Category: Bend Activities

Craft Beer Date Guide: Bend

2/19/2017

It doesn’t get much more remote than Elk Lake Resort for a romantic getaway, but plenty of people make the trek via skis, snowmobile or the resort’s Sno-Cat during winter. Photo courtesy of Elk Lake Resort

By Dustin Gouker
For the Oregon Beer Growler

Crow’s Feet Commons
Crow’s Feet has turned into a favorite for both locals and visitors looking to grab a beer or a coffee in Bend. The funky space is an ideal spot between Bend’s downtown and the Deschutes River. Crow’s Feet is located in the Goodwillie-Allen-Rademacher house, built in 1904, and is one of the oldest structures still standing in Bend. When it’s not too cold or snowy, their back porch offers a few of the river. Inside you’ll find intimate seating — including a couch in front of a fireplace — where you and a loved one can enjoy a beer. There are 16 taps featuring an often eclectic and constantly rotating selection of beer (as well as some ciders and kombucha).

875 NW Brooks St.
541-728-0066
crowsfeetcommons.com

Crux Fermentation Project
Given that this is a section about where to drink a Bend beer, we’d be remiss in not including at least one local brewpub. However, brewpubs, by their nature, aren’t necessarily romantic places. But Crux offers some romantic amenities that many others don’t. For one, there’s the expansive view of the Cascade Mountains that’s tough to beat. And if you brave the cold to check out the outdoor patio — snow permitting — you can enjoy a beer on a bench in front of a roaring fire. Crux is considered one of the best beer makers in town as well, so it’s got a lot going for it on the “craft beer date” front.

50 SW Division St.
541-385-3333
cruxfermentation.com

Drake
There are plenty of romantic and more upscale eateries to choose from in downtown Bend. But Drake is one of the smaller, more intimate spots to enjoy a meal and/or drink with a significant other. The dim lighting looking out on the hustle and bustle of downtown Bend provides a great spot to catch one’s breath. There’s not a bad seat in the house for a romantic night out, from the cozy booths along the windows to a beautiful and intimate bar area as well as seating where you can watch the kitchen do its thing. Drake rotates six beers on tap, which usually consist of a couple of standard local offerings along with a few quirkier regional selections.

801 NW Wall St.
541-306-3366
drakebend.com

Need to ward off that winter chill in Bend? Snuggle up next to one of the fire pits at McMenamins Old St. Francis School. Photo by Dustin Gouker

Elk Lake Resort
It doesn’t get much more remote than this for a romantic getaway. In the winter, you can only get there by skiing, snowmobile or the resort’s Sno-Cat. In the heart of the Cascade Mountains, it’s a beautiful place to enjoy winter activities or just the beauty of the region. Inside, the resort’s restaurant is a rustic, romantic spot for a meal or a drink after a day of snow play. There are usually nine different Central Oregon beers on tap. The resort is only open Thursday-Saturday during the winter months.

60000 Century Drive
541-480-7378
elklakeresort.net

McMenamins Old St. Francis School
Bend’s version of the McMenamins franchise has plenty of charm, and plenty of romantic nooks and crannies to sip a beer. The former Catholic schoolhouse has fire pits all over the property, and you can often find at least one you can enjoy to yourself during an evening. The best outdoor spot is probably O’Kanes, which is set apart from the rest of the property near the back. If you don’t want to brave the elements, the Fireside Bar has plenty of booths and a constantly roaring fire. And for an even more intimate setting, try to find the hidden Broom Closet bar. The full lineup of McMenamins’ standard beers is available pretty much everywhere on the property, usually along with brews that might only be found in Bend.

700 NW Bond St.
541-382-5174
mcmenamins.com/OldStFrancis

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Unique Date Ideas for Oregon Beer Lovers

2/8/2016

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Bend's Anjou Spa features a "Spa Hoppiness" package that is just one of the endless number of date options for Oregon beer lovers! Photo courtesy Anjou Spa

By Erica Tiffany-Brown
Of the Oregon Beer Growler

I am secure enough in myself to admit I used to watch this show on Bravo called “The Millionaire Matchmaker.” In said show, the matchmaker, Patti Stanger, tells the couples they need to follow a two-drink maximum rule on their dates. While that’s probably a good idea in theory, I believe rules were made to be broken. I also believe there are far too many delicious Oregon beers out there to limit yourself to only sharing two with your significant other.

