Trouble brewing in Bend’s booming industry?

Many Central Oregonians know the economic benefits brewing companies have in our area.

But some are starting to wonder if the industry has tapped out here.

Central Oregon is home to 12 breweries already, and two more are on the way.

Bend brewery owners who NewsChannel 21 talked with Tuesday say there’s room for even more.

Entrepreneurs do what they do because they perceive an opportunity.

And for about a dozen craft brewery owners their opportunity just happens to be in Central Oregon.

“We are seeing tremendous amount of people coming,” Good Life Brewing owner Ty Barnett said. “Not only to the brewery, but wanting our beer from all over the state and the region.”

Barnett opened the brewery a year ago and believes there will be no stopping other breweries coming to Bend.

“So do I think it can support more? I absolutely do — I think the more the merrier,” said Barnett.

Boneyard Brewing owner Tony Lawrence shares the same sentiment.

“I think there is a lot of brewers out there that want to live the dream just as we did a few years back,” Lawrence said.

Boneyard runs out of beer every day. They even post a outside that says “no more beer today” — A sign that maybe pointing to another sign of the need of beer.

“It’s unbelievable how many brewery tour groups are running around,” Lawrence said. “Or just the amount of tourism, or the number of people we see coming through our tap room.”

Deschutes Brewery founder Gary Fish started the movement here in Central Oregon, and he scoffs at the idea there’s too many breweries in town.

“I don’t think there’s any such thing as a peak in the number of breweries in Central Oregon,” Fish said, “any more that there is a peak in the number of coffee shops or restaurants as a whole.”

“There’s office space, there’s restaurant space,” Fish said. “I get fliers and inquiries regularly about wanting us to open up another operation.”

Still, Fish says he can’t predict the future of the industry.

“Central Oregonians should not be surprised if they see more breweries popping up,” Fish said. “Nor should they be surprised if some of the breweries aren’t able to succeed. “

And with more breweries, there could be more strain on the city’s water and sewer system.

There’s no question that breweries use a lot of water.

“Obviously, breweries use a lot of water to make beer,” Fish said, “and the sewer system is the primary disposal area for the water that doesn’t make into the finished product”

For every barrel of beer, the breweries consume two barrels of water.

But the question Fish wants to get an answer to is how to resolve that.

The city has been trying to work with breweries to fix those needs, something Barnett says need to happen.

“The city, as well, is still facing a lot of challenges whether it is water, sewer, land use, whatever it is,” Barnett said. “But they just want to be aware of what we are up to, so they can fit that in and be able to sustain our own business.”

If there was ever any question that Bend supports brewers, just look at the award in the hands of Assistant City Manger Jon Skidmore.

“We are experiencing positive economic impacts from them,” Skidmore said “So if more want to come. they love to work with them.”

The city tries to work with the breweries to accommodate their needs. For an example, like what it did for 10 Barrel to find a location to get more sewer capacity.

Most production breweries like to be in the north end of town.

“Closer to the sewer treatment facility, with a little more capacity to get out to the sewer system,” Skidmore said.

“They’ve known they’ve needed to expand their waste treatment facility for years,” Fish said. “And they have been unable to really do much to accommodate that expansion “

Currently another brewery is being worked on in northeast Bend, slated to open in January.

“If more people want to come to town, we are going to work with them to try to find the infrastructure capacity to serve their needs,” Skidmore said.

The City Club of Central Oregon holds a forum on the region’s craft brewing industry on Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the St. Charles Center for Health and Learning.