Yakima’s Fresh Hop Ale Festival is routinely ranked one of the best beer festivals in the country, and for good reason: it’s a week-long celebration of our hop culture that culminates in a giant party with beer that is brewed with hops picked straight from the bines of Yakima Valley. Fresh hops typically expire within 24 hours, so the timing to do this is crucial. Limited in release, and each judged by the committee, the freshest of the fresh hop beers happen only once a year, making the Festival entirely unique. Additionally, the Festival offers grants to local arts and science organizations each year, enhancing and bettering our city. #WeGrowYourBeer, so drink up!
There are SO MANY varieties of hops – we can’t list them all, but you can read up on them. One cool thing that happens every September in Yakima is selection — when brewers flock to town to find the hops they want to use for the next year, which involves smelling, touching, and examining the hops. Some years, there are certain varieties that are especially sought after. Here are two that Malissa Gatton – Fresh Hop board member, and marketer for Yakima Valley Hops – is especially excited to try in this year’s Fresh Hop beers.
A perennial favorite hop to have in a fresh hop beer. Malissa says it’s got that mellow, classic, west coast ale flavor and aroma profile that works in most hop-forward beer styles, but especially shines in the fresh ones!
(📷: Yakima Chief Hops)
Sabro™ is a newer hop on the scene (released in 2018). Malissa is especially looking forward those Fresh Hopped beers this year, as there were several at last year’s Festival. Sabro™ has a distinct coconut and tropical fruit profile that somehow feels exotic to be sipping in the Yakima Valley in the fall. We would encourage everyone to seek out beers with this unique hop.
(📷: Yakima Chief Ranches)
We especially love our local breweries and the effort they put into their Fresh Hop beers each year. While at the Festival, look for Varietal, Single Hill, Cowiche Creek, and of course Bale Breaker.
(📷: Varietal Beer/IG)
Two other northwest breweries that always hit their Fresh Hop beers out of the park are Cloudburst and Holy Mountain, both from Seattle. In fact, their collaboration Fresh Hop beer won Best in Show at the 2018 Festival.
(📷: Cloudburst/IG)
If hops aren’t your thing, the Festival has your back. Local wineries and cideries will be pouring too, including Gilbert Cellars, Cote Bonneville, Fortuity Cellars, Tieton Cider Works, Treveri, and Naches Heights Vineyard. So even if you’re not a Hop Head, you’ll find something delicious to drink.
The Yakima Ice Rink is a TREAT. Kids can do everything from joining the youth hockey team and taking figure skating lessons at our local ice rink or just enjoying a fun family evening at the public session on a Friday or Saturday night. They have skate rentals and pushers for little skaters available on site.
1700 Beech Street, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 469-0597 | website
(📷: Yakima Ice Rink)
The Yakima Valley Museum is a treasure trove of Yakima history. Learn about Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas, try to find the oldest car on display, or peruse their extensive geology collection, but always end up in the Children’s Underground Area. With a hands-on activity center and a space for kids to pretend it’s the late 1800s, it’s a favorite spot for local kiddos. Be on the lookout for unique family-friendly community events like classic movie showings and their weekly storytime on Wednesdays at 10am (children get in free).
2105 Tieton Drive, Yakima WA 98902
(509) 248-0747 | website
Warehouse Theatre produces strong productions of delightful family-friendly plays. Plays completely put on by volunteer community members with a strong love of theatre and it shows in the production value. The theater itself is not your traditional stage but rather “in the round,” with chairs on all four sides. It is unique and special and kids love the immersive experience. Tickets typically sell out fast for each production so be sure to buy ahead of time!
1610 S. 24th Ave, Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 248-0747 | website
(📷: WTC/IG)
A perennial favorite hop to have in a fresh hop beer. Malissa says it’s got that mellow, classic, west coast ale flavor and aroma profile that works in most hop-forward beer styles, but especially shines in the fresh ones!
(📷: Yakima Chief Hops)
Sabro™ is a newer hop on the scene (released in 2018). Malissa is especially looking forward those Fresh Hopped beers this year, as there were several at last year’s Festival. Sabro™ has a distinct coconut and tropical fruit profile that somehow feels exotic to be sipping in the Yakima Valley in the fall. We would encourage everyone to seek out beers with this unique hop.
(📷: Yakima Chief Ranches)
We especially love our local breweries and the effort they put into their Fresh Hop beers each year. While at the Festival, look for Varietal, Single Hill, Cowiche Creek, and of course Bale Breaker.
(📷: Varietal Beer/IG)
Two other northwest breweries that always hit their Fresh Hop beers out of the park are Cloudburst and Holy Mountain, both from Seattle. In fact, their collaboration Fresh Hop beer won Best in Show at the 2018 Festival.
(📷: Cloudburst/IG)
If hops aren’t your thing, the Festival has your back. Local wineries and cideries will be pouring too, including Gilbert Cellars, Cote Bonneville, Fortuity Cellars, Tieton Cider Works, Treveri, and Naches Heights Vineyard. So even if you’re not a Hop Head, you’ll find something delicious to drink.
Apple Tree golf course hosts the Fresh Hop Golf Tournament *on Thursday, October 3. Scramble start, $150 for a two-person team. Registration at 11, lunch at 12, Tee off at 1pm.
