Reuben’s Brews Fresh Hop Field Trip (Yakima Valley, WA)

Hey there! I’m Riho, a craft beer enthusiast. In September 2025, I joined the Fresh Hop Field Trip hosted by Reuben’s Brews! It was a dream-like day of harvesting hops on the farm while drinking fresh hop beer. An unforgettable experience where I got to understand “what does fresh hop taste like?” with all five senses fully engaged.

What is the Fresh Hop Field Trip?

This annual fall tour organized by Reuben’s Brews is a luxurious day trip departing from their Seattle taproom to visit hop farms in Yakima Valley. In Yakima Valley, which produces approximately 75% of America’s hops, you can see, smell, and taste freshly harvested hops in the form of fresh hop beer. The 2025 trip cost $200 and included a t-shirt and unlimited beer on the bus.

Tour Itinerary

8:45 AM	Board bus at 5010 14th Ave NW (Reuben’s Brews)
9:00 AM	Depart (unlimited Reuben’s Brews beer on the bus!)
12:00 PM	Arrive at Perrault Farms — farm tour, fresh hop beer tasting, lunch, hop lecture
2:30 PM	Arrive at Bale Breaker Brewing — brewery tour, fresh hop beer
4:15 PM	Arrive at Kiln — dinner (pizza included), one beer
9:00 PM	Return to Reuben’s Brews

The Perrault Farms Experience

The entire farm was filled with the fresh, green aroma of hops — just being there filled you with a sense of bliss. At the hop processing facility, we watched the process of removing vines and drying hops up close. The fresh hop lecture from experts provided detailed explanations of hop varieties and characteristics, making it an intellectually enriching experience as well. Lunch in the farm’s atmosphere was a perfect touch.

Fresh Hop Beer Tasting Notes

The fresh hop beers I tried at the farm and Bale Breaker were completely different from dried-hop beers. A vivid green grassiness, fresh fruit-like juiciness, and the unique refreshment that only just-harvested hops can deliver. I was genuinely moved thinking “so this is what fresh hop tastes like.” This flavor simply can’t be replicated in cans or bottles — and that’s the greatest value of joining the field trip.

What’s Included

• Unlimited beer on the bus (Reuben’s Brews beers)
• Farm tour and expert-led fresh hop lecture
• Three meals: morning bagels, lunch, and pizza dinner
• Bale Breaker Brewing brewery tour
• Commemorative t-shirt
• Price: $200 (tax and tip separate)

Web Reviews & Ratings

Reuben’s Brews (Google Maps)	4.5 stars (Ballard taproom)
Untappd	Multiple Reuben’s Brews beers listed. Fresh hop series highly rated
Fresh Hop Field Trip	Rave reviews on social media every year. Farm experience especially praised by participants

Awards & Notable Information

Reuben’s Brews is a flagship Seattle brewery with numerous international competition awards including GABF. They’re particularly acclaimed for their Hazy IPAs and seasonal releases, and the Fresh Hop Field Trip has become an iconic event in Seattle’s beer culture.

Find the Perfect Glass for Fresh Hop Beer

To enjoy IPA and fresh hop beer at their best, an IPA-specific glass is recommended.

Browse IPA glasses on Rakuten

Overall Rating

Related Links & References

For more on Reuben’s Brews taproom visits, see our Seattle area brewery articles. Also check out the Bale Breaker Brewing article from the same day.

• Reuben’s Brews Official: reubensbrews.com
• Instagram: @reubensbrews
• Reference post: Riho’s Instagram post (September 17, 2025)

{ “@context”: “https://schema.org”, “@graph”: [ { “@type”: “Article”, “headline”: “Reuben’s Brews Fresh Hop Field Trip (Yakima Valley, WA) | A Day of Fresh Hop Immersion”, “author”: {“@type”: “Person”, “name”: “Riho”}, “datePublished”: “2026-03-03”, “publisher”: {“@type”: “Organization”, “name”: “rihobeer.com”} }, { “@type”: “BreweryOrWinery”, “name”: “Reuben’s Brews”, “address”: { “@type”: “PostalAddress”, “addressLocality”: “Seattle”, “addressRegion”: “WA”, “addressCountry”: “US” }, “url”: “https://www.reubensbrews.com” }, { “@type”: “FAQPage”, “mainEntity”: [ { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What is Reuben’s Brews Fresh Hop Field Trip?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “It’s an annual fall day trip from Reuben’s Seattle taproom to Yakima Valley hop farms. The $200 ticket includes three meals, unlimited beer on the bus, a farm tour, Bale Breaker brewery visit, and a commemorative t-shirt.”} }, { “@type”: “Question”, “name”: “What does fresh hop beer taste like?”, “acceptedAnswer”: {“@type”: “Answer”, “text”: “Fresh hop (wet hop) beer uses undried hops harvested the same day, creating a unique vivid green grassiness and fresh fruit juiciness that cannot be replicated in canned or bottled beer.”} } ] } ] }