BY MATT STEVENS for WEEKLY VOLCANO | 7/3/2026
Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery: Rustic Kölsch
I took the kids on a hiking trip over to Bainbridge Island, and on the way back, we stopped at Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery. It’s a gorgeous farm on the rolling hills halfway between Gig Harbor and Port Orchard. As we grabbed our beers and cookies from the taproom and walked down to the outdoor seating, nestled against raspberry trellises, we saw two alpacas nuzzling their necks. A truly magical experience.
I stole the cookies back from the kids and told them to go play on the playground equipment.
I started my Rustic Kölsch as the sun was trying to peek through the clouds before the rain tracked us from Bainbridge.
The Kölsch pours a light straw-yellow with a thick-looking white head, straight on style.
Smell-wise, this beer is on target, no hop aroma, but the malt bill is shining through. It’s not quite as clean and crisp as a standard Kölsch following style guidelines.
Taste-wise, this beer really shows off its rustic roots. It has much of the grain flavor from the grain in the beer. Those flavors, and the slight hints of bitterness, are not quite on style, as the style calls for a more crisp, slightly fruity flavor profile. That said, this is still an enjoyable beer. It’s quite enjoyable on a cool afternoon.
As I dig more into the beer, I’m digging the mouthfeel. The graininess is still there, but the lightness of the beer really shines through.
Overall, it’s a solid beer. Very well made. The graininess isn’t quite for me. I would appreciate a slightly cleaner, crisper beer for my Kölsch, with more hints of fruit. But this beer in this space is great.
The kids are off playing on the playground equipment. We are sitting in the sun on outdoor picnic tables next to raspberries, and we can see alpacas wandering around a valley field as a stream cuts through. It is quiet and peaceful.
Yoked has an Airbnb you can stay in on-site, and they do farm tours regularly, so you can go meet the goats.
Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery is at 525 SW Pine Road, Unit 227, Port Orchard, WA 98367.
