Visiting Bend/Sunriver (Spring 2016 Update)

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by sharpski, Apr 14, 2016.

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  1. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I never got back..got a wee bit tipsy in down town Bend..had a great night though.
    Maybe some time mid week in October would be better for me.
     
    #41 Reidrover, Sep 6, 2016
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  2. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    What's with Oblivion?
    I had their Knock out stout and it was pretty damned good at the Whitewater taproom ( good place for people watching if you grab a window stool).
     
    #42 Reidrover, Sep 6, 2016
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  3. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Oblivion is solid, but I've struggled to get excited about them. No problem with the beer, just haven't had anything that really pushed my buttons.
     
    #43 sharpski, Sep 6, 2016
  4. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was kinda wondering if Bend is becoming some sort of beer cliche thing.
    Yes we got Crux ( goddamn will visit), but i feel most of downtown Bend is in the same position ( beer wise) that it was 12 years ago.
    Absolute flocks of people all heading for Deschutes.. Bend brewing a back up if you dont want to wait an hour.
    I was very happy to see Whitewater...without that i would have been bored down Bond Street.
    Lots of rich folks eating on the sidewalk.
    Has Bend sold its soul?
    I have big hopes for Crux seeing its in an old industrial area.
     
    #44 Reidrover, Sep 6, 2016
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  5. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Due to water issues, you have to go outside of downtown to open a new brewery, so for better or worse the downtown brewing scene is static. Crux/CRAFT/Immersion/North Rim are within a mile. Whitewater is about the only new beer-focused other establishment, but BTBS/Platypus/Growler Guys are not far outside downtown.

    Downtown Bend relies on tourism, so if that's how you're gauging Bend's soul, it was sold long ago. Then again, someone visiting Portland and seeing only the Pearl might feel the same way.

    On your way to/from Crux, take the couple block detour to the wave park at the Colorado Ave bridge. Deschutes' production brewery is just on the other side of the bridge, there are parks on both shores downstream, and just upstream is the amphitheater. I think that spot is a better reflection of Bend's soul than anyplace found in the downtown core.
     
    #45 sharpski, Sep 6, 2016
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  6. stevesbeer

    stevesbeer Initiate (0) May 17, 2016 Washington

    Just came back from the Little Woody fest. Lots of fun and lots of big beers! We were surprised but the lone Rogue offering on Friday, the Rolling Thunder, was our favorite. Hotel within a mile is key for this event! Taxis were pretty cheap for us at least. No Uber or Lyft apparently in Bend.
     
    #46 stevesbeer, Sep 9, 2016
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  7. stevesbeer

    stevesbeer Initiate (0) May 17, 2016 Washington

    Not to be a dick and double post, not sure if people care about that? But while the mrs. and I were at boneyard we were delighted to hear that they plan on opening a pub so you can sit and have a pint by the end of the year. So that will be an obvious stop next time we are in Bend! Also the obvious happiness that they are to get much broader distribution up in Spokane, thanks to Click East. Apparently we beat out Boise on that one.:slight_smile:
     
    #47 stevesbeer, Sep 12, 2016
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  8. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    hey, taking a 5 day trip out to bend this weekend. anything I should check out? Fresh hops on tap/good beer/ events/ etc.


    thanks in advance!
     
    #48 derftron, Oct 4, 2016
  9. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm thinking events may be quiet with lots of brewery staff travelling for GABF, but FH beers are in full effect. Bro Jons doesn't post their taps online, but I've found some goodies there, likewise at The Lot. Laughing Planet restaurant and Backwoods Brewing collaborated on a Citra FH beer (exclusive to Laughing Planet locations) that will be available starting Friday. Deschutes has a FH event on the 10th and their pub beers are different from the Portland pub offerings. Otherwise, I'd keep an eye on the online taplists linked in the OP.
     
