Bale Breaker Brewing’s 12th anniversary party is slated for Saturday, April 12th, from noon until 9:00 at the brewery and taproom near Yakima. It’s been a dozen years since the world was introduced to Bale Breaker Brewing, and that means some folks might not know the backstory or some other noteworthy things about the brewery. Here is some stuff you should know. Maybe it’s a refresher. Maybe it’s all new to you. (some photos from Instagram.)
- Bale Breaker Brewing was founded in 2013 by Kevin Smith (Smitty), his sister Meghann Quinn, and his brother-in-law Kevin Quinn (Quinn). Each of the three founders still plays important roles at the top of the organization. (Pictured above, left to right: Kevin Quinn, Meghann Quinn, and Kevin Smith.)
- The family started farming hops in the Yakima Valley in 1932 and still does today. These days, Kevin and Meghann’s brother, Patrick, steers the operation at Loftus Ranches, the family’s farm.
- They built the brewery on the farm in Field 41, which is where Field 41 Pale Ale gets its name. The beer’s label features a sign with the number 41. Signs like this identify each farm and field. The color combination identifies the farm. The number identifies the field. You’ll notice signs like these, in various color combinations, as you drive around the hop fields.
- The brewery is actually in Moxee (mock-SEE), though many folks often just say it is in Yakima for simplicity’s sake. Moxee is the self-proclaimed Hop Capitol of the World. Visit in the summer when the hops are high, and you’ll see why. The entire Yakima Valley is lousy with hop fields, but it seems Moxee is home to the greatest concentration.
- Ales for ALS is an ongoing initiative that is as old as the brewery. Bale Breaker and the Smith family started this program to raise awareness and funds for ALS research. Today, thousands of breweries create Ales for ALS beers to raise funds for the cause. They all use a special hop blend, the Ales for ALS blend, which varies from year to year. Bubba’s Brew IPA is Bale Breaker’s annual Ales for ALS beer. It was named to honor a family member who had ALS. The annual Ales for ALS party at Bale Breaker Brewing is quite a hootenanny (usually in June).
- Sesiones del Migrante is a series of beers brewed to celebrate the Mexican workers who travel to the Yakima Valley to plant, cultivate, and harvest hops. It’s usually released in May, with a big fiesta at the brewery to mark the occasion. Because Bale Breaker Brewing has deep roots in the hop farming industry, they know firsthand the importance of the folks who do the hard work. Many of these workers are from families who’ve worked the hop fields for generations. The Sesiones del Migrante beers raise funds for organizations in the Yakima Valley that support the workers and their families.
- Homegrown IPA and the Sown and Grown series are the result of a relatively new venture for Loftus Ranches. Almost 90 years after the farm was founded, it grew barley for the first time. Bale Breaker created this homegrown series of beers using hops and barley grown on the family farm. I think this is unique. I’ve never heard of another brewery that can make the claim.
Every brewery has a backstory. Many of them are interesting. Few are singular. I never use the word unique lightly, but I think it is safe to say that Bale Breaker Brewing is unique because of its direct relationship to the farm, how it utilizes that relationship, and its location on the farm. Cheers to the first 12 years, and here’s to many more!
For a fun trip in the time machine, check out the story I wrote in 2013 when I first introduced Bale Breaker Brewing.
Visit our events page and calendar to learn about all sorts of other upcoming beer events. To submit an event for inclusion on our events calendar, use our event submission form. Got more details to share, reach out to us.
