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 have had Funky Fauna before when they were in Sister, Oregon. This brewery has since moved to…read moreBend which is probably a wise move to do as the city is a brewery mecca for the area and would potentially get a lot more foot traffic than when they were in Sisters. Upon entering I was instantly taken with the taproom as they indeed have that "Funky Fauna" thing going on. In addition to that they had Halloween decorations up which definitely enhanced the decor experience. What is particularly thrilling with the beer menu here is that they have a lot of higher end Saison style ales. There aren't a lot of breweries that get quite this extensive with this type of beverage so I was super excited to taste a few. Nights In White Fur was one Saison that I had and it was so very good! This particular ale had the flavor profile of pine, apricot and some lemon which gave the beer a puckering sour feature in a very pleasant way. It was an enjoyable beer for sure. Another beer that was just as good and also another Saison was the Quiet Tides. This ale had in the flavor profile berries, pine, a sour feature and a clean finish. This is a very smooth beer which was a nice feature while enjoying it as well. There were plenty of other Saisons to try but I stopped with those two but I could easily return to try out more. Steve and I feel that we can easily make Funky Fauna a required stop each time we visit Bend as we enjoyed the beer that much and really got into the vibe and atmosphere. The beertender was a nice guy too and was helpful and informative.

If you like traditional German style beers you will absolutely love Van Henion…read more The beer here is phenomenal!! The Helles and pilsner are delicious!!! The light lager and Kolsch are exceptional! The staff is always friendly and efficient! You will not wait for a beer. 21 and over and pet friendly inside, under 21 and family friendly outside. No food but always food trucks outside. If you like good beer go to Van Henion while in Bend. You will not be disappointed.

A popular newer brewery in the Bend area, I had missed visiting Van Henion on previous trips so…read morethis was one of the top stops for us this year. Their beer can be found on tap and in cans pretty easily, but it's well worth the visit for beer fans. This taproom is a tastefully eclectic mix of decor, mostly German to compliment their primary beer styles, plus cozy lighting and velvet wallpaper. They have a main room with the bar and merchandise area, plus another room to the side. Natural lighting and big windows are also a feature, which is great in winter time. They also have outdoor seating. The bartender was super friendly on our arrival, as were the other customers. We had flights, plus a can pour of their DIPA since it wasn't on tap. We thoroughly loved the beer and comfortable atmosphere. If you're doing the Ale Trail, there are other stops nearby too!

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!

Spider city is a great little brewery with indoor and outdoor seating. There's a food truck in the…read moreparking lot. Walk up service. I got a glass of bubbles that was good. Many beer choices on tap, busy place in the summer. Friendly staff.

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!

While visiting Bend, Oregon last year we knew we were in one of the best towns for craft beer…read more Visiting this brewery was first on our list and was definitely the best brew we found. Hidden in a small neighborhood the tap house is quite small, but they do have a couple of tables outside and some great people to talk with. They do have a larger brewery downtown but we both liked the vibe of this place. My husband I both went for a pint of the Diablo Red. We both enjoy a red brew and they are hard to come by. Everyone is looking for the magic IPA, but those beers just aren't for us. We had a great time enjoying the afternoon on a warm September day in Bend drinking this beer.

Easy place that get comfy and access to a variety of tasty craft beers. we tried one of their…read morehazy. IPAs and classic amber beer. Service was good as well.

Came to Silver Moon to see some bands play and when we arrived it turned out the show was not on…read morethe stage in the main bar, but in a separate building next door called The Webfoot Garage. The venue was small but perfect for the DIY punk/metal bands playing. We were also very impressed at how quickly each band was able setup and breakdown, so no long waits in between bands. It was obvious the organizers knew what they were doing. The venue had a small bar inside so you didn't have to go to the main building to grab a drink. Outside, between the two buildings there were nice seating areas alongside fire pits and access to multiple food trucks. There was even a third stage in the outside area that must be used in warmer weather. Overall we had a great experience and would definitely come back!

Not to familiar with the area. I want to watch the futbol game. I try a few places. But not good…read morefutbol (soccer) vibe at all. So I went to silver moon brewing. And they have a big screen in the patio and it was amazing. Stadium vibe. 10 out of 10.

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.

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.

The beer is cold, the ribs are excellent and the pizza is great! Awesome local place in Bend…read more Cameron the server was super helpful, friendly and knowledgeable. These are the kinds of places that Bend needs more of!