Bend Brewing Company Expanding in Downtown Bend

Author: Jason Harris
July 25, 2016

As a frequent visitor to Bend, Oregon, I’ve been a long-time frequenter of Bend Brewing Company. I’ve always enjoyed the restaurant’s amazing food and family-friendly-ness and of course, their beers have always been amongst Central Oregon’s best.

Late in 2015, BBC announced a changed in ownership that made fans hope for new developments to ensure BBC’s future at the forefront of the brewing community here. As Bend’s 2nd oldest brewery (just behind Deschutes), BBC is an important fixture downtown. They have a very limited upstairs brewing production floor that limits their growth as craft beer has exploded in the last 10 years.

It didn’t take long for new owners Patrick and Leslie Deenihan to get to work. In the spring of 2016, construction began on a street-front bar/serving area renovation. The new space, pictured below, features 4 taps, new seating areas, and an opening door that invites you in for a pint and a meal.

Image courtesy: BBC Facebook page

Image courtesy: BBC Facebook page

On Friday, BBC announced that the new owners purchased the vacant land just south of the brewery. This exciting news means that BBC will expand southward, creating more jobs for downtown Bend and expanding one of this beer fan’s favorite eateries.

In the Bend Bulletin article regarding the bold move, Patrick Deenihan said the current plans involve a large outdoor patio that’s “uniquely Bend”. Considering the property has a riverfront view, facing Mirror Pond, this is a fantastic move.

Also, in the article, the co-owners noted that they’re on the hunt somewhere in Bend for space to expand their brewing capacity. This would take brewing (at least, in part) outside of their current upstairs spot and move it, aptly, to a more suitable location. As downtown Bend real estate is pricey and limited, moving production to a different location only makes sense.

Kudos to Patrick and Leslie for the bold move, we’re excited to see where the next year takes Bend Brewing Company!

Crux Fermentation Project in Bend, Oregon

Author: Jason Harris
October 30, 2014

Crux Logo

Those who know me know that I love Bend. It’s a great town with great people and amazing beer. I recently visited Crux Fermentation Project in Bend, Oregon.

It’s one of the newer breweries in Bend and has been open for less than one year. Located near the Bend Parkway, west of the Old Mill District, Crux is a cool, cool building with its steel industrial look. The menu features about 15 beers of what’s on tap and also some amazing food items that are eclectic.

Outside there’s a great outdoor fireplace area with a covered fire and an area to enjoy a brew in the winter cold. My wife and I enjoyed the stout that was on tap and I though it was a smooth, malty and perfect.

It leaves the perfect balance of malt and hops to keep you refreshed on a cold winter day.

Check out Crux Fermentation Project for great beers (they even have guest taps), amazing food and fun people watching.

 

10Barrel Small Tank Project: Rye’m or Treason

Author: Jason Harris
January 23, 2013
Rye'm or Treason

Rye’m or Treason

There’s a very special project at 10Barrel Brewing in Bend, Oregon called the Small Tank Project. These very small batch beers are typically done on a special basis, probably like an R&D project, I’d imagine.

While at Newport Market in Bend recently, I came across a beer called Rye’m or Treason, the latest product to come out of the Small Tank Product. This Imperial Red Ale is the brainchild of a fellow by the name Bobby Jackson – production brewer at 10Barrel and in charge of the barrel program.

According to Jackson, Rye’m or Treason is a play off of Super Fly Rye that they ‘imperialized’ (I’m not sure what that means – if you do, please leave a comment below!). The beer is aged in whiskey barrels from a distiller in Park City, Utah.

Each bottle of Rye’m or Treason comes hand-dipped in wax, so the minute you go to pop the top on this brew, you’e in for a treat.  This rare ale comes in at around 60 IBUs and is about 11% ABV.

Rye’m or Treason pours a special copper red color and has a creamy beige head.  To your nose, you can smell the fresh oak and hints of vanilla.

Unlike any beer I’ve ever had – it’s big, bold and very, very interesting.  Being aged in rye whiskey barrels, it’s very flavorful but not overwhelming. I can taste a lot of different hints of earthy hops, whisky, fruit and an amazing barley-focused finish.

I must say, this is the best beer I’ve ever experienced.  It’s flavorful and leaves you feeling like you’ve just gone on a journey guided by an experienced ale artisan.

Go find this beer today!