But before we get into what beer you’ll be drinking on your date, there is one important question to answer: Do you go out or do you stay in? Fortunately for you, I’ve provided options for both!

Going Out
— If you’re feeling extra indulgent, pamper yourselves with a romantic trip to Bend’s Anjou Spa. For over a year now, Anjou has collaborated with GoodLife Brewing for a special “Spa Hoppiness” menu of services. It turns out the ingredients in beer are actually really beneficial for your skin. Your taste buds will take pleasure in the experience as well with some complimentary draft beer. Treat yourselves to the Ale-ing Foot Remedy, Brew & Renew Body Polish or the Stout Scalp Treatment. Or spoil yourselves to all three treatments and you’ll receive a beer-infused natural LeCol soap to keep the fun going back at home. Good luck keeping your hands off one another!

— For a fun night out, OMSI After Dark’s 21-and-over monthly event lets adults channel their nerdy side. This month, the museum will feature two events — OMSI After Dark: Gaming on Feb. 24 and OMSI After Dark: Sex & Love on Feb. 13. Formal wear is encouraged at the latter event, so it’s a good excuse to get dressed up. According to OMSI, be prepared to “get down and dirty as we explore the science of attraction.” Rumor has it Rogue will be on hand selling their beers.

Pro Tip: Stop at nearby Hair of the Dog Brewing before the event to get a little warmed up for all the dirty talk.

Staying In
A night in can be very underrated when it comes to dating. Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean you have to be boring — get creative! But if you’re not the imaginative type, don’t worry; I’ve done the hard work for you. First, let’s focus on what beer you should have on hand. This is one third wheel you’ll actually want tagging along with you!

Depending on your current relationship status, there’s an Oregon beer for that.

My recommendations are as follows:
— Crux Tough Love [Banished] 2015 (11.5% ABV, 70 IBUs): a barrel-aged imperial stout that has been “banished” for nine months in Kentucky bourbon barrels. According to Crux, “Tough Love is big, but smooth with tender strokes of vanilla.”

— Alameda Love Squirts (6% ABV): a chocolate strawberry stout. Too lazy to make your own chocolate-covered strawberries from scratch? Never fear, beer is here! And a hilariously named one at that. They say laughter is carbonated love, right?

— Ex Novo Friends With Benefits (10% ABV, 23 IBUs): a peated scotch ale aged in Heaven Hill bourbon barrels. If you consider yourselves a little more than just FWB, try the brewery’s Dynamic Duo IIPA (8% ABV, 70 IBUs) instead. Or, if you’re happy to be flying solo this year, you’ll get a kick out of their Psycho Ex Triple IPA (10.5% ABV, 92 IBUs).

Runners-Up: Upright Brewing Oyster Stout (6.25% ABV) a British-style stout brewed with both oyster liquor and whole oysters (an aphrodisiac!), Mazama White Wedding IPA (5.2% ABV, 55 IBUs) a marriage of Belgian wit and Northwest IPA — proof that opposites can attract — and Southern Oregon Brewing Black Heart (8.5% ABV) an imperial stout with chocolaty malt aromas, “Black Heart is full of body and not for the faint of heart.”

Now that we have the most important part of the evening figured out, let’s move on to the actual date ideas to go along with the drinks!

— When two people love each other very much, they get together and make … a beer! Even if you two have never brewed a batch before, Rogue makes it a little bit easier by allowing you to produce clones of their popular beers with homebrew kits you can buy online — just add yeast. I recommend the Shakespeare Stout, and not just because of the writer’s inspiring romantic poetry — his plays are also full of allusions to his love of ale.

— Cook with beer. You can even put it in the food! Collaborate together and make a unique beer-themed meal. Check out our Brew Bites column online for inspiration, like a beer-brined rack of lamb with mint pesto for dinner and some Ninkasi Vanilla Oatis Stout ding dongs for dessert. Or, considering you were too lazy to even make the aforementioned chocolate-covered strawberries, you could get extra cheesy and order a heart-shaped pie from Pizza Hut (see what I did there?).

