The Lair is a rebranding of the former operation: White Water Taphouse. Or at least that's what I…read morewas led to expect. It's not quite that. Same arrangement - booths and tables arrayed inside with a pandemic-spawned sidewalk seating area outside. Order at the small bar at the back and choose your table. $6 pints and they have larger mugs. The primary - and significant - difference between The Lair and White Water was the latter offered up a wide array of beers from several breweries while The Lair now strictly pours their own (unless I missed seeing an off-brand tap). I consider Kobold beer to be middle of the (local) pack in terms of quaffability, so the new selection is a bit of a downgrade. Other changes include making the space darker and less sterile (more like a lair, I guess). New decorations are up and the electronic beer board is gone. They now offer a small sandwich menu. White Water sometimes hosted a popup poke-sushi operation. Not sure if that will happen at The Lair. Overall, A-OK but I will miss White Water.

Good beer and pizza. Strangely, it's the salad I keep remembering days later. The place is counter…read moreservice and very laidback. It was pretty empty on a Tuesday evening, but it seems like it would be a cozy place to hang out to play games during the winter.

It's been awhile since I visited here and it has really improved. The outdoor space is so much…read morenicer and the turf eliminates the dust that at times would be circling through the air from the kids running around playing. The Italian sandwich, order inside, it delicious! The smash burger outside in the food truck is great! Their mimosas are the best in town!

After eight years, Crux is overdue for a review update. Biggest reason is that quite a few years…read moreago they expanded the place significantly, opening up the large room to the right of the bar that opens into the outdoor area. That room is equipped with restrooms, relieving one of my major complaints about a lack of facilities, as well as a second serving station complete with taps. Since then, Crux has significantly changed the outdoor area as well although I'm not certain it's an upgrade. It's a little too landscaped and way too much like a playground now. Locals have always tended to refer to Crux as 'daycare but with beer.' The last several times I've come here, the second serving station has not been in operation even though it looks to be still fully functional. Meanwhile the line to the bar serving stations is often long, sometimes almost out the door. Not sure why that is, doesn't make sense to have the capacity to more efficiently serve customers but not use it. All that said, the beer is still stellar and they continue to have a wide range of beer choices, the new(ish) large room has plentiful high-top seating (mobility challenged folks will need to venture outside), and the music is kept below ear-splitting volume. You can also sit at the bar itself although the vibe there isn't great - it's not like a neighborhood pub bar. Crux still has a kitchen. I used to order directly from them but have since transitioned to patronizing one of the several food carts outside. Being food carts, they tend to come and go so I'll not go into detail there. That said, the new Alpine Smash burger is fabulous. The other significant change in recent years has been with the location. A dispute with the property owners to the west resulted in the access road that way being closed, requiring Crux patrons to use the road coming from Second/Scott Street (or ride a bike). The west road is now open, maybe because the Jackstraw housing complex over that way is now completed and the road serves their tenants. RIP Spoken Moto.

Loved their beer selection. Best brewery in the city!! They were quite friendly and have a brewer…read morewho knows what is required to make great beer!!

Food wasn't bad, which they had a drink and beer menu. Service got better later on, not sure if it…read morewas an off night.

On a recent trip to Bend, the Ale Trail took us to new spots a little farther from downtown. One…read morewas this location of Cascade Lakes, a brewery I had only previously visited in Redmond. We decided to come here for lunch thanks to a big menu. On arrival it wasn't too busy, and we had fun choosing where we wanted to be. They have a merch shop inside, lots of tables of various sizes, and bar along the back wall. Plenty of free parking outside. We all ordered some beers from flights to pints. We had a bunch of appetizer selections that we all shared, loved the street corn dip. It's a nice option to have lunch and enjoy some beers in the area.

Sat outside on a nice day. Nice outside dining area, but our picnic table was creaking non-stop…read morethroughout the meal lol. I ordered the Atomic Burger with tots. The burger was just ok. The combo of bacon, pepper jack, jalapenos, and chipotle was what I wanted but the whole thing was under-seasoned. I couldn't actually taste the burger. Tots were good. Between the slow service and the mediocre burger, I wasn't super impressed.

