Discover Central Oregon’s craft beer

Parched after a day of shredding singletrack? Craving a frosty pint with glorious mountain views? Want to discover some of the best beer in Oregon? Bend has the perfect remedy — dive headfirst into the Bend Ale Trail.

The Bend Ale Trail has been serving up a brewery scavenger hunt since 2010. Today, you can sip on an IPA, amber, porter, or whatever hoppy blend pleases your palette, through seven territories at over 30 breweries and tasting rooms in Central Oregon. For non-beer fans, check out Drinkable Diversions, where you can discover non-beer options like distilleries, wine tasting rooms, kombucha brewers, and cideries.

As you explore this self-guided beer tour, collect stamps, win prizes, and enjoy some of the most influential and delicious craft breweries in the state—who are we kidding, the country!

Crystal water, hoppy innovation

Embark on the Bend Ale Trail and dive into a world of exceptional craft beers. Bend’s beer scene isn’t just about world-class IPAs (though those are legendary). It’s about a blend of fresh ingredients and dynamic brewers, transforming the city into a craft beer mecca.

The magic starts with the crystal-clear, low-mineral water sourced from the Cascade Mountains. This blank canvas allows brewers to craft any style imaginable, each bursting with a distinct flavor. Then comes the hops—our proximity to local farms guarantees the freshest, most vibrant varieties, adding another layer of complexity.

This foundation, laid by Deschutes Brewery in 1988, fueled a craft beer revolution. Today, Bend boasts a thriving community of brewers, each pushing boundaries and pouring incredible pints, flights, and growlers. Whether you crave a hoppy bite, a smooth malt finish, or something refreshingly light, the Bend Ale Trail has a beer waiting to quench your thirst.

How to trek the trail

The Bend Ale Trail is a self-guided tour that lets you explore over 30 hoppy destinations with a free keepsake brochure-style passport from the Bend Visitor Center. You can also start your journey right from your phone with the free web-based app. Or, if you’re not a beer lover, discover over a dozen Drinkable Diversions. Once you have your paper or digital passport ready, you can start exploring all seven territories in the region. 

The seven territories

Discover the seven territories, divided geographically, each showcasing its own breweries and unique ambiance. 

Downtown Bend, affectionately called “The Old Block,” is where it all began. Here, Deschutes Brewery, a pioneer of Oregon’s craft beer movement, pours alongside established favorites like Silver Moon and Bend Brewing Company. Head west of the Deschutes River to “The Western Front” to find favorites such as GoodLife Brewing, the charmingly cool Boss Rambler Beer Club, and the adventurous Ale Apothecary.

Across the river in “The Riverlands” you’ll discover unique offerings at breweries such as Crux Fermentation Project and Immersion Brewing. Venture east to “The Badlands” for IPAs at Worthy Brewing and Bevel Brewing, among others. Explore “The Brewers District” on the east side, home to newby brewer Van Henion Brewing as well as OG rebel Boneyard Beer, for even more variety. 

If your travels take you beyond Bend city limits, visit “The Far North” in Redmond, featuring Wild Ride Brewing and Initiative Brewing. Or head to Sisters, Prineville, and Sunriver for “The Outer Rim” and discover hidden treasures like Funky Fauna Artisan Ales. 

Beyond these stops, countless unique breweries await on the Bend Ale Trail—which ones will be your new favorites?

Drinkable Diversions

Not a beer lover or looking to diversify your beverage portfolio? You can also visit non-beer stops in each territory along the Drinkable Diversions. Sample handcrafted ciders at Bend Cider Company, savor award-winning wines at Faith Hope & Charity Vineyards or Stoller Wine Bar or explore the world of Central Oregon spirits at Oregon Spirit Distillers. Explore cideries, distilleries, and wine tasting rooms to collect Drinkable Diversions stamps for an additional prize.

How to collect stamps/check-ins

You can complete the Bend Ale Trail at your own pace, taking as long as you like. There’s no time limit, so you can knock back a few more stops and sample new brews with each visit. Please note, however, that tasting rooms may move, open, or close. And prizes are available on a first come, first served basis.

Paper passport: Each participating brewery will have a designated spot to stamp your keepsake passport. No purchase is required to get a stamp, but you’ll likely be tempted to try a brew or two at each stop. The passport also includes maps, descriptions, vibrant artwork for each territory, and activities (aka Perfect Pairings) to enjoy in each area. Passports are available for free at the Bend Visitor Center.

The Bend Ale Trail app: This web-based app allows you to easily find breweries, tasting rooms, and activities near you and check-in via GPS or using manual codes available at the different locations. The app is a great tool for planning your Bend Ale Trail experience and tracking which breweries you’ve visited.

Prizes

Once you visit all breweries within a territory, you qualify for a prize—a custom 4-ounce taster glass printed with the logo for that territory. If you complete all seven territories, you also receive a handmade taster tray to display your collection of taster glass. All prizes must be picked up at the Bend Visitor Center.

Perfect Pairings

Beyond the breweries, the Bend Ale Trail suggests Perfect Pairings—activities within each territory to complement your beer exploration. These include relaxing picnics at parks near breweries in The Old Block or enjoying a round of disc golf before exploring the brewery-dense Brewers District. Whether you crave a scenic hike or a casual social activity, the Bend Ale Trail’s Perfect Pairings can help you design a well-rounded adventure.

Designated Driver program

Don’t miss out on the fun while your friends enjoy Bend’s craft brews! The Bend Ale Trail celebrates responsible drinking with its Designated Driver program. Here’s how to be the hero of your crew:

• Be the champion: Volunteer to be the designated driver for the day. You’ll be responsible for safely transporting everyone between breweries.
• Grab your passport: Pick up a free Bend Ale Trail passport from the Bend Visitor Center. The designated driver section is on the last page.
• Collect stamps, not sips: Participating breweries will stamp your designated driver section, not your friends. Collect five stamps to redeem for a special premium prize!
• Celebrate responsibility: Bring your completed passport to the Visitor Center and claim your reward for being a responsible friend.

Ditch the car

Tour companies like Wanderlust Tours curate an in-depth experience, including guided behind-the-scenes visits to breweries, wineries, and distilleries. Feeling adventurous? The Cycle Pub of Bend lets your group pedal between breweries, enjoying the outdoors and exercising along the way. Bend’s wealth of breweries within walking distance is a major perk for budget-minded travelers. Kick off your brewery crawl downtown, where a big concentration of breweries are clustered together.  Or, take a taxi or ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft, which are also available for easy brewery hopping. 

Tips for trekking the Bend Ale Trail

• Refill and reduce: Many breweries offer refillable growlers or crowlers, a great way to reduce single-use packaging. You can also recycle those PakTech can-carriers at the Bend Visitor Center and Crux Fermentation Project.
• Stamps and prizes: Remember, you must collect one stamp per location (not per brewery) in your passport. You can redeem completed passports for prizes at the Bend Visitor Center—in person only!
• Plan your itinerary: Double-check brewery and tasting room hours to avoid missing out.

The Bend Ale Trail is your passport to a world of Central Oregon’s delightful brews. Explore a tapestry of flavors, from award-winning IPAs at local breweries to refreshing ciders and handcrafted spirits at distilleries. For more information on prizes, maps, and frequently asked questions (with loads of answers), check out the Bend Ale Trail website. 

Now, grab your passport (or surf to the app!) and embark on your own flavorful odyssey through Bend and beyond!