Ahhh….Bend Brewfest. For fans of summertime and craft beer, this sudsy nirvana is the equivalent of riding a rainbow-striped unicorn into a blissful field of sunshine and hop-scented glitter. That sounded weirder than I meant it to. With roughly 200 beers on tap, the 2018 Bend Brewfest promises to be … Continue reading
While beer fans can tackle the legendary Bend Ale Trail any month of the year, there’s something extra special about doing it in November. Make that several somethings. November is Bend Ale Trail Month, and 2017 marks the fourth time we’ve enjoyed this month-long celebration of Bend’s craft beer scene. … Continue reading
For as long as I can remember, Oregon’s statewide celebration of craft beer has taken place Presidents’ Day Weekend. But Central Oregon shook things up for Zwickelmania 2017. While Portland held the event as usual last weekend, Central Oregon is hosting Zwickelmania 2017 on February 25 instead. While I’m personally … Continue reading
My unwise decision to get the flu the day before last year’s Bend Brewfest put an unfortunate halt to my plans to attend this beertastic event every year since its inception. But I’m making up for it in 2015, starting with the Bend Brewfest kickoff at noon on Thursday, August 13, … Continue reading
Every year, Memorial Day Weekend marks the kickoff of peak tourism in Bend. It’s when the Bend Visitor Center switches to being open seven days a week (9-5 weekdays, 10-4 weekends) so visitors can meander by for maps, brochures, and tips. There’s a lot going on in Bend every Memorial … Continue reading
I like Bend beer. I also like wearing a bikini without cringing in horror each time I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the Deschutes River. Believe it or not, it’s possible to have both things without one canceling out the other. It’s even possible to have a little … Continue reading
There’s pretty much no bad time of year to journey to Bend and trek the most famous trail of suds in the West. You can drink doppelbocks in December, sip sours in September, and acquire ambers in April. While it’s true you can hit the Bend Ale Trail any day … Continue reading
Bend is a pretty spectacular place to be any time of year, but there’s something extra-special about Memorial Day Weekend. Maybe it’s that we’re all shifting our gazes to summer, or perhaps it’s the energy from all the out-of-towners flocking here for a long weekend. Or maybe it’s just that … Continue reading
When people ask what my job entails, my lengthy explanation includes the phrase, “I take journalists out on the Bend Ale Trail to drink beer.” This is met with the vaguely jealous pronouncement that I have the best job in the world, which is true. I haven’t counted the number … Continue reading
It's where you