There’s no better place to be a craft beer lover than the Yakima Valley. To discover why, look no further than the acres and acres of surrounding fields filled with lush hops twining and climbing up trellises to become delicious, innovative brews you’ll find on tap at local breweries. After all, this is the home of the hops and it’s the only place you’ll find the Hop Country Craft Beer Trail.

That’s why Yakima has been nominated by a panel of impartial experts for Best Beer City in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards! Cast your vote daily until 9 am on February 23. Fresh Hop Ale Festival is also in the running for Best Beer Festival.

Why the Yakima Valley is the Place to be for Beer Lovers

• The Yakima Valley is one of the top hop producing regions in the world. The U.S. vies with Germany year after year for the top spot in hop production, coming in #2 for 2024, with the vast majority of those hops grown in the Yakima Valley.
• The Yakima Valley grows 75% of U.S. hops. Three-quarters of U.S. hops come from Washington State and virtually all of those are grown in the Yakima Valley. That means the Yakima Valley keeps the U.S. craft beer industry brewing!
• The Valley’s unmatched craft beer culture is rooted in hop farming tradition. Deep connections between hop growers and local brewers create a uniquely rich craft beer community. You can feel the vibe! Some local brewers are hop farmers themselves.
• Hops from generations-old hop farms fuel creativity and innovation you can only taste at the tap on the one-and-only Hop Country Craft Beer Trail. Local brewers take inspiration from the field, crafting delicious brews with hops sourced from surrounding farms. Tour more than 20 stops to taste local craft beers, wines, ciders and spirits.
• Since 2003, the Fresh Hop Ale Festival has been one of the best beer festivals around! It’s where you’ll taste the freshest of fresh hop ales, with dozens of brewers from the West and beyond pouring beers crafted with just-picked hops.

Top Tips for Touring the Hop Country Craft Beer Trail

• Seek something special! Taste hop country innovation you can only find in local taprooms pouring seasonal, limited release and experimental craft beers. Check out the Imagination Station brews on tap at Bale Breaker Brewing Company. Visit Single Hill Brewing for experimental beers released each week. Visit often to sample from the constantly changing tap list at Varietal Beer Co. At Cowiche Canyon Kitchen, you can also find beers from John I Haas, brewed with their experimental hops.
• Take a craft beer tour. Book a ride on the one and only Little Hopper, Yakima’s craft beer (and wine) bus. Let their expert guides take you on a hop country journey, including hop farm tours in season. Cycle Yakima is a new addition to the valley. Guide Kyle Bisconer will work with you to choose the perfect route for your scenic rides blending outdoor adventure with local craft beer for a unique experience.
• Come hungry for the best beer bites! You’ll find local breweries and taprooms serving delicious foods to go with their exceptional beers. Check our guide to brewery bites, from pizza on beer-infused crust and the very best chuck and brisket burgers around to all the locals’ favorite food trucks on rotation, and much, much more.
• Find a craft beer festival! In addition to the one and only Fresh Hop Ale Festival, enjoy many more craft beer festivals and celebrations throughout the year.
• Have fun with friends at brewery and taproom events. Yakima Valley breweries and taprooms know how to have a good time. They pack the calendar with everything from live music and comedy, trivia and bingo nights and vendor markets to book swaps and paint nights. Check the Yakima Valley Hop Country events calendar for the latest updates. 

Categorized in: Hops and Beer