Fresh Hop Ale Festival — Yakima

The Fresh Hop Ale Festival in Yakima takes place at the center of U.S. hop country, creating a one-of-a-kind craft beer celebration for beer lovers. Festival brewers make distinctive, hop-forward ales that reveal the aroma and flavor of each hop variety in a way unique to fresh hop ale. Visitors are invited to come to the source and celebrate hops and independent craft brewing where the beer’s hops are grown.

Fresh Hop Ale Festival - Yakima

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Yakima hosts the signature Fresh Hop Ale Festival in the U.S.

Why Yakima’s festival is different

Yakima Valley grows the hops used in your beer and harvests 75% of the nation's hops. The Valley is one of the most important hop growing regions in the world. Each September, every hop cone in the Valley is harvested and processed during 30 crazy days.

That annual harvest season leads into Yakima's Fresh Hop Ale Festival, recognized as one of the Top 10 Beer Festivals in The Nation! The event brings together 65 brewers from around the U.S. to compete with fresh hop ales made specifically for the festival from freshly harvested hops.

As the only fresh hop festival located right in the heart of U.S. hop country, the event offers a one-of-a-kind craft beer festival experience for beer lovers. Every festival brew has its own hop-forward character, highlighting the aromas and flavors of its particular hop variety in a way that only happens in a fresh hop ale. Come to the source to celebrate hops and independent craft brewing where we grow your beer.

Community impact

Beyond its appeal to beer lovers, the festival supports community enrichment and positive social change. The festival is a non-profit organization that distributes proceeds as grants for projects undertaken by Yakima County arts and science organizations. In 2018, the organization donated $104,000 to 30 different groups.

At the Festival

Guests can sample beers from participating brewers, enjoy Yakima Valley wines and ciders, try local flavors from food trucks and vendors, and experience live music and activities alongside other beer lovers.