In 2009 I attended the Fresh Hop Ale Festival in Yakima, WA with fellow beer traveler, Dave. The 2009 outdoor festival on the streets of Yakima welcomed not only us, but the rains and wind to normally dry Yakima. Needless to say, we still had a fantastic time, and this year returned for the 2010 event with the most perfect weather conditions possible!
Our trip south from Kelowna, BC took us to Winthrop (Old Schoolhouse Brewery) and Twisp (Methow Valley Brewing) on Friday night before spending the evening in Wenatchee, WA at our favorite little beer friendly restaurant known as McGlinn’s Public House. The Oktoberfest Ale at Methow Valley was fantastic as was the riverside patio and IPA at Old Schoolhouse. McGlinn’s offers up a solid tap lineup and superior service every time I visit!
Old Schoolhouse Brewery, Winthrop WA
Saturday’s schedule included a quick round of disc golf at Cle Elum, WA and a sample of the beer brewed at Roslyn Brewing in quaint little Roslyn, WA (aka Roslyn, Alaska in Northern Exposure). The excitement was already building as the weather was somewhat stellar for early October. We were talking sunshine and mid-80′s!!
After a teaser at Roslyn we headed straight to one of Central Washington’s top breweries in Ellensburg, Iron Horse Brewery. With some GPS guidance, we made it here with no time lost (unlike last year). The small tasting room was packed with over 20 people enjoying the half dozen or so ales being served up on tap. The self serve popcorn smothered in Tobasco’s Chipotle sauce paired nicely with my Hi-Five Hefeweizen!
I wanted to stay for more in this friendly little spot, but a festival was calling! Off to Yakima we went. After a quick check-in at the hotel we made our way to the downtown festival site and got a place near the front of the line. At 5:01PM we were sampling our first Fresh Hop Ales!
Night time crowd at the Fresh Hop Ale Festival
I must add that this is the best festival for “value per pour”! Full 16oz glasses are used for sampler glasses with a 4oz line that is mostly overlooked. Instead of tokens, Scrips are used and typically $2 worth gets you a 4oz sample (although the pours usually ended up at 6-7 oz).
The crowd was large, the band was fantastic and the food was incredible. I managed to eat most of my pulled pork taco but it took several fresh hop ales to wash it down. I met a few awesome new friends that hopefully will cross paths with me in the future again. This region of the world surely has some of the friendliest people around. | Visit Yakima Website |
By the end of the night I had picked my favorite. This was very difficult. Many thanks to the folks at Snipes Mountain Brewery from Sunnyside, WA, who in the spirit of the festival offered up three different Fresh Hop Ales! All of them fantastic. Saying this, I tried most of the offerings at the festival and can honestly say that I did not have a beer I didn’t enjoy.
On the way home on Sunday we made a detour to Sunnyside, WA to enjoy nachos and some beers at Snipes Mountain Brewery. This stop is highly recommended. Great service and delicious beers! The Pumpkin Stout was a kick ass drink to start off my Sunday!
The Snipes Mountain Brewery Crew
In contrast to certain similar sized few (drunk-fest style) beer festivals that I attend in Canada, this festival had truly fantastic people. People both knowledgable in craft beer and/or wanting to learn more about it. Yakima should be proud of it’s hops and the organizers (Allied Arts of Yakima Valley) of this event as well as its classy festival attendees.
Cheers from Yakima!!
I will return again next year, rain or shine! Cheers!!
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