— If you prefer to compete rather than collaborate, this idea is for you. After ordering a pizza, crack open your bottles and battle one another in a board game made for beer lovers. Beer Smarts Game 2.0 is an “intoxicating question and answer game for beer lovers everywhere.” The game includes a scorepad so you can make sure the loser does whatever the winner desires. Another fun game is Brew-opoly, which is very similar to Monopoly, although you purchase brews and taphouses instead of houses and hotels. There are fun twists, where you might have to put on beer goggles and kiss your neighbor or stand and sing “99 Bottles of Beer On The Wall.” The game even features some beloved Oregon breweries like Full Sail and Deschutes.

Whether you go out or stay in this Valentine’s Day, there’s no excuse to not invite Oregon beer along for your date. But beware of imbibing too far beyond the two-beer maximum, as it was in Macbeth that Shakespeare wrote, “It provokes the desire but takes away the performance.”

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Beer Run: WinterFest Turns Bend into Obstacle Course

1/25/2016

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The upcoming Oregon WinterFest, slated for Feb. 12-14, offers a Royal Run on Sunday in Bend. The event used to be poker-themed, but organizers say they may shake things up this year. For $30, racers get entry to the run, admission to all three days of the event and a post-run beverage. Photo courtesy of Lay It Out

By Dustin Gouker
For the Oregon Beer Growler

Rarely do you find a running event in Central Oregon that doesn’t have some tie-in to all the craft beers you can find in Bend and beyond.

The upcoming Oregon WinterFest, slated for Feb. 12-14, is no different, with the Royal Run planned for Sunday during the three-day spectacle.

WinterFest is a family-friendly event filled with music, performances, vendors and more. But the celebration of winter in Bend is also used as a great excuse to drink beer outside.

Racers in this year’s run get quite a bargain for $30 — admission to all three days of the event (normally $10 a ticket), entry into the race, a souvenir glass for the first 200 registrants and a post-race beverage. You would be hard-pressed to find too many running races with an entry fee that affordable.

“Yeah, it’s a great deal,” said Michael Coe, race director for the Royal Run. “You have post-race refreshments and lots of fun to go around. Everyone usually has a great time.”

The WinterFest race has been going on for several years, but it’s changed and evolved almost every time it’s been held, according to Coe. It was once a Warrior Dash event -- more obstacle race than anything else. The 2016 version will be a little tamer than the initial iteration of the WinterFest race, according to Coe, although the details are still being worked out.

“It’s going to be somewhere between a straight-up running race and an obstacle race,” Coe said. “It definitely won’t be a really intense Marine-style obstacle course.”

The course will be a loop in Bend’s Old Mill near the Deschutes River — between 5 kilometers and 8 kilometers, depending on its final configuration.

At the end of the race, runners — usually a couple hundred people participate, Coe says — will get to cool down on the final day of WinterFest with a post-race beer. It’s hard to think of a better way to enjoy Central Oregon.

To register: oregonwinterfest.com/winterfestrun

Other Ways to Exercise and Drink Beer in Central Oregon
If you want a way to burn some calories before having your beer, there are lots of ways to get your fix around Bend:

Great Nordeen Nordic Race, Jan. 30, 2016: Racers usually enjoy a few brews after the 18K and 30K distances at the post-race party. More info: mbsef.org/nordic/races

Bend Beer Chase, June 4, 2016: This 70-mile relay race is not for the casual runner or for people who don’t enjoy beer. Up to six people run through the high desert with free beer samples at relay exchange points. Almost every brewery in Central Oregon is represented. More info: bendbeerchase.cascaderelays.com

Pub runs, various dates: Bend running store FootZone commonly holds short runs that end up at various drinking locations around town. The next one is Jan. 25. More info: footzonebend.com/events

Twilight 5K Run/Walk, Aug. 11, 2016: The Deschutes Brewery-sponsored event serves Twilight Ale to race participants at the end. More info: superfitproductions.com/races/twilight-5k-run-walk

Thrilla Cyclocross, September 2016: Bend’s cyclocross series gets racers thirsty. You don’t get free beer as a part of racing your bike, but enjoying a beer while heckling competitors is part of the experience. More info: mbsef.org/events/mbsef-thrilla-cyclocross-series

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Craft Beer Date Guide: Bend

Unique Date Ideas for Oregon Beer Lovers

Beer Run: WinterFest Turns Bend into Obstacle Course

OBG Blog

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