Bend Brewing Company

Beerasaurus

Virginia

4.45/5  rDev +9.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

The second of our stops in Bend is definitely on par with Deschutes Brewing which is a personal favorite. Located just off the main drag in downtown Bend, BBC is a classic brewpub with friendly service, good food, a laid back vibe, live music and dang good beer, some of the best around.

Stopped in midweek, 12 brews on tap, all solid, almost too many to choose from. Normally I stick with the hoppier brews, but the German Hefe was outstanding, one of the best I've had. Across the board the beer quality and variety was solid from top to bottom.

Brewpub was busy, but not overcrowded. Traveling with kids is always a challenge, but all Bend brewpubs are kid-friendly, BBC being no exception. A great outdoor deck along the Deschutes. It should be required that all brewpubs in Bend have a great outdoor space like this, the better to enjoy the beverages.

If you have a limited amount of time in Bend, make time to stop here.

11-28-2010 01:30:55 | More by Beerasaurus

AugiePrimrose

Iowa

4.4/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

For a brewpub, I always found the BBC to be a little too clean and well lit. It sounds funny, but it always came off a bit sterile to me. I found the decor tiny on the giant walls and never enjoyed that CNN would be on the TV. They claim to be riverside, but it's more like you get tiny glimpses of the Deschutes if you look hard enough. However, it was far and away my wife's favorite Bend brewpub, as it's very family friendly and non-threatening.

The brewer, Tonya Cornett, is a well known brewmaster that is the star of the show. The HopHead DIPA is a Oregon classic, while my wife loved the vanilla porter and coconut stout. All the other regular lineup brews are rock solid and the one off's can be spectacular. They have the awards to prove this.

The owner is often working & the staff has always been attentive and professional(something that is not always so in Bend).

There's always a fine selection, ranging from golden ales to stouts. It's a fully functioning, well established brewpub that has a beer for everyone's taste. It's a smaller facility though(less than 1,200 barrels per year), so the taps might be closer to 8 than 18.

The menu here always seemed uninspired and dated to me. Just regular pub fare. That, I think, brings the place down a notch. Over time, we stopped eating here & only showed up for the pints, as there's just just too many other quality restaurants in downtown Bend.

Prices are inline with the rest of Bend's beer scene...til' locals nite!!! This is when all pints are $2.50 and it brings perhaps the best deal on beer I will ever have...$2.50 pints of HopHead DIPA. Just typing that makes my jaw loose.

11-03-2010 15:33:19 | More by AugiePrimrose

jdense

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Visited on a sunny Wednesday afternoon 9/9/09, follow-up visit 9/11.

. Sat out on the patio with view of the river, absolutely the best atmosphere for drinking beer in town. Looking for a light lunch, just had a salad, but all the grub looked good. Subsequent visit had a tasty BBQ chicken sandwich. Our server was very attentive and thoughtful, explaining and suggesting beer styles to micro-challenged dining companion. I was all down on the Hophead DIPA, absolutely delicious-pour me another, and grab me a few bottles for the road (this is the only place I've seen bottles). Besides the usual products, they also had an Imperial Red on nitro.

The capper was a quick hello to Brewmaster, letting her know how much I enjoy what she is doing and encouraging collaborations with other brewers. A very enjoyable afternoon and reinforced what I already knew- Tonya Cornett rocks!!!

EDIT-Bend Beer Sortie Summer 2010. If I had to pick one place in Bend to hangout and drink, this would be it. The back patio is especially nice, and the beers here are very deserving of all the awards they've won. An essential stop for the traveling BA.

09-10-2009 17:05:56 | More by jdense

Elimination

Oregon

4.33/5  rDev +6.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $

Bend Brewing has been doing it for years, being one of the innovators in the bend beer business.

Right in the heart of down town makes it a perfect location to bring something else to Central Oregons beer culture. Featuing quite a lineup of regulars, and very impressive seasonals they really compete with some of the more well known brreweries in the city.

The food is excellent, happy hour menu is very affordable and tasty. Tuesday night is locals night with 2.50 pints, and happy hour is 4-6 and 9-close.

One of my favorite spots in town, it will be one that I seem to choose over many others.

08-04-2010 21:45:39 | More by Elimination

RedBrewer83

Oregon

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Frequent BBC often and have to say it is one of my favorite pubs in town. The atmosphere is one of the most laid back in town, very relaxed; in the summer the patio is an excellent place to grab a table. Overall its not as loud as the other pubs in town. The beer quality is good and the regular taps are solid, but the seasonal taps are usually great, especially Hophead! The service is great for a pub and the selection of food is everything you'd expect to find in a pub. The food is almost always spot on and they have the best happy hour of any pub in town, half price on all appetizers! Great place, great food, great beer=Great pub!

