A Beer Lover's Guide to Bend, Oregon

A small city with a big beer scene.

Bend, Oregon packs a lot of breweries into what is essentially a big town. If you're looking for an excellent beercation destination, do not overlook Bend. There is even a Bend Ale Trail where you can collect stamps on a brewery passport and earn prizes.

While I will focus on the beer scene here, Bend is also home to numerous hikes, rock climbing, nearby skiing in the winter, river activities on the Deschutes, and there's even a cave to explore. Bend also has the last remaining Blockbuster Video. Along with incredible beer, you can indulge on some delicious food while visiting, and I will be sure to include my favorites below.

With too many fantastic breweries to include them all, I will highlight my favorites in alphabetical order.

The Ale Apothecary

Creating "wild and spontaneous" creations, The Ale Apothecary truly supports local by sourcing all of its ingredients from Oregon. This brewery stands out from the rest as Bend's only sour brewery. Don't show up expecting a fruited smoothie sour though.

The Ale Apothecary's beers are spontaneously fermented by wild airborne yeasts and entirely naturally carbonated. They specialize in long-term barrel aged beers. The taproom has more limited hours compared with the others on this list, but they are worth timing out your visit for their complex, unique, and funky brews. Bonus, they have bottles here not available anywhere else. I can't leave without taking some of their beer home with me.

Bevel Craft Brewing

Bevel Craft Brewery is owned by two combined seven time world champion disc golfers. The disc golf theme is evident here making it one of the most uniquely themed craft breweries around. Turns out their owners are good at more than just disc golf.

Aside from beer, Bevel Craft Brewery has a fantastic outdoor patio complete with a fire pit and a variety of food carts making it the perfect stop for lunch on a day of brewery hopping.

Bevel Craft Brewery also hosts all sorts of events regularly including Makers Markets, Bingo, trivia nights, and live music.

Boss Rambler Beer Club

Boss Rambler Beer Club is that rare brewery that does great beer, photogenic taproom, friendly staff, and fun merch just right. It's just a fun place to enjoy some beers. I particularly enjoy their smoothie sours and West Coast Style IPAs, but you can't go wrong here.

I highly recommend dinner at Bosa just a few doors down for some of the best Italian food in Oregon. A reservation is helpful here.

Crux Fermentation Project

Crux Fermentation Project is a staple of the Bend beer scene with something for anyone who enjoys beer. This is one of the breweries where I choose beers outside my comfort zone knowing they'll be delicious.

I think Crux Fermentation Project really embodies the spirit of Bend both with its hospitality and vibe. It's a great spot for a large group or an intimate date night. They have even recently expanded by opening a second taproom in Portland. You can see where I recommended it and more in Portland here.

Monkless Belgian Ales

I'm a huge fan of Belgian beers, so of course a brewery specializing in Belgian style beers makes my Bend list. Monkless Belgian Ales gives its visitors a taste of Belgian with its beers and "intentionally paired" European cuisine at its waterfront facing brasserie. They also have a variety of cocktails, wines, and non-alcoholic beverages.

I have not visited Monkless Belgian Ales since visiting Belgium in 2022, but I look forward to returning on my next trip to Bend in order to compare the two.

Don't miss Immersion Brewing across the street when you visit.

Silver Moon Brewing

Silver Moon Brewing is so much fun! They have a large outdoor event space with a stage for concerts, multiple food carts, fire pits, and they routinely host smaller events like trivia and bingo too. It is just such a great place to hang out with friends and enjoy great beers.

But Silver Moon Brewing is not just fun and games. Every year, they brew their F* Cancer IPA to raise money for cancer research and to honor cancer fighters and survivors. I submit my own mother's name as a cancer fighter annually, and actively support this campaign on my different platforms. Learn more about this campaign here. Since 2014, they have earned over $300,000 for cancer research.

Spider City Brewing

There's so much I love about Spider City Brewing. They have an incredible variety of beers on draft. I'm still impressed they brewed a beer with Carolina Reaper peppers and it wasn't too spicy for my mild palette.

Spider City Brewing has two taprooms in Bend. I love the convenience of their Downtown Bend taproom because it's close to the best Thai food in Oregon, Wild Rose Northern Thai Eats, but their brewery location is more spacious.

Spider City Brewing is also women owned and brewed. I keep this to the end because Spider City Brewing is special for more reasons than just this, but it does continue to sell me on this amazing place and must stop for me in Bend.

These are just my highlights in Bend, Oregon, but I think it's hard to go wrong here. Some other places, both beer and non-beer I really enjoy in Bend, and haven't include above, are:

Sunriver Brewing

Lone Pine Coffee Roasters

Dudley's Bookshop Cafe

3rd Street Beverage

Miyagi Ramen

Big Story Bookstore

And despite typically being an indoors girlie, I can't recommend tubing the Deschutes River enough! Tubes can be rented at local shops and life vests are free to rent.

For more information about Bend, Visit Bend is a great resource to help plan for your travels. And remember, when you visit, please make sure to Leave No Trace, and show respect to the people, wildlife, and land you are enjoying. Let's always be responsible guests.

What's your favorite destination in Bend? Or, where do you most want to visit now?