    #49 sharpski, Oct 4, 2016
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  10. TapThat

    TapThat Devotee (369) Nov 8, 2012 Oregon

    I'd suggest adding The Brown Owl to the beer bars to check out list. Very solid draft and bottle/can list at extremely reasonable prices (consecration 375s for $12 on prem). Their food truck is serving solid food, plus they're close to Crux, MoC, and Atlas.
     
    #50 TapThat, Oct 4, 2016
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Good to know. The wife and I will be up there for a couple of days on the 18th and 19th.
     
    #51 John_M, Oct 5, 2016
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  12. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    As always, our time is going to be pretty limited, so I was wondering what places you would recommend to find some of the better local FH beers. We'll likely stop by Crux and BBC, or perhaps we'll stop by Sun River instead. Depends on how tolerant the wife is feeling. Anyway, any suggestions you can make would be greatly appreciated.
     
    #52 John_M, Oct 12, 2016
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  13. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Sunriver's pub in Bend is already out of their FH, and BBC doesn't make one. Fortunately Crux recently posted about having all 5 of theirs on through Sat, so that's the obvious choice.
     
    #53 sharpski, Oct 13, 2016
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2016
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  14. Curb71

    Curb71 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2012 California

    Thanks @sharpski and the others that had filled these Bend threads with good info. Looks like I'm finally going to make my first trip up there arriving on the evening of January first and leaving on the third. I'm definitely going to hit up the main spots mentioned and hope to check out as much as I can. Any events going on the 1st or 2nd?

    I noticed there's still no Uber/Lyft. I won't be driving once I get there. Is the (too busy unless you want to go to the airport) taxi the only source of public transportation? I don't mind walking but looks like the weather is calling for rain/snow and the low is in the teens. Pretty freezing compared to what I'm used to in SoCal.

    Also how dog friendly of a place is Bend? Also wanted to mention I have a dozen different brewery memberships. The Ale Apothecary being the reason for my trip as well as my only membership outside of California. If anyone is interested in trading, I'll be bringing lots of beers for the trip up feel free to PM me if there's something you're ISO.
     
    #54 Curb71, Dec 23, 2016
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  15. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm not aware of any specific events for the 1st or 2nd, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open.

    Unfortunately, our public transit system is pretty minimal: there are buses but routes are limited and I have no experience using them to tell you if they're feasible for getting between breweries. Taxis may be your best bet, and I recommend calling them directly rather than hoping to flag one on the street. Most of the breweries/beer bars/growler fill stations have at least a few other places of interest within walking distance, but no car may make some spots ambitious to visit on foot.

    Bend is very dog friendly, though a lot of that is due to the abundance of outdoor areas and seating, which is often curtailed in the winter months. It would be wise to call ahead to any places you plan to visit with your dog to be sure there's a warm spot for them to hang out.
     
    #55 sharpski, Dec 23, 2016
  16. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    What are some thoughts on Monkless, worth going to or just trying on tap somewhere in town?
     
    #56 shnsajax, Jan 20, 2017
  17. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    Also can you visit Ale Apothecary yet or just bottles for sale in town?
     
    #57 shnsajax, Jan 20, 2017
  18. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If you have a car, visiting Monkless' taproom is going to net you the best experience; I don't think they have any permanent taphandles in town. Also, Bend being the size it is, their tasting room on the extreme north of town is still a short drive.

    The Ale Apothecary is still appt. only, but if you plan to buy bottles I'd recommend emailing Paul to see if he's available. I think meeting Paul and listening to him talk about his beer made me appreciate it more. Maybe that means I drank the kool aid, but by default meeting the brewer kinda beats a normal retail transaction at a bottleshop, right?
     
    #58 sharpski, Jan 21, 2017
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  19. shnsajax

    shnsajax Initiate (0) Jul 2, 2013 Idaho

    Sweet, do they seem pretty cool with doing appointments on the weekend? Yeah we will have a car and driving in from Boise.
     
    #59 shnsajax, Jan 21, 2017
  20. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No idea what his schedule is like, but it's well worth an email to ask.
     
    #60 sharpski, Jan 21, 2017
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