The new owners of Bend Brewing Company, Packy and Leslie Deenihan, have plans to increase production capabilities, particularly with the opening of a beer garden next door. Photos by Andi Prewitt
By Dustin Gouker
For the Oregon Beer Growler
Bend Brewing Company has always been the sleeping giant in the Central Oregon craft beer scene. Under new ownership, BBC is awaking from its slumber.
The second-oldest brewery in Bend is expanding its footprint. Bend Brewing Company’s pub in downtown has been surrounded on all sides by empty lots for much of its existence. But a deal to purchase one of the nearby parcels will mean the brewpub will be getting a huge upgrade.
BBC will be constructing a beer garden overlooking Mirror Pond, with plans to open sometime in 2017, according to Packy Deenihan, the new owner of BBC along with wife Leslie.
“I can’t tell you how many locals and longtime Bend-ites would come in and ask ‘What’s going on with the lot next door?’ It’s a natural fit for us,” Deenihan said. “Since we took over ownership, we always thought it would be really cool to figure out how we could own the lot.”
The Deenihans took over BBC this past winter, and the purchase of the nearby land came this summer. Changes were already visible at the pub under the new owners, with an indoor, open-air bar being installed near the front entrance.
City regulations prevent the planned BBC beer garden from going right up to the water’s edge. But visitors will be able to sit outside with a much better view of the section of the pond behind BBC.
“Being able to drink BBC pints on Mirror Pond is going to be pretty special and really unique for Bend, because there’s no other brewery that has that setting directly on the river,” Deenihan said.
That includes Deschutes Brewery, with a pub just a few blocks away and famously makes a pale ale that bears Mirror Pond’s name.
Deenihan said plans for the space are still in flux, but the outdoor space will likely include a pouring station, a fire pit and a pavilion for live music.
Despite being one of the first movers on the Bend craft beer scene, BBC has remained small while newer breweries — like 10 Barrel Brewing, GoodLife Brewing Company and Crux Fermentation Project — grew quickly.
But that appears to be changing under the Deenihans, who have plans to increase production capabilities. Deenihan said he thought the opening of the beer garden alone might outstrip BBC’s current ability to keep up with demand. The business could build a brewing facility on one of the lots it just purchased, Deenihan said, or go off-site.
That would mean BBC’s beer, commonly an award winner at festivals and competitions, could start appearing on a lot more taps around the state and the Northwest.
“For me, that’s my No. 1 priority — how we can get more beer made,” Deenihan said.
Bend Brewing Company
[a] 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend
[p] 541-383-1599
[w] bendbrewingco.com
For the Oregon Beer Growler
Bend Brewing Company has always been the sleeping giant in the Central Oregon craft beer scene. Under new ownership, BBC is awaking from its slumber.
The second-oldest brewery in Bend is expanding its footprint. Bend Brewing Company’s pub in downtown has been surrounded on all sides by empty lots for much of its existence. But a deal to purchase one of the nearby parcels will mean the brewpub will be getting a huge upgrade.
BBC will be constructing a beer garden overlooking Mirror Pond, with plans to open sometime in 2017, according to Packy Deenihan, the new owner of BBC along with wife Leslie.
“I can’t tell you how many locals and longtime Bend-ites would come in and ask ‘What’s going on with the lot next door?’ It’s a natural fit for us,” Deenihan said. “Since we took over ownership, we always thought it would be really cool to figure out how we could own the lot.”
The Deenihans took over BBC this past winter, and the purchase of the nearby land came this summer. Changes were already visible at the pub under the new owners, with an indoor, open-air bar being installed near the front entrance.
City regulations prevent the planned BBC beer garden from going right up to the water’s edge. But visitors will be able to sit outside with a much better view of the section of the pond behind BBC.
“Being able to drink BBC pints on Mirror Pond is going to be pretty special and really unique for Bend, because there’s no other brewery that has that setting directly on the river,” Deenihan said.
That includes Deschutes Brewery, with a pub just a few blocks away and famously makes a pale ale that bears Mirror Pond’s name.
Deenihan said plans for the space are still in flux, but the outdoor space will likely include a pouring station, a fire pit and a pavilion for live music.
Despite being one of the first movers on the Bend craft beer scene, BBC has remained small while newer breweries — like 10 Barrel Brewing, GoodLife Brewing Company and Crux Fermentation Project — grew quickly.
But that appears to be changing under the Deenihans, who have plans to increase production capabilities. Deenihan said he thought the opening of the beer garden alone might outstrip BBC’s current ability to keep up with demand. The business could build a brewing facility on one of the lots it just purchased, Deenihan said, or go off-site.
That would mean BBC’s beer, commonly an award winner at festivals and competitions, could start appearing on a lot more taps around the state and the Northwest.
“For me, that’s my No. 1 priority — how we can get more beer made,” Deenihan said.
Bend Brewing Company
[a] 1019 NW Brooks St., Bend
[p] 541-383-1599
[w] bendbrewingco.com
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