What a gem in downtown Bend. It is so unique with the beers that they have. I feel like I entered a…read moresmall pub somewhere in London. Bartenders are nice, beer is great. I will absolutely visit again.

As a Brit in America, we do love trying to find 'British' places for a good pint, and in this case,…read morebloody good sausage rolls. Atmosphere was chill. It is located literally in a Cellar type spot downstairs. Staff were friendly and surprisingly knowledgable on British pies and mushy peas. Yup, they have proper mushy peas! The sausage rolls were delicious and homemade. Plus, they had HP sauce to dip.

"Move to Bend," they said. "It will be fun," they said…read more "Even though the town is isolated, the airport is excellent, the weather is good, and the beer is excellent." Yeah, about that. The airport shuts in the winter, the AQI is 200 all summer, and the beer is actually mid. "But, but, but, there are 30 breweries! This is amazing!" Thirty breweries of meh. You get better beer in Portland without even trying. Even our local Daddy is underwhelming, although I wouldn't say no to a Freshie. This brings us to Terranaut. I first had one of their beers at Ponch's (RIP), before the Terranaut taproom was even open. It was an uncommonly good West Coast IPA: bitter, hoppy, and citrusy. Good enough for me to frequent the taproom ever since. The beer is great, the range is varied, and the vintage hi-fi vibes are genuinely cool. Terranaut isn't just "Bend good." It's world-class--easily the best brewery in Bend.

This brewery is making waves, not just in Bend, but across the country. I had the pleasure of…read moremeeting the brewer/owner at a competition beforehand and it was great to hear about his history and the brewery itself. It's a small spot in an easy-to-find industrial area. Cozy lighting and colorful artwork makes the high ceiling warehouse vibe comfortable and welcoming. I also love the National Park inspired logo. On arrival the bartender remembered me from another event the year prior, which made the visit instantly welcoming and pleasant. The beer styles and descriptions were no-nonsense and everything we tried was excellent. It was a popular spot even on a snowy weekday. If you're doing the Bend Ale Trail, this is a newer stop added, there are others nearby too. I look forward to seeing this one grow, and already looking forward to visiting again soon.

In a beer mecca like Bend, there are more breweries than you could possibly visit on one visit. For…read morea nice taste of the best, Crosscut is worth the visit. For beer fans, whiskey aficionados, or wine heads, they have a great selection of everything. Food trucks are outside, again with a nice spread to cater to any taste. This place would be great in winter or summer. They have lots of outdoor seating including tables, chairs, and fire pits. Indoors they have cozy seating near the fireplace, big and small tables, and the bar at the back. Upstairs is also a loft with seating and dart boards, which can also be rented for private events. The beer selection here is fantastic, with great prices. The bartenders were welcoming and knowledgeable about all they have to drink.

Truly have never interacted with such miserable bartenders before. I'm not really sure why they…read moreseem so unhappy every time I've visited so I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that management either underpays or is terrible to their workers. The most egregious example of the surly barkeep was a few months back, we had a group and put in a big order at the bar and paid with a card and as I was pulling out cash to give the bartenders a tip he saw the 'no tip' selected on the screen and started talking shit to me with my wallet in hand and counting dollar bills. I handed him his tip and he never apologized. I'd give this spot 1 star if they didn't have the food trucks outside. I actually think the people that work the trucks seem kind and to be trying their best. The wing and crepe place is super dank.