9637, 8804 Occidental Rd, Yakima, WA 98903
(509) 966-5877 | website
(📷: Apple Tree Resort/IG)
*Brought to you by Mccown Crafted
Aside from the Festival itself, the Yakima Valley Hops Fresh Hop party on Friday October 4th is the hottest ticket in town – and one of the most fun. With three different bands playing outside YVH (the premier brewer supply shop) in Yakima’s historic warehouse district, you’re guaranteed to dance your butt off and have some of the freshest fresh hop beers around. Get tickets here.
702 N 1st Ave, Yakima, WA 98902
(208) 649-4677 | website
(📷: Yakima Valley Hops)
Venture out to lovely little Naches for a glimpse at our side of the Cascades, beer (of course), and some of the best pizza in our neck of the woods. Bron Yr Aur makes their pizza dough and slider buns fresh with their Beaver Deceiver Cream Ale. Bron Yr Aur has a sweet, helpful staff who will be happy to help you pair your beer with pizza.
12160 US-12, Naches, WA 98937
(509) 653-1109 | website
(📷: Bron Yr Aur/IG)
Second Street Grill has over 20 constantly-rotating tap handles and great Happy Hour with local Fresh Hops on tap; If you want to spot brewers out on the town or catch your favorite game, Sports Center is the place, and always a must during Fresh Hop Season (take a selfie in front of the coolest retro sign in all of Yakima); Provisions has growlers to go. They also have brunch if you’re in need of some hair of the dog. Also worth a stop-off: Public House and Bill’s Place.
Second Street Grill
28 N 2nd St, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 469-1486 | website | more
Sports Center
214 E Yakima Ave, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 453-4647 | website | more
Provisions
2710 Terrace Heights Dr, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 452-8100 | website
Public House
5703 Tieton Dr, Yakima, WA 98908
(509) 426-2043 | website
Bill’s Place
206 S 3rd Ave, Yakima, WA 98902
(509) 575-9513 | so local, no website | more
(📷: Sports Center/IG)
We really do grow your beer – 75% of the hops in the US are grown right here in the Yakima Valley. You can get a beer smack dab in the center of a hop farm at Bale Breaker, drink in old-town downtown Yakima at relatively new (and delicious) Single Hill, head to adorable Naches for Bron Yr Aur, or check out the gorgeous view from Naches Heights at Cowiche Creek. These are just a few of our favorites for the variety in settings and beers for enjoying in our valley, but you can find even more here, including notable nano-breweries
Bale Breaker
1801 Birchfield Rd, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 424-4000 | website
Single Hill
102 N Naches Ave, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 367-6756 | website | more
Bron Yr Aur Brewing
12160 US-12, Naches, WA 98937
(509) 653-1109 | website
Cowiche Creek Brewing Company
514 Thompson Rd BLDG #2, Cowiche, WA 98923
(509) 678-0324 | website
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy owns and manages over 5,000 acres of land. With over 30 miles of trails, you can go for a hike, get on your mountain bike, or go birding within minutes from town. Check out their website for maps, tips, and trail information.
(📷: Jonathan Shipley/IG)
What once was home to a church, the Seasons Performance Hall is Yakima’s main indoor concert venue. From jazz to the Seattle Rock Orchestra to Macklemore, the Seasons is known for its incredible acoustics and eclectic musical shows. While no shows are scheduled for Fresh Hop week, the weekend before, their Songwriter Sessions series kicks off with Jason McCue (Friday, September 27th). You can admire the building's architecture from across the street at Single Hill.
(📷: The Seasons)
Yakima Maker Space (YMS) was created in 2013 with the goal of "galvanizing our City's creative potential." The YMS founders led by example when they took an abandoned downtown building and created a shop where you can make almost anything. They host events like Drag Me Out to the Arts, various art groups, and tool demos. It will be open on the day of the Festival. Fill up with some coffee at Collab Cafe and head next door to YMS to get a tour and see what the makers are doing.
Yakima Maker Space
16 S 1st St, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 571-1215 | website
Collab Coffee
18 S 1st St, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 823-4018 | website
The Festival gives grants to local arts and science organizations each year such as Tieton Arts & Humanities and the Wenas Mammoth Foundation. In between beers, head out to some of the organizations that the Festival supports.
Cowiche Canyon Conservancy owns and manages over 5,000 acres of land. With over 30 miles of trails, you can go for a hike, get on your mountain bike, or go birding within minutes from town. Check out their website for maps, tips, and trail information.
(📷: Jonathan Shipley/IG)
What once was home to a church, the Seasons Performance Hall is Yakima’s main indoor concert venue. From jazz to the Seattle Rock Orchestra to Macklemore, the Seasons is known for its incredible acoustics and eclectic musical shows. While no shows are scheduled for Fresh Hop week, the weekend before, their Songwriter Sessions series kicks off with Jason McCue (Friday, September 27th). You can admire the building's architecture from across the street at Single Hill.
(📷: The Seasons)
Yakima Maker Space (YMS) was created in 2013 with the goal of "galvanizing our City's creative potential." The YMS founders led by example when they took an abandoned downtown building and created a shop where you can make almost anything. They host events like Drag Me Out to the Arts, various art groups, and tool demos. It will be open on the day of the Festival. Fill up with some coffee at Collab Cafe and head next door to YMS to get a tour and see what the makers are doing.
Yakima Maker Space
16 S 1st St, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 571-1215 | website
Collab Coffee
18 S 1st St, Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 823-4018 | website