Review: Boneyard Brewing Diablo Rojo

Author: Jason Harris
September 28, 2012

Bend, Oregon is known for outdoor sport, the amazing scenery and surrounding natural beauty. However, in the last 5 years another movement has put Bend on the map. Brewing is a major sport now in the city of 88,000 in central Oregon as there are now around 15 breweries in the Bend metro area.

I have been meaning to make it over to Boneyard Brewing as their beer has a great reputation, but the opportunity hasn’t presented itself just yet. However, here in Salem, Raen Brew recently had a keg of Boneyard Diablo Rojo on tap so I rushed right over to check it out.

Diablo RojoFor those who aren’t familiar with red ales – they’re different than just an ‘amber’.  Typically a red ale is stronger on the malt side of the beer equation, making a copper color ale that has a strong flavor with a pleasant citrusy aftertaste. Red ales are one of my favorite styles of beer, and we are blessed with some good reds here in the Pacific Northwest.

Diablo Rojo from Boneyard Brewing is described as a hoppy, malty red ale, that is ‘perfect for the fall season’. It has an IBU rating of 40 and is 7.0% alcohol.

At first glance, I wondered how hoppy a 40 IBU beer could be. However, I was pleasently surprised. At first sip, Diablo Rojo is very smooth with just a nice subtle hint of malt. Then, the malt taste kicks in and leaves you refreshed and your taste buds challenged a bit.

This is a nice Fall season ale because it presents the perfect mix of hoppy bite and malty red ale goodness. I’d recommend this beer with a burger while watching a college football game. Its profile is perfect for a sunny fall day where the air is crisp and you need a malty bite to perfect the moment.

Diablo Rojo is a perfect example of what an Oregon red should be…it’s highly recommended!

Friday Beer Review: Cascade Lakes Rooster Tail Ale

Author: Jason Harris
July 9, 2010

The weekend is upon us and it’s time to consider what we’ll be drinking on this hot summer weekend.

It seems like the entire nation is gripped by a heat wave, so what this weekend calls for is a cool, crisp ale that goes down easy and leaves you feeling refreshed.

Cascade Lakes Brewing of Bend and Redmond, Oregon has just the brew. Roster Tail Ale was the breweries first beer ever made and sold and continues to be a regional favorite.

Rooster Tail Ale is a golden-colored ale that has 5.2% alcohol and only 30 I.B.U.s that makes for a very easy-drinking beer.

In opinion, Roster Tail is *too* easy-drinking.  I’m a fan of crisp summer beers, especially those of the Kolsh variety, but Rooster Tail left me wanting more.  It has a decent taste, but doesn’t have enough flavor or effect to leave me wanting a second sip after the first.

For those wanting a more memorable easy-drinking ale for a summer day, I’d skip Rooster Tale and pickup a Mirror Pond Pale Ale from Deschutes.  Cascade Lakes makes many great beers, but Rooster Tail simply isn’t one of them.

Review: Deschutes Brewing Hop Trip Ale

Author: Jason Harris
October 31, 2009

On a recent visit to the Deschutes Brewery Portland location, I had the sheer pleasure of partaking in their Autumn seasonal – Hop Trip Ale.

Hop Trip Ale from Deschuted Brewing

Hop Trip Ale from Deschutes Brewing

This ale has a fun story behind it. You see, there are some great hops grown in the Willamette Valley area of Oregon (where I live). Bend, home to Deschutes Brewery, is a short 3 hour drive from the Valley.

Once a year, the brewers from Bend come over to the Valley to hand-pick their hops. Then, the harvested hops are taken over to Bend and boiled/brewed fresh. Hence the name: Hop Trip Ale

Hop Trip is available from October through December. So, how is this years batch?

In one word: phenomenal! I trialed a pint straight from the keg and enjoyed every sip of it. The hops flavor the beer in a smooth and savory way. This beer isn’t ‘hoppy’ the same way an IPA is – in the sense that IPA is bitter and shocking.

Hop Trip Ale is a bit stronger in flavor than an average pale ale.

So, get a bottle or pint the next time you’re out and about – you won’t regret it!

How Deschutes Makes Hop Trip Happen

Author: Jason Harris
September 28, 2009

Hop Trip Ale is a seasonal from Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon. It’s a great beer that is rich in hoppy flavor. I had no idea how much effort it takes to make this great beer.

Apparently the Bend crew drives over to Salem to get the hops themselves, right off the vine. This all happens in September each year.

Here’s a short film about the process. So cool!