Bale Breaker

Bale Breaker is a craft brewery built on hop farm in the Yakima Valley by a family with a long history of working the land to grow hops. They wanted a brand that was both clean and contemporary, and imbued with the traditions of hop farming in the valley. Before the brewery opened I traveled to their family’s hop farm at harvest time to photograph the process, the equipment, and the brewers.

These photographs became a basis for their developing brand and were used on their website, in marketing materials, and on their packaging. Their Field 41 Pale Ale was named after the hop field that the brewery was built on. Top Cutter IPA is named after the unique piece of equipment that cuts the hop bines from the trellis during the harvest. The can designs use a photo of the Field 41 sign, and a photo of the top cutter, both backed by a green field of hops. The beer style signature colors are taken directly from the subjects, while the gold substrate shines through to signify the golden sunlight in the valley, making the whole can stand out on the store shelves.

From photographing the harvest, to designing packaging, to crafting a message, and overseeing the final production of the cans in the factory, it was unique experience to be there from the ground up.