8 ways to celebrate Oktoberfest around the South Sound. Plus, fresh hop season!

Late summer and early fall is prime drinking time in the Pacific Northwest, with fresh hops and Oktoberfest colliding into one stellar season of suds. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Washington State Fair’s Oktoberfest Northwest, the biggest celebration of its kind in Washington state.

Fresh hop beer in Tacoma

The former is made possible by proximity: Yakima Valley farms manage around 75% of all hop production in the United States, meaning it’s not just a national hop capital but also a global leader.

Brewers and their teams drive across the Cascades, usually in August, to pick up batches of the resinous goodies, basically straight off the vine. Back home, the brewing process takes a couple of weeks. The resulting beers, also known as wet-hopped, have developed a cult following in recent years — due in part to their fleeting nature. They’re both kegged and canned, but they’re meant to be consumed, well, fresh. Once they’re gone, they’re gone until next year’s hop harvest.

Breweries and beer bars around Tacoma and Pierce County started rolling out their fresh-hop varietals earlier this month. In Tacoma and Gig Harbor, 7 Seas Brewing has its annual Yakima Fresh Hop — have a pint and take a six-pack to-go! Narrows Brewing in Proctor and at the marina has released the first of three. E9 in the brewery district and off Sixth Avenue, instead of fresh-hopping the usual IPA, has hopped its flagship kölsch.

The Parkway Tavern tapped three fresh-hop kegs last week from both Washington and Oregon breweries. Peaks and Pints is celebrating what it calls Fresh Hoptoberfest — look for at least two festbiers and two fresh-hops on-tap at all times through Sept. 30.

If you can’t get enough, book a nearby room and head to Yakima’s State Fair Park for the annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Oktoberfest events from Tacoma to Puyallup & Poulsbo

The aforementioned and other local breweries, including Odd Otter downtown and Top Down Brewing in Sumner, also have Oktoberfests on deck. They include Märzens, which lean toward the amber end — malty, toasty but still crisp — and festbiers, sometimes called Weisn — golden hue, more delicate malt reminiscent of barely toasted white bread. The tradition stems from a 16th-century rule that prohibited brewing in certain months; brewers worked around it by heavily hopping beers to preserve them until the fall.

As for Oktoberfest events, several already happened, but the big ones are still to come. Thousands of people will undoubtedly voyage to Leavenworth, which will host three busy weekends of activities — Oct. 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18.

Staying local? Here’s where to celebrate Oktoberfest in the South Sound.

Berliner Beerhall

• Where: 2401 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, berlinerbeerhall.com
• When: now through October — Tuesday-Friday 3-10 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., plus official Oktoberfest kick-off party with Happy Hans German Band on Oct. 26, 6-9 p.m.
• Reservations: recommended (online or by phone) but walk-ins welcome
• Details: all ages; visit now through October for Oktoberfest beers straight from Germany, plus Bavarian-inspired food and a true beer-hall atmosphere in downtown Tacoma

Bruno’s European Restaurant

• Where: 10902 Bridgeport Way SW, Lakewood, brunoseuropeanrestaurant.com
• When: Tuesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; official Oktoberfest celebration Sept. 26
• Reservations: recommended by phone, walk-ins welcome
• Details: full menu plus specials, lots of beer and music all day long

Tacoma Oktoberfest Pub Crawl

• Where: crawl begins at Berliner Beerhall — check in for wristband, then head to other participating bars at your own pace
• When: Sept. 27, 4-11 p.m.
• Tickets: 21+, online via pubcrawls.com or eventbrite.com, $15-$30 — ticket includes entry to all participating bars
• Details: drink specials plus entertainment and social-media features

Oktoberfest Northwest at Washington State Fair

• Where: The Fairgrounds, 110 9th Ave. SW, Puyallup, thefair.com/oktoberfest
• When: Oct. 3-5, 11 a.m.-late
• Tickets: advance $13.50 Friday, $18.50 Saturday, $7.50 Sunday (price increases day-of and at the gate, free for kids 12-and-under)
• Details: all ages welcome until 6 p.m. each day; live bands start around 11 a.m., stein-holding contests starting around 4-5 p.m., plus hammerschlagen and wiener dog races
• Saturday only: enter teams of up to 4 people into the Bier-Lympics
• Sunday only: Stein Dash 5K at 10 a.m.

Bainbridge Island Oktoberfest

• Where: Bainbridge Island Rowing, 281 Brien Dr. SE, Bainbridge Island, eventbrite.com
• When: Oct. 4, 2-8 p.m.
• Details: Bainbridge’s first Oktoberfest, free entry — biergarten hosted by Bainbridge Brewing, Fletcher Bay Winery and Sisters’ Cider House; German food by popular local restaurant Hitchcock and desserts by Sweet Dahlia Baking; family-friendly activities and live music

Poulsbo Beer Run

• Where: poulsbobeerrun.com, start at your choice of participating locations — Valhöll Brewing, Rainy Daze Brewing, Western Red Brewing, Echoes Brewing, Ty’s Wine & Brew, Integrity Roofing (Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse pop-up bar)
• When: Oct. 4, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Tickets: $60, includes custom bib, 7 drinks (9-ounce pours), Space City doughnut, finisher’s prize (online registration closes Sept. 30, day-of possible at Rainy Daze)
• Details: at-your-own-pace, 4-mile beer walk/run through Poulsbo; drink tickets “expire” at 1 p.m. but course and taprooms open through the evening

University Place Oktoberfest

• Where: Market Square (outside UP library and city hall), 3609 Market Place West, University Place, cityofup.com
• When: Oct. 10, 5-8 p.m.
• Details: free to enter, all ages outdoor event; polka music, food trucks and beer garden hosted by E9 Brewing Co. — portion of proceeds to benefit Curtis High School Boosters

Knights of Columbus Oktoberfest

• Where: St. Leo Parish, 7112 S. 12th St., Tacoma, stcharlesoktoberfest.maxgiving.bid
• When: Oct. 11, 6 p.m. (after 5 p.m. mass)
• Tickets: $50 adult, children 4-14 $10; tables also available
• Details: all ages; German food, live music, silent and live auction — proceeds benefit Knights of Columbus and St. Charles Borromeo school and food bank

This story was originally published September 24, 2025 at 9:00 AM.