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Ales for ALS

Ales for ALS logo

Ales for ALS™

Great Hops. Great Beer. Great Cause. 
Raise a Glass in the Fight Against ALS

Ales for ALS is dedicated to uniting brewers, beer enthusiasts, and those impacted by ALS. The mission is to brew awareness, one pint at a time, and to support vital ALS research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI), the only non-profit biotech working solely on ALS cures and treatments. Each year participating Ales for ALS brewers receive a unique hop blend, created and donated by Loftus Ranches and Yakima Chief Hops. Brewers then brew a craft beer of their choice and donate a percentage of proceeds from the sales of their Ales for ALS brew to support the work of ALS TDI.

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Beertender holds out cup from behind a Ales for ALS branded cooler
Three pint glasses full of beer sitting on table
Beertender wearing Ales for ALS branded shirt pours beer from tap
Ales for ALS tap handles
The Family Behind the Blend

Ales for ALS was founded by Mike and Cheryl Smith, owners of Loftus Ranches, whose family had been growing hops for several generations in the Yakima Valley. After experiencing the impact of ALS in their own family, they launched the Ales for ALS program to provide brewers with a specially curated hop blend, free of charge, to donate proceeds from those beers to support ALS research. Today, the initiative has grown worldwide, raising over $10 million and engaging brewers in all 50 U.S. states and 6 countries to support ALS research.

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Beer flight sample with Ales for ALS flyer

Frequently Asked Questions

The Crop Year 2025 blend features Simcoe®, Citra®, Ekuanot®, and Columbus! The blend was selected for its citrus and floral notes, and delivers berry, tropical, woody, and stone fruit character.

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Jul 6, 2022 | Yakima Chief Hops

Hop Blends

Blending hops allows us to create robust aroma profiles that can't be achieved by any one variety. Each blend recipe is built using different percentages of different varieties. At Yakima Chief Hops we offer Hop Blends that fall under one of the three different categories: Expression Blends, Community Blend, and Flavor Blends.
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video thumbnail image aerial view of Loftus Ranches
Apr 12, 2021 | Yakima Chief Hops

Grower Profile: Loftus Ranches

News
Image of Kevin Riel wearing YCH hat and standing in front of YCH wall with logo etched
May 12, 2025 | Yakima Chief Hops

Yakima Chief Hops Welcomes New Board Chair to Lead Next Chapter of Growth

Yakima Chief Hops (YCH), a 100% grower-owned global hop supplier, is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Riel as the new Chair of its Board of Directors.

Meet the Growers Behind the Hops

Discover the family farms growing world-class hops.