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.

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 love this place! Plenty of draft beer choices, great food, and great service!…read moreThis is a very lively, fun place where you can go to chill after work, play, or just exploring the area while on foot. Food: Really good artisan cuisine, this is way better than typical "pub-fare" Their pizza is amazing too! Grab a beer, get some grub, and grab a shirt before you leave. You must go there when you're downtown window shopping. Prices: $$ What you'd expect for such a great place! Parking: This is downtown, so before rush-hour, it's not bad (be mindful of the parking time posted on the signs). You probably don't need reservations, I never have, but if you have a large party, might be a good idea! Very enjoyable!

We stopped here for lunch while in town for a conference. The food was your average brew-pub fare…read morewith nothing standing out as amazing, but it was good. Well, except the wings which were a little dried out, but still edible. The fries were hot and fresh, the Nashville chicken sandwich had a great spice and was freshly made, the size caesar salad was small, but fresh and flavorful, and the Margherita pizza was one you'd expect in a brewery, but won't make you think you're in Italy. We didn't partake in beer since we were off to work in the afternoon, but looking at the menu, I didn't see anything that was for me. I'm a wheat beer fan and didn't see anything that would entice me to return for a beer later.

This was a fun spot to visit! The atmosphere sure is lively, lots of people, lots of noise, great…read morebrews, fun cocktails.. But what you really just cant be here, the seating area and the patio, incredible.... I also personally like the way they have the bar set up as an in/out. Pretty damn efficient way to get everyone served and keep them drinking haha. Food was solid, for a brewery, what you would expect. Hot and crispy fries, decent smashburger, nachos, etc.

Bend Brewing was a local recommendation, and I'm glad that we stopped by after a long e-bike right…read morealong the Deschutes River. First and foremost, this location is awesome! Their host stand is outside, where they can easily direct you either inside or outside. We went inside to order a flight and some bar food and found a high top table outside just in time for the World Cup match. Bend Brewing is dog and family friendly, and when we stopped by, there was even a baby shower being hosted outside! You can tell that this brewery is frequented and well loved by locals. The beer and food didn't blow me away; however, I'd come back just for the environment. High energy, good for entertainment, and a cool spot to socialize over a quick drink. By the time we were heading out, the bike rack was completely full, which says a lot in Bend!

You'd think visiting the same mountain town year after year would mean running out of new…read morebreweries, well that's wrong! UPP Liquids and is owned and run by an epic list of brewers and beer people that got their starts at other places nearby. In their first year open, they've already been making a name for themselves with beers winning medals and the brewery itself being chosen as one of the best in the USA. It's located in Bend, near the highway and many other restaurants and shops, perfect to add to a walk. It's the former spot of another brewery and has a similar feel with some changes. They have an event space with its own bar, and a pinball machine collection. They have bar, table, and outdoor seating too. The bartenders were funny and very welcoming. The beer is excellent and worth stopping for a few flights or pints. They also have an incredible deal for full pours on certain days. Prices super reasonable for the quality. If you're a beer fan, I highly recommend this brewery.

Wanted to love this place and with them being brewery of the year, the expectations were high…read more First off, it doesn't feel good when people arrive after us get served beer before us. The service was so disorganized and it wasn't overly busy. Second, the beer was just okay. Not bad but not great and it didn't make me want to order another.

This is a great little spot nestled on the edge of a residential area. The staff are super friendly…read moreand encourage sampling prior pouring a glass of brew so you can decide on what your palate is in the mood for. Parking is the only downside - they have a few spots near the entry, otherwise it's street side (non-issue). Our sandwich was tantalizingly delicious! The bread seemed freshly made - I believe the bread came fresh from a local bakery - yum.

What a find! Dog-friendly heated/covered spaces, great beer on tap, friendly servers, and yummy…read morefood! Tons of TVs with all the games on, too.

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.

Not to familiar with the area. I want to watch the futbol game. I try a few places. But not good…read morefutbol (soccer) vibe at all. So I went to silver moon brewing. And they have a big screen in the patio and it was amazing. Stadium vibe. 10 out of 10.

Came to Silver Moon to see some bands play and when we arrived it turned out the show was not on…read morethe stage in the main bar, but in a separate building next door called The Webfoot Garage. The venue was small but perfect for the DIY punk/metal bands playing. We were also very impressed at how quickly each band was able setup and breakdown, so no long waits in between bands. It was obvious the organizers knew what they were doing. The venue had a small bar inside so you didn't have to go to the main building to grab a drink. Outside, between the two buildings there were nice seating areas alongside fire pits and access to multiple food trucks. There was even a third stage in the outside area that must be used in warmer weather. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back!

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!

They have a big back area with plenty of seating and a food truck. Beer was okay, not bad but not…read moregreat either. I was good for one and then that was it for me. The unattended kids were a nice touch to try and enjoy a beer. I asked about the Bend Ale Trail code and the server wasn't aware of it. I would think that as much as they promote the Ale Trail that everyone would know the code. If you have kids this place is great. But if you are looking to chill in a quiet place, this place isn't it.

Good Life has an amazing happy hour menu, we got there 10 min before ending and the staff was quick…read moreto get our food and drink orders in so we wouldn't miss it, than you for that!!! The nachos were delicious, I added pork which gave it the perfect sustenance. Great drink menu, I enjoyed their stout. The gals in our group had their seltzers and raved too.