April 13, 2018
CapitalPress.com
17
Armando Avila
takes sealed
packages of hops
pellets off the
conveyor belt for
packaging at the
YCH HOPS ware-
house in Yakima,
Wash.
David Leder
For the Capital Press
Hops supplier looks to bright future
For the Capital Press
It’s still a good time to be
involved in the hops industry.
With the worldwide ex-
plosion of craft breweries
and home brewing in recent
years, this is an especially
good time for hops business-
es in Washington’s Yakima
Valley, home to 75 percent of
the total hops acreage in the
U.S.
In recent years, the region
has supplanted Germany as
the world’s leading hops pro-
ducer, and a number of Cen-
tral Washington companies
are intent on continuing that
trend.
“The industry is at an all-
time high, as brewers from
around the world continue
to explore the art of beer and
find new ways to incorpo-
rate American hops, known
for their aroma and flavor,”
said Alex Rumbolz, the com-
munications and outreach
manager for YCH HOPS,
the leading hops supplier in
North America.
“What has helped us
stand out is our ongoing re-
lationships with internation-
al brewers, as well as the
independent craft breweries
and home brewers, many of
whom could be the global in-
novators of tomorrow.”
The YCH HOPS brand
was established in 2014,
when Yakima Chief Inc. and
Hopunion LLC joined forc-
es. The 100 percent grow-
er-owned hop supplier has
developed a reputation in the
international brewing com-
munity for its commitment to
quality and service, from the
farm to the production ware-
house to the sales office.
YCH HOPS has become
known around the indus-
try for its long-term vision,
staying one step ahead of the
competition with innovations
like Cryo Hops, a proprietary
cryogenic hops processing
technology introduced in
2017 that contributes to the
creation of more “hop-for-
ward” beers.
“Craft brewers are artists
and they are always looking
for that unique ‘color’ in
their palette to create new fla-
vors and aromas in their cre-
ations,” Rumbolz said. “We
let the brewers be the rock
stars as we try to focus on the
role of supporting their cre-
ativity with great hops.”
YCH HOPS packs about
90 percent of its hops pel-
lets at a production facility
in Sunnyside, about 30 miles
east of Yakima, and operates
warehouse facilities in Yaki-
ma.
The company produces
and ships hops products for
dozens of growers around
the Yakima Valley, including
Sunnyside, Moxee (about six
miles east of Yakima) and the
Yakama Nation Reservation
(between Yakima and Sun-
nyside).
YCH HOPS believes the
market conditions are ideal
for additional growth in the
years to come, but at the same
time, the company recogniz-
es the potential challenges,
such as market saturation.
“The craft beer indus-
try can be unpredictable at
times, with varying tastes
and consumer demands
fluctuating throughout the
year,” Rumbolz said. “This
is a challenge that all hops
growers and suppliers face,
and we are committed to pro-
viding our growers with the
most accurate forecasts pos-
sible prior to each growing
season.”
By prioritizing relation-
ships with its growers and
customers, YCH HOPS ex-
pects to remain at the fore-
front of the hops industry,
no matter what changes may
arise. The company is always
looking for ways that it can
improve the brewing experi-
ence for everyone involved.
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ONV18-3/102
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By DAVE LEDER