01-08-2010 00:46:26 | More by RedBrewer83

bradybeer

California

4.28/5  rDev +5.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

First brewery visited in Bend. Located on a side street in down down Bend next to Mirror Pond. Walking in the bar is down a hall way which opens up to the major seating area. My wife and I decided to eat outside on the patio. We ordered the IPA, HopHead Imperial IPA, Red Ale, and Black IPA. The IPA and the Hophead were outstanding.

My wife and I had a Chicken Parm sand and she a salad-food was good but not great.

The atmosphere is nice and laid back, service smooth, and beers very good. Would come back for the beer and eat elsewhere.

08-22-2011 20:04:25 | More by bradybeer

RedDiamond

Oregon

4.25/5  rDev +4.7%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5

The Bend Brewing Company, or BBC as it is known, is situated in the heart of Bend just a frisbee toss from the Deschutes River. The river can be viewed from the rear of the restaurant, from the elevated bar, and from the rear patio. Since beer is best enjoyed outdoors, I recommend grabbing one of the six outdoor tables if you can. They’re only available during daylight hours and favorable weather, but the patio adjoins several residential properties and the effect is one of such relaxed informality, you feel like you’re sitting in someone’s backyard at a private barbeque. Thankfully, the neighbors are meticulous about their landscaping and good sports about the dinner crowd.

Adding to the ambiance are the sights and sounds of wild geese, a completely smoke-free environment (even outdoors) and a very down home, friendly, and beautiful serving staff. There’s also a list of beers you’ll want to try. Bend Brewing pours five regular and four rotational beers, all of which are very popular with the locals. Tuesday night is cheap beer night with all pints just $2.25. This invariably draws a crowd so be prepared.

If you look up towards the rafters you’ll notice the brewery upstairs in a room behind glass. It’s easy to overlook at first since it’s not at eye level. But once you notice it, there’s no mistaking those huge stainless kettles.

BBC has a comfortable feel to it, as comfortable as Bend itself. It is also one of the only breweries in the state run by a female master brewer. Food is standard pub fare; portions can be huge. Service is meteoric. My recommendations are twofold: Try the hefeweizen. Expect fun.

10-15-2004 04:41:15 | More by RedDiamond

yuriruley

Oregon

4.18/5  rDev +3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

Pretty good place overall. Haven't tried much of their beer, but the ones I had were good and the food was really good as well. The atmosphere is really cool, the main room has a nice high ceiling and it is all wood, wood floors etc. They also have a pretty cool looking patio, but I didn't get to sit out there. The wait staff was friendly and quick, but I went in when it wasn't busy so that is to be expected I suppose.

Would definitely go back again. Not my favorite brewpub in town, but it could definitely be up there. Have to go back a few times and check out some of their other stuff.

10-06-2010 10:42:53 | More by yuriruley

beertunes

Washington

4.15/5  rDev +2.2%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$

A great little brewpub. As the other reviews have stated, a relaxed atmosphere with a great feel. The patio has a beautiful view overlooking the river/pond, but it was raining on my visit so we sat at the bar. A solid lineup of brews, variety wise, were all top notch, within my limited tasting time. I had 4 pints and tasters of everything else on tap and found that they lived up to their reputation. My bartender was prompt, friendly, knowledgeable and, most importantly, did not linger or be nosy. He answered every question I had, while taking good care of a busy bar and keeping his servers happy (an often impossible task). The food was typical pub grub, very well done. I had meatball sub that found the meatballs slightly tough but was otherwise very good. Value-wise I would have given the food $$1/2 if i could have, but they are in a rural area that adds to delivery costs. Highly recommended.

01-28-2009 03:32:57 | More by beertunes

Reidrover

Oregon

4.08/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4

This establishment is located in the old Bend downtown a few blocks from Highway 97. This looked like a "hole in the wall" at first but when you are inside its rather clean and spacious..with two main seatin areas..a small one at the front and a larger area at the back with marvelous views of the Deschutes River..patio outside. I sat at the bar.
The beers here are all Bend Brewing..they seem to be good and the place is popular The brewhouse is upstairs, you can see some of the equipment over the bar.
I found the service to be excellent and friendly..free samples even!..an odd beer a NItro honey wheat..didnt think to review it.
Food here is usual pub fair but very well done I had a Philly steak sandwich.
Over all a nice place to bring a date or your family.

05-16-2004 20:33:56 | More by Reidrover