I have been wanting to try out the The Ale Apothecary for I don't know how long. It's safe to say…read moreit's been a long time. So on our last trip to Bend we finally made it here to the their taproom and it didn't disappoint at all. It was a great stop! We got a taster set of a variety of different beers that they had on tap and they were all quite good. Many of them have a wild ale aspect to them which I can appreciate at you don't come across this beer too much on a routine basis. The taproom is cool and I love all of their art specifically where fermentation liquids spilled onto a sheet or a cloth making various designs and hues during the brewing making process of their beers. Other excellent beers that we have had from this brewery are the Samalie which is a Wild Ale. This one I rated very highly on Untappd because it was so amazing! Things to look for in the flavor profile are sourness, tartness, fruitiness, a natural sweetness and a dry finish. Really an excellent beer! Moving on from that we had the great Ping Pong Table Beer. This was another beer I rated quite highly and enjoyed immensely. This beer is light bodies, smooth and effervescent with the flavor of elderflower at work. Another excellent beer! Definitely great beer experiences with this brewery and definitely recommend it to the more adventurous beer drinking folks. There are plenty of breweries to try out in Bend and if you are looking for something on the more unusual side The Ale Apothecary is a great place for such a thing!

If you're a beer fan, specifically into funky experimentation, this is your place in Bend! We've…read moregotten a few of their bottles at our local beer store over the years, and while these aren't my go-to styles, it was a fun experience trying the brewery in person. Ale Apothecary is a wild fermentation brewery and blendery located in a commercial plaza in Bend. They don't have food, but there's plenty of other great options nearby including Bo's Falafel and Good Life Brewing around the corner. If you're on the Bend Ale Trail, this is a must-visit stop as well. We visited on a weekday afternoon after opening, so it wasn't busy at all. The friendly beer server was welcoming and shared about the brewery, explaining about the bottle selections, how they make everything, and what was available on tap or in bottles to try that day. The décor is super eclectic with fun things to look at and enjoy while sipping. They also have picnic tables and outdoor seating if you'd prefer. Bottles are also available to go. For its uniqueness, prices are super reasonable for complex beers. This isn't a brewery for everyone however, even their customer demanded line of "regular beers" each has a signature of funk from their house yeast strains. As a beer lover that enjoys everything, it was fun to taste each thing; friends enjoyed this place very much as well. If you're an adventurous beer fan, this is worth your time!

On our golf trip to Bend where I played triple bogey golf (while cheating on my score) my solace…read morewas On Tap. Great friendly service with a tap list to satisfy any need. Almost made my golf scores bearable. Arrived twice to console myself. So good.

Hello! If you follow or look at my reviews you know I am a beer fan…read more On Tap in Bend Oregon is one of the best Taphouses I have been to!! They have an amazing selection and variety of beer. There is a very good outdoor seating vibe with lots of space, you can either set in with the crowd or they have little sections where you can get away from the crowd. Dogs and well behaved supervised kids are allowed. The taproom service was top notch and dialed in. While they do not serve food themselves, there is a large variety of food trucks available for you to get some food! This would be a great place to hangout for awhile with your friends, great beer and a huge variety of food! We will definitely be back!

While visiting Bend, Oregon last year we knew we were in one of the best towns for craft beer…read more Visiting this brewery was first on our list and was definitely the best brew we found. Hidden in a small neighborhood the tap house is quite small, but they do have a couple of tables outside and some great people to talk with. They do have a larger brewery downtown but we both liked the vibe of this place. My husband I both went for a pint of the Diablo Red. We both enjoy a red brew and they are hard to come by. Everyone is looking for the magic IPA, but those beers just aren't for us. We had a great time enjoying the afternoon on a warm September day in Bend drinking this beer.

Easy place that get comfy and access to a variety of tasty craft beers. we tried one of their…read morehazy. IPAs and classic amber beer. Service was good as well.

I've been doing the Bend Ale Trail over the last few years and visited the tiny Spider City taproom…read moreand wine bar in downtown Bend. This location is their main brewery and has an industrial feel. They have a ton of different beer selections as well. I loved the big open garage doors for fresh air and natural lighting. It's also large for groups and events. I only had a handful of sample size beers on my visit, as I was getting too full. The bartender was super welcoming to help pick a few favorites to try. If you're on a Bend beer tour, this is a great stop!

Spider city is a great little brewery with indoor and outdoor seating. There's a food truck in the…read moreparking lot. Walk up service. I got a glass of bubbles that was good. Many beer choices on tap, busy place in the summer. Friendly staff.

