Craft beer paradise

Wondering where to find the best beer in Bend? It’s tough to choose, with more than 30 breweries across Central Oregon, plus brewpubs and boutique craft brewers serving some of the tastiest suds in the West. 

The truth? You can’t go wrong no matter where you belly up. Just tap (pun intended) “brewpubs near me” on your phone to find a literal wonderland of beer hotspots.

Bend’s breweries make some of the country’s finest, most in-demand, award-winning, flavorful beers in the world. Enjoy hoppy IPAs, fruity Belgian-style ales, crisp northwest pales, malty porters, and everything in between. Whatever you’re craving, there’s a Bend brewery crafting magic elixir to pour in a pint glass.

How Bend’s beer got so good

Way back in the dark ages of 1988, Deschutes Brewery helped launch Bend’s small craft brewery craze. They ushered in an era of award-winning Bend beer, paving the way for other breweries like Bend Brewing Company and Silver Moon. 

These days, you’ll find a huge variety to choose from, including relative newcomers like Terranaut Beer and Funky Fauna Artisan Ales, along with regular crowd pleasers like Crux Fermentation Project, Bridge 99, Sunriver Brewing Company, and Goodlife Brewing Company. One of Bend’s newest additions to the craft beer scene, UPP Liquids has already made a big splash. Founded by a small but experienced team of local brewers, UPP (pronounced “up”) opened in June 2025 and won multiple medals and “Brewery of the Year” at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival. Swing by the taproom for experimental but approachable suds. 

And what goes great with beer? Savory, decadent, mouthwatering food! Most breweries and pubs in Bend not only serve up tasty pints and beer tasting flights, but also hand-thrown pizzas, juicy burgers, and loaded pub nachos. Looking for something a bit lighter? Try crisp salads, creative appetizers, and standard pub nibbles like spiced nuts and pretzels.

What makes Bend beer the best?

You’ve heard rumors that Bend makes some of the world’s finest beer, but what’s the secret to crafting the best-tasting, cleanest, and most sought-after beer in the land?

Turns out the secret is something quite simple—it all starts with water. The low mineral content of our fresh, spring-fed water from the Cascade Mountains makes it ideal for brewing any style of beer. Additionally, our proximity to local hop farms ensures a plentiful supply of top-quality hops. These ingredients contribute to the exceptional character of our renowned brews.

Inspired by a bounty of stellar ingredients, brewers unleash a wealth of approachable, balanced, and distinctive beers. Bend is undoubtedly known for IPAs, from styles like West Coast to hazy to double IPA—or for the bold, triple IPA. There’s also a wide realm of lagers, porters, sours, and even Belgian-style ales gracing tap lists in Bend. No matter how dark, bitter, crisp, or light you like it, you’ll find what satisfies your hop-hankering.

Bend Breweries and Brewpubs

While most Bend beer fans have a favorite brewery, opinions vary widely on the Best Bend brewpub. 

To give you some top picks worth considering, let’s start with the OG Bend brewpub. Deschutes Brewery was founded in 1988 and is the oldest brewery in Bend. Known for its iconic brews like Black Butte Porter, Mirror Pond Pale Ale, and Red Chair NWPA, Deschutes also slings plenty of seasonal, classic, and limited releases. You can enjoy Deschutes beer at the Bend Public House downtown, plus tasty burgers, salads, or specialties like fish and chips. For a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the granddaddy of Bend’s beer scene, treat yourself to a tour at the Deschutes Brewery Bend Tasting Room and Beer Garden. 

In 2021, Deschutes acquired Boneyard Beer, a brewery known for its clean, balanced, high-quality beers like RPM IPA, Hop Venom, and Diablo Rojo. You can still sample Boneyard’s beers at its original tasting room or head to their brewpub, with over 20 taps and tasty pub-style food (including one of the best burgers in Bend!)

Occupying the former Boneyard brewing facility is Van Henion Brewing. Founded in 2021, they focus on crafting beers brewers love, like clean lagers and vibrant IPAs. With a collective brewing experience of 65+ years, these three founders bring a wealth of talent. From a former Boneyard master brewer to experienced staff from Deschutes Brewery, Van Henion is a hub of expertise and inventive brews. Stop by the tasting room to sample their clean, crisp beers on draft and time it out to try their popular trivia night.

