It’s time for fresh hop ales to flow

Fresh hop season is here! Hop harvest is underway and we all know what that means – It’s finally time for fresh hop ales! As harvest begins, the air in the Yakima Valley is filled with the aromas of hops and newly crafted fresh hop ales flow with abundance at local breweries along the Hop Country Craft Beer Trail.

So, what to do during fresh hop season? Take a trip to Hop Country in the Yakima Vally, in the largest hop producing region in the world. This is the time of year to immerse yourself in everything Hop Country. First, if you haven’t taken a drive through the lush hop fields, do it soon because harvest is a quick, crazy process to get the hops out of the fields at the perfect time. But, there are still plenty of Hop Country views to be had.

Fresh Hop Ales at the Source

You don’t have to wait for Fresh Hop Ale Festival for fresh hop experiences! Local taprooms at nearly 20 stops on the Hop Country Craft Beer Trail will be eagerly tapping kegs of their many fresh hop ales crafted from hops harvested just minutes away.

In fact, the first fresh hop ales are already being brewed around the Yakima Valley – many of which you can only taste at the tap! Breweries will be announcing celebratory fresh hop release parties throughout harvest season, complete with live music, great food and other special activities. Watch our craft beer and hops event calendar throughout the season for all the Hop Country happenings while you wait for the main event! New fresh hop release events will be added throughout September.

Hop Country Music Festival featuring Chris Janson and Neil McCoy

Back for a second year, the much-anticipated, two-day Hop Country Music Festival, September 15 and 16, is a must-see.. Powerhouse performers lead the lineup for a fantastic celebration in the heart of Hop Country. Multi-platinum, award-winning artist, Chris Janson takes the stage as Saturday’s headliner. Friday evening features icon of country music, Neil McCoy. A standout lineup fills the rest of the weekend in Hop Country style.

Fresh Hop Ale Festival

Here in the heart of hop country, every single hop cone gets harvested and processed over the span of 30 crazy days in September. It all culminates with the Yakima Valley’s signature Fresh Hop Ale Festival, one of the “Top 10 Beer Festivals in The Nation!” On Saturday, October 7, more than 65 brewers from around the west and beyond descend upon downtown Yakima to compete for top honors with fresh hop ales crafted specifically for the festival using only freshly harvested hops. More than 7,000 beer lovers come for a one-of-a kind craft beer festival just made for them! Also enjoy wine, ciders, local flavors from food vendors, live music and fun activities. Best of all, this is a vehicle for community enrichment and positive social change, with proceeds donated to Yakima Country arts and sciences organizations.

Fresh Hop Festivities All Week Long!

You don’t have to wait for the festival to enjoy fresh hop experiences! In the week leading up to the festival, enjoy all sorts of hop country experiences. In addition to release parties, watch our calendar for other special, behind-the-scenes experiences. Take a trip for hop harvest celebrations and the 9th annual Fresh Hop Party the night before Fresh Hop Ale Festival. Make time to visit the American Hop Museum to learn about the history of the American hop industry, from its early days in the colonies to the Pacific Northwest and, especially, the Yakima Valley where we now grow more than 70 percent of U.S. hops.    

Take a Ride Through Hop Country

Reserve your spot on The Little Hopper – Yakima’s craft beer bus! Sign up for their hop-on-hop-off tours. Each tour travels a variety of loops from brewery to brewery. You choose your starting point and hop on and off to spend about an hour at each stop. You can also schedule custom group tours, as well as winery tours.

On Sunday, September 30, join Varietal Beer Co. for the Harvest 100 Century Ride, a fully supported, 100-mile ride through hop yards, vineyards, and more – all as the valley works hard to harvest the season’s best. The ride begins and ends at Varietal Beer Co. in Sunnyside for celebratory brews and bites. Profits are dedicated to Single Track Alliance of Yakima and their work to make a meaningful impact in the cycling community around the Yakima Valley.