The Brewers Association’s (BA) annual Hopsource sensory event will take place in Yakima, September 22-24, 2026, at Yakima Valley Hops. Stop by between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. local time and lend your nose to new hops! 

During this event, brewers and industry professionals visiting Yakima for hop selection will have a chance to assess up to 30 hop varieties. The BA encourages visitors to participate in multiple sessions, as the varieties sampled will change every day and every morning and afternoon. These varieties are currently under consideration for advancement in the esteemed United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Public Hop Breeding Program. 

The selection of hops available for assessment this year represents the culmination of diligent work by USDA hop breeder Dr. Kayla Altendorf. The most promising new hop lines will be available for evaluation. The goal of Hopsource is to assess brewer interest in experimental public hop varieties. By bridging the gap between brewers and researchers, the aim is to enrich public hop breeding research and introduce new varieties that resonate with brewers. A recent example of the success of these collaborative efforts was the release of the public hop varieties Vera and Thora in 2025.