Yakima Redefined

So you think you know Yakima? We've probably all had a swing through downtown and environs and felt bad about the empty buildings for lease, restaurants gone out of business, and the lack of energy in general. Well, lose that perception because things are happening, and you need to make a return visit. In our May, June, and July issues, we'll focus on a group that's gotten together to form Craft Beverage Yakima to bring attention to what's happening beverage-wise in the area, along with a few other gems .

Craft Beverage Yakima

When you talk with 'Yakimaniacs,' you'll hear the pride they feel about their community. In 2015, with help from the City, Craft Beverage Yakima was formed to develop the tourist market with a specific plan for beverages. As leader Phil Cline of Naches Heights Vineyard & Winery says, "It may be the only organization in the U.S. that represents all four groups: premium artisanal wine, beer, spirits, cider." Add that to being the number one producer of many other items-apples, hops, cherries, potatoes, among others-plus 300 days of sunshine a year, and a Sunday farmers market from early May through October, and you have an awesome place to visit. Most people probably don't know that Grant's Brewery in Yakima was the first craft brewery in the nation. Grant's is gone, but it paved the way for what's happening today in Yakima's beer world. craftbeverageyakima.com

Tieton Cider

Let's just start out with how you pronounce it: tie-uh-ton. But back to cider! Tieton opened in the city of Tieton in 2009, and opened their Yakima tasting room in 2014. Along with the tasting bar, there is a communal table, an outdoor area, bocce ball court, two conference rooms for rent (even by the hour) and, in general, about 35,000 total square feet of space (tasting and production). It's a family-friendly facility, with plenty of room to grow. Cider is sold by bottle, can (Rambling Route apple and pear ciders only), and keg. Apples are sourced from the Pacific Northwest. Rambling Route comes in two flavors, apple and pear (brand new this year). Rambling Route apples come from their family farm (third generation); they've been farming organically for 30 years. Ciders include: Blossom Nectar, Wild Washington Apple, Tieton Dry, Apricot (a great food cider), Cherry, Yakima Valley Dry Hopped, Spice Route, Cidermaker's Reserve, Sparkling Perry, Tieton Frost, and Tieton Wind. All ciders are filtered to be clear and crisp. 619 West J Street, Yakima, WA 98902. 509-571-1430. tietonciderworks.com

Swede Hill Distilling

Apparently it's a small leap from home brewing to home distilling. After beer, Kevin thought he'd try moonshine, bought a still in Kentucky and installed it in the kitchen. It's been an actual business since June of 2013, although he still works full-time at Hanford. Pam's grandparents settled in the area, planting apple orchards. They have 50 acres themselves and use other apples and cherries from local farmers, producing one bottle at a time. You can sip either the Apple or Cherry Moonshine, but they're also good in drinks (cherry lemon drop?) or with food. Check out their drink recipes online. Contact:kevin@swedehilldistilling.com, 509-930-3499, orpam@swedehilldistilling.com, 509-930-4106. www.swedehilldistilling.com

Gilbert Cellars

The Gilbert Family has been on a roll and there are lots of things to discover about them ( see our story from 2011 for background). Their downtown tasting room is a fun place, full of light, to taste their wines and enjoy a charcuterie and cheese plate. The downstairs Cellar Gallery hosts events (1^st Friday) and can be rented for private parties. They make red, white, and dessert wines, along with their Winemaker's Select Series. Delicious! For a more in-depth tasting, consider a booking at the historic Hackett Ranch 20 minutes west of downtown Yakima. Beautiful views, rows of French lavender, apple orchards, and the Sunrise Vineyard; the Cave Patio, basalt barrel room, and the Quonset Hut. Wines are handcrafted at this location. Grapes are sourced from estate vineyards, and also Horse Heaven Hills. As well as making their own wines, they sell grapes to others. They will make blends from various vineyards, e.g., their Chardonnay grapes come from three different AVAs. They even have Chard grapes growing in downtown Yakima. More fun? Sign up for their blending brunch, create a blend and take it home! Tasting room is located at 5 N Front St in historic downtown Yakima. 509-249-9049. www.gilbertcellars.com

Berchman Brewing Company

A nano-brewery licensed in 2014, Berchman became operational in 2015, and their tasting room in downtown Yakima opens May 2016. Doug and Laurie own and operate the two-barrel system brewery which is named after Doug's father, Berchman. Doug is a police officer, and Laurie's great-great uncles owned the first known brewery in Yakima, North Yakima Brewing and Malting Company, opened 10 years before Prohibition. It reopened in 1982 as the first craft brewery in the US, as Grant's Brewery. Berchman currently bottles and kegs three beers: West Valley IPA, Wide Hollow Pale Ale, and Dark Pony Coffee Stout, all three are bottle conditioned, allowing for natural carbonation, similar to Belgian-style beer. Their water comes from an artesian well, and they strive to be 100% waste free, partnering with small farms to use their spent grain. Their new tasting room is located in the old Grant's Brewery location: 32 N Front Street in downtown Yakima. berchmansbrewingcompany.com

Connie Adams/May 2016

Stay tuned for more Yakima beverage information next month!