Another former Deschutes employee founded The Ale Apothecary, an artisan brewery with a tasting room tucked into the Century Center off SW Century Drive. Focused on using hyper-local ingredients, including only airborne yeasts, Ale Apothecary beer is the closest thing you can get to Bend’s outdoors in a pint. These barrel-aged wild ales are brewed in small batches to create unique flavors.

Speaking of super-unique brews, make sure you’ve got Funky Fauna Artisan Ales on your must-sip list. They specialize in Saison-inspired wild ales in the style of saisons brewed by farmers in the 1800s for farmhands. These beers are made to be low in alcohol but full of flavor, hydration, and nutrients. At Funky Fauna, they cultured their house Native Wild Yeast straight from the cool Central Oregon air, and continue to feed it in oak barrels. Their Saisons are always brewed with 100% Oregon-grown malted barley, wheat, and hops, then fermented in oak and conditioned on rotating local fruits, herbs, and spices for a unique tasting experience you won’t soon forget. Bonus: Get a behind the scenes look at their fermentation preocess.

Also making a strong splash are Bevel Craft Brewing and Terranaut Beer. Bevel is all about the hop-centric experience with a passion for IPAs. Nate and Valarie Doss, the dynamic duo behind Bevel, are world-renowned disc golfers. If you find yourself visiting Bend during fresh hop season (typically September and October) Bevel should be on your shortlist, since they make one of the top fresh-hoppy brews in town. No matter when you visit, take a minute to toss a disc on their outdoor patio or sample from their abundant food carts.

Terranaut Beer burst onto Bend’s scene midway through 2024, and went on to win honors as the “2025 Small Brewery of the Year” at the Oregon Beer Awards. Since then, Terranaut Beer has racked up more medals for concoctions including a lager, a West Coast IPA, and specialty brews like a coffee/vanilla brown ale and a scrumptious take on the classic spaghett (think beer and Aperol) made in collaboration with San Simón. Their small tasting room on Bend’s eastside boasts a cozy vibe with wooden rocking chairs and a turntable spinning classic vinyl, making it a favorite stop for locals.

Speaking of local faves, no list is complete without mentioning Crux Fermentation Project. These folks have been creating some favorite experimental and innovative beers in Bend since 2012. Crux boasts an impressive selection of handcrafted IPAs, as well as unique brews like a Japanese rice lager, barrel-aged imperial stouts, and fruited sours. They also make one of the best non-alcoholic beers around, the NØMØ. Head to their family-friendly tasting room, located near the Old Mill District in an old AAMCO transmission shop for 24+ taps, food carts, and live music with views of the Cascade Mountains. 

Taking it back to the early microbrew years, Bend Brewing Company proudly stands as the second oldest brewery in town. Their pub is located downtown, along the Deschutes River, where you can enjoy a mainstay favorite like Tropic Pines IPA or Ching Ching Sour Ale. Can’t make up your mind? Grab a flight to find your new favorite. Pair your beer with flavorful, classic pub eats from their generous selections, including one of the best kids’ menus on the Bend beer scene.

Coming in as the third oldest brewpub in Bend is Silver Moon Brewery. Since 2000 they’ve been creating highly anticipated limited releases, unique barrel-aged brews, and longtime favorites like IPA 97. Their brewpub is located downtown where you can enjoy their onsite food carts and regular live music. Silver Moon is also dedicated to the fight against cancer as they’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for research and support through their seasonal F*Cancer campaign and IPA. Now that’s something we can all toast to!

Located in some new digs just off SE Reed Market Road, Cascade Lakes Brewing has deep roots in Central Oregon’s craft beer scene. Founded in 1994 in Redmond, it’s known for approachable, balanced beers like Blonde Bombshell and Paddleboard Porter. Their eastside pub pairs those classics with hearty fare and a dog-friendly patio perfect for après-adventure pints. 

For those seeking a brewery with a more focused selection of brews and styles, Bend has a few to offer. Porter Brewing brews the only cask-conditioned ales in Central Oregon, and you can find them at their pub, The Cellar, in downtown Bend. They specialize in hand-pumping unfiltered, unpasteurized ales in 20 oz imperial pints and 10 oz half pints. Pair a homemade savory pie with your beer and enjoy it with a pal and a board game from their abundant selection.

