Skip to content

Road Trip: Winterhop Brewfest

Get "hopped up" at the Ellensburg beer festival that features over 30 Northwest breweries

By Jennifer Meyers December 14, 2015

0116essentialsroadtrip_0

This article originally appeared in the January 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.

Where: Ellensburg, a small central Washington town filled with old-school architecture, locally owned shops and quaint cafés, located about 100 miles southeast of downtown Seattle.
Why: To get “hopped up” on local beers at Winterhop Brewfest, an annual festival that draws about 1,600 beer fanatics to stroll through the historic downtown and sip some of Washington’s finest ales, lagers and ciders from more than 30 Northwest breweries.
Drink it in: The local culture, that is: View works by contemporary regional artists at the 420 Loft Art Gallery, housed in a 1930 Art Deco building, or head to the Clymer Museum and Gallery, dedicated to native son John Clymer, whose paintings of the Western frontier graced more than 80 covers of The Saturday Evening Post.
Sleep it off: Get cozy and take in scenic views of Yakima River Canyon in one of the lodge suites at Canyon River Ranch, 15 miles south of Ellensburg.

 

Follow Us

The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year

The Warmest Welcome: Why You Should Visit the Tri-Cities This Year

Just a few hours away from Seattle, this robust community offers great wine, a budding food scene, and more than 300 days of sun.

There is a point, when I’m traveling along Interstate 82 (I-82), somewhere around Exit 26, when I usually notice a shift in the light—especially in the wintertime. Coming out from the pass and heading south to leave the flat, cloud-shrouded gray of Western Washington behind, I feel a burst of happiness at the blue skies…

Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look

Paint Check: Select Alaska Airlines Planes Get a Fresh Look

The local aviation company debuts a bold Aurora Borealis-inspired livery as it expands internationally.

At the beginning of the year, Alaska Airlines unveiled its new global livery: a bold design inspired by the Aurora Borealis. Painted in a palette of deep blues and shimmering emerald greens, the sleek look is a nod to Alaska Airlines’ continued addition of international destinations, which will expand to London, Rome, and Reykjavik by…

Elevated Gaming, Now With a Luxury Stay
Sponsored

Elevated Gaming, Now With a Luxury Stay

Debuting a new era in Pacific Northwest gaming, the opening of the now Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel, transforms a premier gaming destination into a full-scale getaway–pairing top-tier play with the convenience and comfort of an upscale luxurious overnight stay just 30 minutes from downtown Seattle. Snoqualmie Casino & Hotel offers one of the most expansive…

Washington’s Spring Festivals Go Way Beyond Tulips

Washington’s Spring Festivals Go Way Beyond Tulips

From cherry blossoms in Seattle to shorebirds on the coast, these spring festivals celebrate the state’s natural abundance.

From our rivers flowing with snowmelt and salmon to valleys dotted with wildflowers and berries, to forests filled with mossy trees and mushrooms, nature is an inseparable part of Washington’s culture and ecosystem. It shapes what we eat and drink, what inspires our art and outdoor lifestyle, and even our cities. Nature is part of…