Central Oregon 2012: The year for beer

It’s no surprise Bend is the place to go to grab a good craft beer. In 2012, the Central Oregon beer scene exploded, from growlers at a gas station to new breweries.

In August, the Stop and Go gas station at NE 27th Street and Hwy. 20 unveiled its 30-tape tap growler fill station, becoming a first of its kind in Oregon. The addition to the store also gained national attention in publications across the country.

A few months later, the Empire Car Wash opened its own fill station, called “Gorilla Growlers.”

Bend also got another new brewery in 2012, as the Crux Fermentation Project opened in June near the Old Mill.

Construction also got under way on yet another brewery. Worthy Brewing is set to open in 2013, the first brew pub on the east side of the city.

With beer in unlikely places and more breweries popping up, it was only fitting that the “World’s Best Beer” would be from Bend. Deschutes Brewery’s “Red Chair NWPA” won the award at the World Beer Awards in September.

Deschutes Brewery also celebrated a silver milestone, as the seasonal Jubelale turned 25.

Also in 2012, local brewers teamed up to create the Central Oregon Brewers Guild. The group will advocate for local brewers’ needs and work to establish positive partnerships with industry leaders, community members, retailers and legislators to keep the beer culture thriving here.

With the year wrapping up, it would only be right to toast to 2013 with a brew made right here in Central Oregon.