Monkless Belgian Ales specializes in strong ales by brewing Belgian-style delights. Savor a snifter of golden, witbier, or tripel ales. They also serve mouth-watering, hearty European eats at The Brasserie, which has one of the best decks overlooking the Deschutes.

Tours for the true beer enthusiast

One of the best ways to experience Bend’s beer culture is to take a brewery tour—Deschutes, Crux, Worthy, and many more offer daily tours, complete with complimentary tastings. 

If you’re looking for a more personalized, guided experience, Wanderlust Tours creates cool tours combining outdoor adventures with craft beverages. Blend your beer love with your love of nature on a Brews & Views Paddling Tour or the wintertime Shoes, Brews & Views snowshoe tour.

For a one-of-a-kind beerventure, The Cycle Pub of Bend offers a unique way to experience Bend’s beer scene while cruising around with a guide on one of their specialized, pedal-powered bars. Enjoy world-class craft beers in motion on their original 14-seat Cycle Pub, or choose a more intimate experience like the six-seater Small Bike that’s perfect for parties of 4-6 beer fans. Cruizzy, an electric golf cart shuttle service, also arranges brewery tours for you and up to four additional guests.

To discover and sample nearly all the breweries in Bend and Central Oregon, guide yourself on the Bend Ale Trail. You can use the free app or pick up a keepsake passport at the Bend Visitor Center and get it stamped at each brewery you visit. The trail includes seven territories brimming with activities and landmarks to enjoy as you sip your way around the trail. To win a prize, just complete one territory. Finish all seven for a bonus prize, plus bragging rights as a true beer champion. 

For the designated driver in your group, don’t forget to take advantage of the Bend Ale Trail’s DD program, which features a prize for the friend who agrees to abstain and get you safely from place to place.

Family-friendly breweries

While most breweries in Bend welcome kids, there are a few that really embrace the kid-friendly vibe. For family-friendly breweries, head to Crux, Deschutes, Bend Brewing, 10 Barrel Brewing Co. (with two locations east and west), and Worthy Brewing Company. Worthy even has rambling, on-site gardens complete with chickens, plus a “Hopservatory” where the whole family can stargaze through a research-level telescope on clear nights. 

And if your kid has four legs and barks, most breweries with outdoor patios also roll out the welcome mat for dogs. Just be sure to check their dog-friendly policies ahead of time.

Other brew pubs in Bend

Can’t decide which Bend brewery to hit? Sample from options all over town by visiting one of Bend’s popular pubs. Many boast mouthwatering pub grub, along with taplists featuring multiple Bend breweries. 

At Brother Jon’s, enjoy a selection of Northwest beers and savor a delicious meal. This includes tasty sandwiches, homemade soups, and some irresistible house-smoked meats. The pub has three separate dining rooms and a secluded, dog-friendly deck during fair weather. 

Craving the vibe and cuisine of a German-style gastropub? Bangers & Brews boasts three locations, a mind-blowing taplist, and some of the tastiest sausages in town. If you’re smitten enough to take your fandom to the next level, they collaborate with Sink or Swim Tattoo to offer free ink to those brave enough to get a permanent Bangers & Brews memento.

For an extra-unique beer experience, hit Ballers & Brews in northeast Bend. It’s a fun mashup of pickleball courts, cocktails, and tasty food carts. Two covered pickleball courts can be used year round for a fee, and they also offer community hours for a more casual experience. Besides a full tap list of beer, they offer wine, cocktails, mocktails, and more.

McMenamins Old St. Francis Pub is a vibe all by itself, with its on-site soaking tub, hidden rooms, and rambling courtyards filled with fire pits. Stop by for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or rent a hotel room to claim the ultimate beercation. Located in a former Catholic school building, this pub offers hearty fare, handcrafted ales brewed on-site, and weekly seasonal specials. 

Bend’s craft breweries and pubs cater to all tastes, whether you crave hops that bite or the smooth depths of a barrel-aged brew. From crispy and dank to dark and tripled, we’ve got it all. Ready to come find your favorite?