It should surprise no craft beer enthusiast that Yakima has a serious fresh hop scene. Three fourths of the nation’s hops are harvested in this fertile central Washington valley every fall. The big pick happens every September and October, give or take, and it’s the best time on the calendar to enjoy a hoppy beer.
Unlike hops used in typical IPAs or hoppy beers, fresh hops are never dried. Instead, freshly picked hops are added directly to the brew kettle. This difference makes drinking fresh hop beers a unique experience, as their flavor profile leans towards plant-like and away from the bitterness of dried hops. Using the fresh hops within a couple days of harvest is ideal, and the beers are best enjoyed fresh as well.
In a place so saturated with hops, the question begs: Where should I go? In Yakima, if you walk in any direction long enough, you’re bound to run into a solid brewery. But after a long weekend in the town famous for its hops, we came away with a few favorites.
Single Hill Brewing
Touting one of the most expansive fresh hop lists in town, Single Hill Brewing is where it’s at. The brewery, occupying a lovely space with a sprawling patio (and resident beer ambulance) on N. Naches Avenue, pours a plurality of fresh hop wonders and cans a fair number as well. Look out for the Charro Bebop, a fresh IPA made with wet Newhouse Simcoe, Haas Citra and Loza Rainier hops (among others) and the Fresh Hop Lateral A, named after the famous nearby country road lined with hop farms. They do tons of intriguing collaborations and prize the growers that set them up with their quality brewing ingredients. While you’re there, try the fresh deli grub from the food cart Tandem Unicycle.
Valley Brewing Co.
Set just a bit out of town on River Road, Valley Brewing Co. dabbles in some hoppy experimental beers and several seasonal fresh hop options. The tasting room is friendly and on the small side while the backyard features lawn games and fire pits. If you’re hungry, grab some tacos from Taco El Rey while you’re at the pub. The IPAs are good all around and all the better come early fall.
Bale Breaker BREWING COMPANY
Bale Breaker has helped put Yakima on the craft beer map (if the hops didn’t already). You’ll find extremely fresh and grassy options here, and, if you time it right, can even tour the estate hop farm, a fourth-generation family endeavor. The Homegrown Fresh Hop IPA is made from Simcoe, Mosaic and HBC 360 hops while the Fresh Hop Frenz IPA is a flavorful team-up with esteemed California brewery Russian River. The flagship taproom is impressive, with a 30-barrel facility, 16 taps and food carts.
Schab’s Bier Den Tap Haus
While technically a tap house and more Euro in flavor, there’s a lot to like about Schab’s. For starters, there’s a distinct Oktoberfest vibe this time of year (try some of the tasty imports on tap) but there are a handful of great fresh hop options too. Washington breweries get a lot of the spotlight, with the likes of Selah Springs, Varietal and Wandering Hop usually in the mix. Inside, it’s cozy and feels like a classic German-inspired beer hall.
Bron Yr Aur Brewing Co.
A brewery and pizza parlor, Bron Yr Aur sits on the banks of the Naches River, just a short drive from Yakima and is very much worth a stop. Look out for refreshing blonde and farmhouse ales and fresh installments of the house IPA in September and October. It started with beer-infused pizza dough a decade ago and now the label, run by seventh-generation Yakima family, focuses on a core lineup of tasty beers as well.
View the winners from Sip Magazine Best of the Northwest Fresh Hop competition.
Photos courtesy of Bale Breaker Brewing Company
