Visiting Bend/Sunriver (2015 Update)

Agreed. Do you live in Central Oregon @ricke49, or did you discover the Brew Shop/Platypus on a visit?

 

Hasn't been too bad actually. Good accumulation in the mountains and multiple blankets of white over the past few days, but my son's flight today was on schedule and the roads have been decent. On topic: Crows Feet and Deschutes hosted Helio Sequence in the plaza Sat night, got to try the (new to me) Deschutes Lemon ISA.

 

BTBS and (I think) Brew Shop. BTBS bottles are 24% off today.

 

Late 2015/ Early 2016 update:

1) The Oblivion Brewing Brewpub on Galveston has closed after being open less than a year. According to statements from the business partners, the closure is because one of the partners (also the owner of the building and a partner in the adjacent Versante's Pizza) wanted to get some more of his life back. They weren't brewing at the Galveston location, and the production brewery is continuing. Rumors are that a current brewery will open a 2nd location in that space, an announcement will likely come soon.

2) Kobold Brewing became the 22nd Bend brewery, with the first keg showing up at Platypus. A porter aged in C.W. Irwin barrels, Lawful Evil made a great first impression for this garage nano.

3) Boneyard is rumored to be contemplating a bar separate from its taproom and production brewery. I overheard one guy mention a skatepark/bar combo, but I don't know if that was pure speculation or based in fact. The prospect got me excited, though, so I'm repeating it hoping it will manifest...

4) Paul Arney's Cellar Joint opened. No regular tasting room hours, but it establishes a place of business that's not also his house.

5) The building which houses the Brew Shop and Platypus is reportedly going to be torn down for a new development. Originally a church, then a couple of different restaurants before The Brew Shop/Platypus moved in, the new space has been announced to have a national coffee chain as its anchor, and the developers are seeking tenants for the rest of the proposed ~10,000 sqft space. One of the guys at Brew Shop/Platypus told me they have a little more than a year left on their lease, and are looking for a space for both the bottleshop/homebrew supply and the pub, but may have to split off.

 

Sunriver Brewing issued a press release that they will open a brewpub in Bend, taking over the space recently vacated by Oblivion. They're hoping to open on 2/13 to coincide with the release of their new year-round pale ale (and Zwickelmania). I consider Sunriver to be in the top tier of Central Oregon breweries, so having them open a location in walking distance is great news!

 

Visited the Sunriver brewpub over the weekend; the space didn't change much but now they're pouring specials like Imperial Cocoa Cow and Motorhead Black Barleywine, and the debut of their new year round pale Rippin'. I didn't eat, but the menu looked fairly similar to the Sunriver location's, which is a positive. Seems like they kept a fair amount of the staff from the Oblivion operation, so service was fine. I predict they'll do well in that spot.

 

Broken Top Bottle Shop, Bend Brewing, McMenamins, and Silver Moon are other beer venues with regular live music events. Our alt weekly should have some other choices too: http://www.bendsource.com/bend/EventSearch?eventSection=2176879

 

There's this one. Looking for anything in specific?