Pour Yourself a Better Pub Crawl Experience
Folks often talk about Central Oregon as being “Beer Town U.S.A.,” and their minds drift immediately to the busy traffic and packed tasting rooms down in Bend. But if you talk to people who live here, they’ll let you in on a little secret: the real heart of High Desert craft brewing is right here in Redmond, where a slow, delicious pour leads to long, quiet conversations and reminiscing.
Here you’ll find some of the nation’s top award-winning microbreweries in a decidedly more casual atmosphere. This isn’t the kind of place where you’ll get lectured on hop alpha acids or watch people swirl a flight glass like a vintage wine. Nobody’s judging you on your brand of flannel or elbowing past to make a reservation. It’s a bit more down-to-earth vibe where dogs sit on scenic outdoor patios, people enjoy an honest pint after a day of hiking or climbing, and the brewer might be sitting on the stool next to you.
Hit the Taps: Redmond’s Core Breweries
In some cities, you have to circle the block hunting for a parking spot, cram your truck in, and repeat the whole ordeal at the next spot. However, in Redmond, everything is concentrated near downtown. In fact, you could very well burn off a few beer calories with a casual stroll from one taproom to the next. Here are a few great places to check out.
Cascade Lakes Brewing Company
This is the brewery that started it all back in 1994. When you talk about Central Oregon’s brewing history, Cascade Lakes is the name that keeps coming up. With historic favorites like Blonde Bombshell, Rooster Tail, or the 20” Brown Ale, they helped build the region’s craft beer reputation from the ground up. Today, as Central Oregon’s only not-for-profit brewery, they’re continually giving back to those who contributed to their success by directing their proceeds toward local wildlife conservation and community organizations.
Initiative Brewing [The Hub]
This place feels like a casual neighborhood hangout, but don’t let that fool you. It was founded by passionate brewers with decades of brewing experience who meticulously craft their beers. Just a short stroll down North 5th Street, clean refreshing pilsners, hop-bursting hazy IPAs and rich stouts await. Pair that with a Cubano sandwich or Korean fries from their scratch kitchen and you have the makings for a perfect evening. Better yet, enjoy it all from the spacious, covered patio outside and turn it into an epic one.
Sunriver Brewing Co – Redmond Pub
Having beer is about celebration. In this case, it’s about having one that’s been celebrated with medals from the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup. Sunriver Brewing recently brought their lineup to a spacious hub on Badger Avenue that features a sprawling indoor-outdoor dining setup with fire tables, and an extensive list of small-batch pours. The feel of the place is polished but you can still sit back with friends to share exciting flavors and stories alike.
Wild Ride Brewing
Often you’ll find people rolling up on their mountain bikes right as the garage doors roll open to a massive patio. Housed in a repurposed lumber storage building right in the heart of downtown Redmond, Wild Ride is a central meeting place — with taps. Sip their medal-winning 3 Sisters American Red Ale, grab a crisp Cole’s Light Lager or go for something on the interesting side with a Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter. Take a fresh rolled pizza or tacos from the carts outside along for the ride and you have the perfect cool-down after a day of exploring.
Venturing Beyond the Lager
There’s the beer you grew up with. And then there’s Redmond’s beers. It’s a collection of hearty ales, chocolatey porters and stouts, along with interesting sours. Suddenly, like your energy here, your taste buds will come to life.
Ales and IPAs
If there’s an undisputed star of Central Oregon’s beer culture, it’s the India Pale Ale. A heaping helping of Pacific Northwest hops gives these beers a bold, piney, citrusy note. Or if you like a smoother, juicier sip, try a Hazy (New England-style) IPA that is a little less bitter.
Porters and Stouts
As the days get colder and darker, these beers shine. Brewed with deeply roasted malts, our porters and stouts offer rich comforting notes of dark chocolate, espresso, and toasted malt; these are beers you are in no rush to finish. So sit back and savor it for a while.
Sours and Wild Ales
One doesn’t often associate tart flavors with something cold and refreshing like a beer. One would be wrong. These varieties are new to the craft beer scene and are brewed with fresh regional fruit like berries or stone fruits. They bring a bright, zesty tang that makes you rethink what beer can taste like.
Time It With a Brewfest
If you want to experience Redmond’s craft culture at its absolute peak, plan your visit around one of the town’s signature outdoor beer gatherings. In late July, the Redmond Brewfest & Night Glow brings together regional craft brewers, food trucks, and live music at American Legion Park—culminating in glowing hot air balloons illuminating the High Desert sky. Come fall, Wild Ride hosts the annual R’Oktoberfest in late September, filling the streets with harvest beers, seasonal bratwursts, lawn games, and lively accordion music.
Before You Go
- Stroll the Downtown Loop: Most of Redmond’s core taprooms and beer gardens sit within a walkable few blocks of each other, making a self-guided, car-free tour simple and safe.
- Dress for High Desert Shifts: Redmond brewery life lives on the outdoor patios. Wear sunscreen and sunglasses for the daytime rays, but bring a jacket along; once the sun drops below the Cascades, the desert air cools down quickly.
- Stay Hydrated: Between the elevated high-desert altitude, dry air, and hoppy Northwest ales, drinking plenty of water alongside your beer is essential.
- Bring the Whole Pack: Taprooms across Redmond are known for their family- and dog-friendly setups, complete with patio misters in the summer, fire tables in the chill, and food carts to suit every palate.
Grabbing a beer in Redmond isn’t about overthinking what’s in your glass. It’s about finding a sunny spot on the patio, kicking back with good friends, and enjoying a cold pint after a day of exploring the High Desert.
