Essential Guide to Central Oregon Breweries

You wouldn’t think that a former logging town surrounded by large tracts of open space would compete with the state’s biggest city for brewing supremacy, but Bend does. It is one of the premier destinations for beer anywhere in the US. That it is such a mecca of outdoor activities makes it a prime destination for tourists in and outside the state.

Bend

The area’s biggest town straddles the Deschutes River and has a wonderful downtown built around its banks. There’s a lot to do in Bend, including strolling along miles of river and visiting the Old Mill District, which showcases the town’s logging past. But really, the best reason to visit Bend is its abundance of award-winning breweries scattered across every neighborhood.

Winter Wonderland

If you like to ski, you’re never far from a mountain in central Oregon. Mt. Bachelor is closest to Bend, while Hoodoo is nearer to Sisters. Add cross-country skiing and snowshoeing through the pristine mountains, and Central Oregon is hard to beat. Best of all, no matter where you go, there’s always a beer waiting après ski.

Smith Rock State Park

Sometimes called one of Oregon’s “Seven Wonders,” Smith Rock is a striking volcanic formation that evokes the spires of a cathedral. The 650-acre park, near Terrebonne, is famous for its rock climbing, but the less adventurous will find mountain biking, hiking, camping, and fishing on the Crooked River. It’s also fifteen minutes to Redmond and its three breweries.

Founded in 1988, Deschutes is Oregon’s largest and most influential brewery. The first brewery in Bend, it has trained brewers that have gone on to found the Ale Apothecary, Crux, and Boneyard, among others. The modest, original brewpub is still downtown for those who like pilgrimages, but the big production brewery and taproom a mile north is impressive in its scale. Honestly, both are worth a visit.

10 Barrel Brewing has been owned by both Anheuser-Busch and Tilray (its current owner), but don’t let that dissuade you from visiting. Longtime brewer Tonya Cornett won the coveted national Schehrer Award for brewing in 2024, and she and her team have won a bucketload of medals since the brewery arrived in Bend in 2007. It has multiple Bend-area pubs that make visiting a snap.

Finally, Sunriver Brewing, which started as a sleepy little operation in 2012, has graduated to become one of Oregon’s premier IPA producers. Like Deschutes and 10 Barrel, Sunriver has won a ton of awards, but distinguishes itself with inventive and unusual hoppy ales that cycle through at breathtaking rates. They have two pubs in Bend and another at the brewery in Sunriver.