The evergreen state’s 15 million acres of farmland produce 300 different crops, ranking second in the nation. Of those 300 crops, three are essential ingredients of beer – and the state excels there, too. Washington farms are the sixth largest producers of barley in the nation, the fourth largest growers of wheat and the number one region in the world for hop farming.
It should be no surprise, then, that Washington is home to roughly 438 breweries – the fourth largest total in the country. With such bounty, it should also be no surprise that the state is home to some of the best farm-set breweries, charmingly rural spaces that tap into the agriculture and local terroir that powers the industry.
The Beer Farm by Paper Street Brewing | Pasco
Paper Street Brewing was founded by Robby Burns in Kennewick, before moving to the Parkway in Richland, and then moving in 2018 to a farm in Pasco. Burns named the brewery after the dilapidated house in which Fight Club’s Tyler Durden was squatting.
Today the brewing company couldn’t be much more different than its origins. John and Kelsey Plughoff bought Paper Street Brewing Company in 2022 partly because it reminded them of their home in Yakima. Now lovingly referred to as “The Beer Farm” by locals, the indoor/outdoor taproom and brewery is situated in northwest Pasco farmland – but just 1½ miles from downtown. The Plughoff’s wanted a brewery that their kids could enjoy, and remade the space to be family friendly with grassy fields to run, host food trucks and present summer concerts on an outdoor stage. This is the place to slow down and sip a beer under an open sky. Just be sure to arrive early on a summer weekend, as this has become the go-to gathering spot for locals.
What to Sip: Farm Light Lager and El Pasco Mexican Lager
Wheat Head Brewing Co. | Kennewick
Loren Miller spent 40 years as wheat farmer at the Glen Miller Ranch before partnering with his daughter Tina Phillips to open Wheat Head Brewing on site. The farm has been in the family since 1957, and neither father nor daughter wanted to lose that history when the younger generation didn’t want to be farmers.
Phillips, a wedding videographer, brings a visual acumen to the naturally romantic vistas of the Horse Heaven Hills location that perfectly captures both its rural setting and family history. Wheat Head Brewing has turned out to be the perfect way to realize the family’s shared passions. Not only does the brewery function as a way to showcase legacy grain farming culture of the Tri-Cities with sweeping views of the entire Columbia Basin, it is also a perfect venue to host weddings for Phillips to shoot.
While the original brewery remains a destination for sweeping wheat fields and rural vistas, Wheat Head has recently added a second experience with Wheat Head on the Water in downtown Kennewick. Here, visitors have the chance to enjoy the brewery’s farm-inspired beers from a scenic Columbia River waterfront setting.
What to Sip: Wheat Head Wheat and Helluva Harvest Hazy
Cowiche Creek Brewing Company | Yakima
Cowiche Creek Brewing was hand-built by third generation Washington farmers Maria and Derrick Nordberg. Back when the Nordbergs were just farmers, they would quench their thirst with low-alcohol hoppy beers so that they could still “have a few and still operate heavy machinery.” Then, they discovered fellow Yakima farm-based brewery Bale Breaker. That led to them homebrewing their own, and eventually deciding to open a brewery on their own farm.
Cowiche Creek named their taproom “The Home 40” which is farmer slang for the 40-acre parcel of land on which a farmer builds their home. If you’re counting, the brewery actually sits on 44-acres. Here, they had the vast space to build their own brewhouse, plant their own hop fields, and lay out the rustic taproom for the locals amidst alfalfa fields and views of the valley. Cowiche Creek Brewing specializes in bright and crisp hop-forward beers served inside the brewery that can be found down a winding road between orchards, livestock and nearby wooded hiking trails. Beyond the beer, the brewery has earned a loyal following for its handcrafted food, making it an ideal stop to settle in for lunch or dinner after exploring the Yakima Valley.
What to Sip: Fickle Blonde and Golden Soda
Five Dollar Ranch Brewing | Walla Walla
Earlier this year Five Dollar Ranch relocated from a small workshop on the 12-acre Beet Road farm south of Walla Walla to a former hay barn in the densely populated vineyards on the south side of town.
Seattle native Josh Hulett moved to the valley in 2016 and opened the ranch-set brewery in 2021 next to acres of hay and a hop garden. Coming from a hospitality background that included stints at Hilton and Bon Appétit Management Company, Hulett learned to appreciate the slower rural lifestyle and natural beauty of a farm.
At its new home, Five Dollar Ranch has expanded into a 5,800-square-foot facility with views of the Blue Mountains and surrounding vineyards. The meticulously converted hay barn honors the vibe of the original taproom, but with more indoor and outdoor seating, 14 flagship and rotating beers on tap, local wines, and snacks from local vendors and food trucks.
What to Sip: Ranch Beer and Goat Candy Hazy Pale Ale
Bale Breaker Brewing Company | Yakima
Bale Breaker is the culmination of four generations of family hop farmers. The story started in 1920 when the Loftus family moved to Moxee in the Yakima Valley. First working with the railroad, the family moved into growing crops and raising livestock, and by 1932 moved into hop farming with their first nine-acre hop field. In 2013 siblings Meghann Quinn, Kevin “Smitty” Smith, Patrick Smith, and Meghann’s husband Kevin Quinn opened Bale Breaker Brewing directly in the middle of the hop farm.
Today, family patriarch Michael Smith and his son Patrick Smith carry on the hop farming legacy running Loftus Ranches and Tributary Farms that work symbiotically but independently of the brewery. Bale Breaker has proven to be one of the most successful in the state, recently acquiring Seattle’s acclaimed Cloudburst Brewing. At the Bale Breaker taproom and brewhouse in Yakima it is still business as usual, cranking out hop-focused beers with direct access to the bines that literally surround the beer garden.
What to Sip: Five Star Dive Bar and Skyward IPA
Make it a weekend
From Seattle: Start in Yakima at Bale Breaker and Cowiche Creek before heading east to the Tri-Cities for Wheat Head and Paper Street. Finish in Walla Walla with Five Dollar Ranch, where vineyards and the Blue Mountains provide a fitting finale to a road trip rooted in Washington agriculture.
Coming from Portland? Just reverse the route, kicking it off in Walla Walla.
Continue your farm brewery tour: Love exploring Washington’s farm breweries? Head south and discover Oregon’s best farm brewery experiences, where estate-grown ingredients and scenic settings make every pint worth the trip.
