In Bend, a day on the trail has a habit of ending with a pint.
Craft beer has been part of the city’s identity since Deschutes Brewery opened in 1988, helping kick-start a brewing culture that has since spread across town. Today, Bend is home to everything from landmark brewpubs and experimental small-batch breweries to sunny lawns made for an afternoon beer.
With so many choices, the question isn’t whether to visit a Bend brewery. It’s where to start.
Here are a few worth adding to your itinerary.
FOR A BEND ORIGINAL
Deschutes Brewery
- You can’t really talk about beer in Bend without starting here.
- Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House opened its original downtown brewpub in 1988 and helped establish the craft beer culture Bend is known for today.
- Head to the Bond Street pub to try longtime favorites such as Black Butte Porter alongside seasonal releases and pub-only pours. It’s also an easy stop to add while exploring Downtown Bend on foot.
- Try it if: You want to start your Bend beer tour with a little history.
FOR SUNSET WITH YOUR PINT
Crux Fermentation Project
- Beer tastes pretty good with a Cascade sunset.
- Crux Fermentation Project pairs an adventurous lineup of craft beer with one of Bend’s quintessential brewery settings. Its expansive outdoor space makes this a favorite for afternoons that have no particular reason to end early.
- Order a flight, find a spot outside and give yourself time to explore the tap list.
- Try it if: Atmosphere matters almost as much as what’s in your glass.
FOR THE IPA DRINKER
Boneyard Beer
- Some breweries arrive polished. Boneyard built its following with a little more attitude.
- Boneyard Beer has become a Bend favorite thanks in large part to RPM IPA, its celebrated take on the hop-forward West Coast style.
- The brewery’s roots and independent spirit make it a worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the less polished, more rebellious side of Bend’s beer story.
- Try it if: Your first question at the bar is, “What IPAs do you have?”
FOR SOMETHING BELGIAN
Monkless Belgian Ales
- Need an IPA break?
- Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie takes Bend beer in an entirely different direction, specializing in Belgian-inspired ales.
- Expect beers with more emphasis on expressive yeast, malt and traditional Belgian styles, paired with a brasserie experience that makes Monkless particularly well suited to a leisurely meal.
- Try it if: You love Belgian beer or simply want something different from another Northwest IPA.
FOR THE BEER GEEK
Van Henion Brewing
- Bend’s brewery scene goes well beyond the names you already recognize.
- Van Henion Brewing Company is part of the city’s newer generation of breweries and a great choice when you’re ready to venture beyond the better-known Bend stops.
- It’s the kind of taproom to visit when tasting the beer itself is the main event.
- Try it if: You’d rather discover something new than order something familiar.
FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE FUNKY
Funky Fauna Artisan Ales
- The name is your first clue.
- Funky Fauna Artisan Ales brings a smaller-batch, more experimental side to Bend’s beer scene. Visit Bend highlights the brewery among the city’s wild-yeast specialists, making it an especially interesting stop for drinkers who enjoy exploring beyond familiar styles.
- Come curious.
- Try it if: Your ideal beer flight includes something you’ve never tasted before.
FOR A BEND CLASSIC
Bend Brewing Company
- Another longtime name in Bend beer, Bend Brewing Company has been part of the local brewing scene since 1995.
- Its downtown location makes it an easy addition to an afternoon spent exploring Bend, especially if your plans already include Drake Park, Mirror Pond and the shops and restaurants nearby.
- Try it if: You want local beer without straying far from downtown.
FOR THE FULL BEND EXPERIENCE
Worthy Brewing
- Worthy Brewing Company gives you more than a place to order a pint.
- Along with its beer and food, Worthy is known for its gardens and Hopservatory, where visitors can look toward the night sky through a research-level telescope on clear evenings.
- Beer and stargazing? Very Bend.
- Try it if: You’re looking for an experience that goes beyond the tap list.
DON'T STOP AT ONE: THE BEND ALE TRAIL
If eight breweries only make you more curious, there’s a trail for that.
The Bend Ale Trail has been guiding beer lovers around Central Oregon since 2010. Today, more than 30 breweries and tasting rooms are organized into seven territories, with a digital app and passport program that lets you check in as you explore.
There’s even a designated-driver program, so the person getting everyone safely from brewery to brewery can participate and earn a reward too.
Consider it your permission slip to keep exploring.
A FEW TIPS BEFORE YOU GO
Bend’s beer scene is spread across several neighborhoods, so you don’t need to tackle it all at once.
Spend one evening exploring downtown. Save another afternoon for a brewery with an outdoor space. If you’re serious about sampling several stops, use a designated driver or arrange transportation rather than driving between breweries.
And order a flight when you can. With this many breweries in town, committing to a full pint every time is an ambitious strategy.
MAKE THE NEWBERRY YOUR HOME BASE
The best brewery tour ends somewhere you don’t have to drive home from.
Make The Newberry Hotel your Bend home base, with Downtown Bend and some of the city’s original breweries within easy reach.
Spend the day hiking, biking or exploring Central Oregon. Come back, trade the hiking boots for something more comfortable, and head out to discover what’s on tap.
There will always be another brewery for tomorrow.