One of my favorite stops every time I am in Bend. Its 100% iykyk. Finding it is fun, cocktails are…read moredelicious. A small and cozy spot that I love to visit. Trying to find it? Think about the name.

We were staying the night at McMenamins in Bend while traveling from California to Washington, and…read moreone of the highlights of our stay was hunting down the speakeasy bar, The Broom Closet. Half the fun is searching the property for it--and don't worry, I won't spoil where we found it! Once inside, it truly felt like a hidden gem. The space is cozy and intimate, with comfortable places to sit and a full bar that feels tucked away from the rest of the property. It was especially festive during the holidays, with Christmas drink specials adding to the charm. I ordered the NA Merry Cherry, which was gingery, slightly spicy, and super refreshing--a great non-alcoholic option. My wife had The Countess and said it was absolutely delicious. Between the atmosphere, the drinks, and the fun of discovering it, The Broom Closet was a total win. If you're ever staying at McMenamins Bend, make sure you take the time to search for The Broom Closet--it's well worth the adventure!

It's been awhile since I visited here and it has really improved. The outdoor space is so much…read morenicer and the turf eliminates the dust that at times would be circling through the air from the kids running around playing. The Italian sandwich, order inside, it delicious! The smash burger outside in the food truck is great! Their mimosas are the best in town!

After eight years, Crux is overdue for a review update. Biggest reason is that quite a few years…read moreago they expanded the place significantly, opening up the large room to the right of the bar that opens into the outdoor area. That room is equipped with restrooms, relieving one of my major complaints about a lack of facilities, as well as a second serving station complete with taps. Since then, Crux has significantly changed the outdoor area as well although I'm not certain it's an upgrade. It's a little too landscaped and way too much like a playground now. Locals have always tended to refer to Crux as 'daycare but with beer.' The last several times I've come here, the second serving station has not been in operation even though it looks to be still fully functional. Meanwhile the line to the bar serving stations is often long, sometimes almost out the door. Not sure why that is, doesn't make sense to have the capacity to more efficiently serve customers but not use it. All that said, the beer is still stellar and they continue to have a wide range of beer choices, the new(ish) large room has plentiful high-top seating (mobility challenged folks will need to venture outside), and the music is kept below ear-splitting volume. You can also sit at the bar itself although the vibe there isn't great - it's not like a neighborhood pub bar. Crux still has a kitchen. I used to order directly from them but have since transitioned to patronizing one of the several food carts outside. Being food carts, they tend to come and go so I'll not go into detail there. That said, the new Alpine Smash burger is fabulous. The other significant change in recent years has been with the location. A dispute with the property owners to the west resulted in the access road that way being closed, requiring Crux patrons to use the road coming from Second/Scott Street (or ride a bike). The west road is now open, maybe because the Jackstraw housing complex over that way is now completed and the road serves their tenants. RIP Spoken Moto.

The Lair is a rebranding of the former operation: White Water Taphouse. Or at least that's what I…read morewas led to expect. It's not quite that. Same arrangement - booths and tables arrayed inside with a pandemic-spawned sidewalk seating area outside. Order at the small bar at the back and choose your table. $6 pints and they have larger mugs. The primary - and significant - difference between The Lair and White Water was the latter offered up a wide array of beers from several breweries while The Lair now strictly pours their own (unless I missed seeing an off-brand tap). I consider Kobold beer to be middle of the (local) pack in terms of quaffability, so the new selection is a bit of a downgrade. Other changes include making the space darker and less sterile (more like a lair, I guess). New decorations are up and the electronic beer board is gone. They now offer a small sandwich menu. White Water sometimes hosted a popup poke-sushi operation. Not sure if that will happen at The Lair. Overall, A-OK but I will miss White Water.

Good beer and pizza. Strangely, it's the salad I keep remembering days later. The place is counter…read moreservice and very laidback. It was pretty empty on a Tuesday evening, but it seems like it would be a cozy place to hang out to play games during the winter.