"Move to Bend," they said. "It will be fun," they said…read more "Even though the town is isolated, the airport is excellent, the weather is good, and the beer is excellent." Yeah, about that. The airport shuts in the winter, the AQI is 200 all summer, and the beer is actually mid. "But, but, but, there are 30 breweries! This is amazing!" Thirty breweries of meh. You get better beer in Portland without even trying. Even our local Daddy is underwhelming, although I wouldn't say no to a Freshie. This brings us to Terranaut. I first had one of their beers at Ponch's (RIP), before the Terranaut taproom was even open. It was an uncommonly good West Coast IPA: bitter, hoppy, and citrusy. Good enough for me to frequent the taproom ever since. The beer is great, the range is varied, and the vintage hi-fi vibes are genuinely cool. Terranaut isn't just "Bend good." It's world-class--easily the best brewery in Bend.

This brewery is making waves, not just in Bend, but across the country. I had the pleasure of…read moremeeting the brewer/owner at a competition beforehand and it was great to hear about his history and the brewery itself. It's a small spot in an easy-to-find industrial area. Cozy lighting and colorful artwork makes the high ceiling warehouse vibe comfortable and welcoming. I also love the National Park inspired logo. On arrival the bartender remembered me from another event the year prior, which made the visit instantly welcoming and pleasant. The beer styles and descriptions were no-nonsense and everything we tried was excellent. It was a popular spot even on a snowy weekday. If you're doing the Bend Ale Trail, this is a newer stop added, there are others nearby too. I look forward to seeing this one grow, and already looking forward to visiting again soon.

Really fun brewery ! Friendly bartender and great service . Several food truck options outside . I…read moreopted for the southern cooking truck and had a delicious fried chicken sandwich with coleslaw and pickled cucumbers and onions! Delicious beer and food.

Our last brewery stop in Bend this year was one that came up as a must-visit over and over. We…read moreweren't disappointed at all, and I highly recommend coming to this one if you're in the area. It's one of the farther stops on the Bend Ale Trail too but could be a destination for an afternoon. Bevel is all disc golf themed, which we appreciated. Their flights come on discs; their merchandise focuses on the game, and they even have a putting course outside where you can enjoy their beer while you play. This is primarily an outdoor venue, with many picnic tables surrounded by various food trucks making it fun a location for groups as everyone can get their own things. We visited right at opening on a wet and snowy afternoon, so we opted for sitting inside. They have a few tables, the main bar, and restrooms in the front room, plus other rooms with tables behind the bar which can also be rented for events. Their beer was excellent, as their awards show. The bartender was the only one working, but did a great job with service as well as sharing about their beer. If you love disc golf or beer, this is definitely worth the stop!

This is a very interesting brewery...in a good way!!…read more Great low-key vibe and experimental beers & ciders. If you're feeling adventurous, I would definitely try this place. Staff is friendly and knowledgeable about the beers they currently have tapped.

On a recent visit to Bend, the Ale Trail brought us to Funky Fauna. This had opened the first year…read moreI visited but didn't make it until my most recent trip. They've been making a name for themselves in the region with quality wild fermented beers. These may not be the types enjoyed by all, but some lean more into traditional flavors than truly wild and funky sours. This place is beautiful. They have an artistry in the decor, labels, and artwork that feels like wild nature. It's so cozy inside with bar on entry, plus tables, and cozy living room type seating area in the middle. Their barrels and brewery are to the back. They also have outdoor seating and food trucks. You order from the bar. There was a special event going on during our visit and the single bartender seemed overwhelmed but still tried to keep the line moving. Everyone seemed happy regardless. They don't do flights per se but you can do short pours if you're unsure what you'd like to try. I loved the fireplace too. They have lots of fan selections and great merchandise featuring their unique style, all next to the front door. Restrooms are to the left. If you're a fan of beer, and atypical styles especially, this is a must visit in Bend.

I've been doing the Bend Ale Trail over the last few years and visited the tiny Spider City taproom…read moreand wine bar in downtown Bend. This location is their main brewery and has an industrial feel. They have a ton of different beer selections as well. I loved the big open garage doors for fresh air and natural lighting. It's also large for groups and events. I only had a handful of sample size beers on my visit, as I was getting too full. The bartender was super welcoming to help pick a few favorites to try. If you're on a Bend beer tour, this is a great stop!

Never been treated this rudely in my 13 years in Bend. 9-26-2026!! I asked the young man at the…read morecounter if apricot was the only seltzer they had. He said he did not know. I asked do you know where you can buy this around town again, he didn't know. Several other normal questions he could not answer. His response was I do not care to learn i just pour beer. I said wow and I am not coming back here. He looked me in the eye and said I do not care. At that point I wished I had not bought the 13-dollar six pack of apricot seltzer. How could you employ someone like this? My thought was he must be related to the owner. I will never purchase anything from Spider City again.