4th annual High Gravity Extravaganza Brewfest at McMenamins Old St. Francis School

4th annual High Gravity Extravaganza Brewfest at McMenamins Old St. Francis School

This Saturday, January 14, the fourth annual High Gravity Extravaganza Brewfest returns to McMenamins Old St. Francis School in Bend. This is a terrific, low-key event that features winter-appropriate strong beers from ten different McMenamins breweries and 15 Central Oregon breweries. Pouring stations are spread out around the property—from the main courtyard … Continue reading

2016 – The Year in Beer

2016 – The Year in Beer

I haven’t written up a year-end retrospective post in awhile but this past 12 months felt like the year for it. There have been some interesting things going on in beer for 2016, on both the national and the local level, that are worth revisiting. No big revelations here, other … Continue reading

The first Bend Ale Festival this Saturday

The first Bend Ale Festival this Saturday

If you’re looking for something beer-y to do this weekend in Central Oregon, on Saturday, November 12 the first Bend Ale Festival is taking place in Bend’s Northwest Crossing neighborhood. It’s presented in conjunction with Bend Ale Run half-marathon taking place that morning, which itself is very “Bend,” running and … Continue reading

Bend’s Pine Tavern PT81 Beerfest Challenge (the return)

Bend’s Pine Tavern PT81 Beerfest Challenge (the return)

The Pine Tavern‘s annual Beerfest Challenge returns again this year, the PT81 (last year was PT80, celebrating the 2016 80th anniversary of the restaurant), taking place on Tuesday, September 27th. Like last year, I am returning as head judge to help pick the winning beer that the Pine Tavern will … Continue reading

Bend beer packaging news

Bend beer packaging news

Cans! Two more Bend, Oregon-based breweries are canning their beers now (joining GoodLife, Worthy, 10 Barrel, and Three Creeks): Crux Fermentation Project and Silver Moon Brewing. As long-time readers know I am a fan of the can so I’m happy to see these new offerings. Silver Moon Brewing has released … Continue reading

Zwickelmania 2016 – Bend pictures and roundup

Zwickelmania 2016 – Bend pictures and roundup

Did you make the rounds for Zwickelmania this past Saturday? We did, of course, here in Central Oregon, and I thought I’d share a picture or two from each stop, along with some notes. Three Creeks Brewing View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Brew Site (@brewsite) … Continue reading

It’s official: Sunriver Brewing will take over former Oblivion Brewpub space

It’s official: Sunriver Brewing will take over former Oblivion Brewpub space

Two weeks ago I reported on Bend’s Oblivion Brewpub closing (the brewery itself remaining unaffected), and while there were rumors circulating as to who would take over the westside brewpub space, nothing was officially acknowledged—until now. Sunriver Brewing has issued their official press release revealing that they will be taking … Continue reading

Kobold Brewing: Bend, Oregon’s latest brewery

Kobold Brewing: Bend, Oregon’s latest brewery

Bend, Oregon’s newest brewery is one that slipped in under the radar, selling their first keg of beer to the Platypus Pub right at the end of 2015: Kobold Brewing. Owner and brewer Steve Anderson started out homebrewing (he’s a member of the Central Oregon Homebrewers Organization) and he’s starting out … Continue reading

Bend’s Oblivion Pub to close, Brewery continues

Bend’s Oblivion Pub to close, Brewery continues

As reported in today’s Bend Bulletin, the Oblivion Brewing brewpub in Bend, Oregon, will be closing after only seven months. However the brewing company itself will remain unaffected. Excerpted from the newspaper: The partnership that created the pub — owner Jon Sargent and brewers Darin Butschy and Meghann Butschy — … Continue reading

“Winter Beer Week” at Cascade West Alehouse in Bend

“Winter Beer Week” at Cascade West Alehouse in Bend

This week in Bend, from Monday the 16th through Friday the 20th, Cascade West Grub & Alehouse is going to be holding a special “Winter Beer Week” featuring $3 drafts all day and night long on a killer lineup of winter seasonal beers. Check it out: Sunriver Shred Head Full … Continue reading