(Graphic courtesy of Bend Brews & Beyond)
In the absence of a large-scale festival geared toward craft beer enthusiasts, event organizer Grand Craft Bend surveyed attendees and producers alike before refreshing and reviving the entire concept of such communal events. The inaugural Bend Brews & Beyond will feature 50 Oregon breweries and cideries including — for the first time ever — every locally-owned Central Oregon hopped, appled, and honeyed beverage producer as well as over a dozen non-alcoholic beverage makers, allowing everyone to celebrate together whether they feel like drinking alcohol moderately or not at all.
The festival, sponsored by Silver Moon Brewing celebrating its 25th anniversary, takes place in downtown Bend’s Drake Park (777 NW Riverside Dr.) on Saturday and Sunday, May 24 and 25 from 12-8pm. The event is 21+ only and tickets are required for all attendees. Advance online tickets for admission, souvenir mug and seven drink tokens are $40 for alcohol and $30 for non-alcohol passes. Two-day passes are available. Early bird tickets of $30 alc./$20 non-alc. exist through February 14. Tickets are limited and the event is expected to sell out. If available, tickets will be $55 alc./$45 non-alc. at the gates. Tickets available at BendBrewsAndBeyond.com.
Bend Brews & Beyond will be big enough to encompass the tremendous state of Oregon-made beers and ciders plus non-alcoholic beers, hop waters, kombuchas, cold brews and beyond, yet small enough to be thoroughly enjoyable and not overcrowded. Attendance will be limited to 5,000 people per day. Once sold out, tickets will not be available at the gates.
Beyond drinking together, attendees can greet — and thank — the people responsible for the bounty of tasty beverages from 3-5pm during the Meet the Makers session. It will be followed by the Brewers Decathlon where teams of brewers will compete for the coveted Bend Brews & Beyond Mashlete Trophy awarded to the team that dominates in ten challenges designed for professional brewers only. Attendees are encouraged to don their funkiest pants to earn the title of the inaugural Bend Drinking Pants Pageant. (“The most fun you’ll have with your pants on.”) Two specialty beers will be available per hour in the Next-Tap section. Music will be provided by a combination of live musicians and a DJ. Ten of Bend’s most beloved food trucks will be on site. Everyone is encouraged to drink responsibly and make plans to arrive and depart safely with transportation options being announced soon. In addition to bike parking, there will be tube/SUP parking for those wishing to float to the fest.
The festival benefits the Oregon Brewers Guild, a nonprofit organization promoting and protecting Oregon Craft Beer since 1992, making it one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.
See website for tickets.
BendBrewsAndBeyond.com • Facebook @BendBrewsAndBeyond • @BendBrewsAndBeyond
