, Georgia and South Carolina that were on hand to offer samples of their wares. For a single ticket price of $75, craft beer aficionados were given the chance to taste the best hops the region had to offer, and enjoy the opportunity to congregate with friends and future friends all at the same time.
The 7th such event, this year’s Hops in the Hills again took place Saturday from 5-9 p.m. in the park adjacent to the Maryville Greenway Amphitheater. In addition to the vendors, there was live music, food tastings and plenty of places to simply lounge about and socialize while soaking up the suds, getting a souvenir photo or engaging in a game of corn hole.
By 5 p.m. when the gates officially opened, the line of ticket holders stretched back to Lamar Alexander Parkway. Once they were let in the gates, some made a beeline to grab their souvenir shirts while others hightailed it to the closest brewer. Some had been waiting in line for over an hour, but no one seemed to mind. “It’s an opportunity to sample local beers,” said Craig Riley, one of the first people to enter. “We know a lot of people here and it’s always a good time.”
Jodie Lombarde agreed. “It’s a great time to join up with friends and reconnect,” she said. “Plus, it’s a good excuse to come to the park.”
Those involved shared some enthusiasm of their own. Nate Newton, representing Hatch Batch Brewing in Hendersonville, said this was the third year his company was represented at Hops in the Hills. “It’s good to get outside our normal distribution area and let people know about our beer,” he said. “We’ve been really well-received and the feedback has been great.”
Others concurred. Todd White of the Brewing and Distilling Center in North Knoxville, said he was on the original committee that helped establish the festival in 2015. He began his teaching career at South College and later established a school that trains students for a career in brewing. Two of his former students were working with him and sharing samples of the beer that White’s school had brewed.”
“I’m a Maryville guy,” he said. “I was born and raised here, and I like to support local charities. A community is only as strong as the volunteers who make it happen.”
Christina O’Rourke, owner of Brackens Blues Club in Maryville and the person responsible for recruiting the participating breweries, was one of those White referred to. She was also one of the original individuals who helped make Hops in the Hills a reality.
“This is an amazing group of people,” she said. “And (Director of Tourism for the Blount Partnership) Kim Mitchell is an amazing leader. We want to keep this a regional event, and it’s the people, the volunteers and the breweries that make it happen.”
Scott Shankland, the individual charged with recruiting those volunteers, offered his own words of praise for the participants. “This is a great group of people,” he said. “I’ve been on the organizing committee for nine years, and Kim Mitchell is a terrific leader. Everyone takes pride in what we’ve accomplished.”
This year, 50 people served as volunteers, and 800 people bought tickets, ensuring the event was a sell-out.
“I’ve been to this event before and I love seeing Downtown Maryville come alive with people that enjoy the activity,” said volunteer Chris Hackler. “It’s wonderful to see people come to the Greenbelt and engage with the community.”
The entertainers expressed their enthusiasm as well. Jonathan Sexton, leader of Badlands, the group that shared sounds of the ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s from the bandshell, also had something to say about being part of the event.
“My grandparents used to live by Sandy Springs and it was always a special time when we came to Maryville,” he said. “So this being at Hops in the Hills once again becomes for a special occasion for me personally. Everyone’s always so friendly and they seem so happy to be here.”
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