‘Redmond’s bringin’ it’ with inaugural Brewfest

There’s a new motto going around Redmond.

“If you brew it, and if you pour it, they will come,” Jesse Sweetman, the owner of Redmond Craft Brewing Supply, said Friday.

Bend may be packed to the brim with breweries, but Redmond is starting to catch up.

Redmond is bringing it. It’s an untapped location and it’s happening, it’s happening very quickly,” Sweetman said.

It’s happening so quickly, the owner of Beer Dawgs Growler Fill Station in Redmond wants to celebrate.

“Since Redmond has never had a Brewfest, I was thinking outside of the box, and I want to make sure that Redmond is put on the map of the craft beer scene,” Glenn Whittington said.

On Saturday, the empty building next door to Beer Dawgs will be packed with more than a dozen local breweries, sampling up their best suds.

There will also be free home-brew demonstrations.

“Every single person that works in a brewery, almost up to the owner, they start out in their kitchen, this is where it happens. This is the root of all of it — this is the beginning, the beauty of it,” Sweetman said.

“We’re in Redmond — everybody feels like Redmond is the stepchild to Bend. But you know what? We are bringing Redmond to the forefront of the craft beer scene,” Whittington said.

Brewfest organizers say this is only the beginning for Redmond, because beer goes well with everything.

“We talk about the bubble, but we are not real estate, this is beer. You’ll drink beer when you’re happy, when you’re sad, when you’re mad, whatever. There’s a reason to drink beer,” Sweetman said.

Redmond’s Brewfest runs Saturday from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Beer Dawgs Growler Fill Station off Highway 97 near BedMart.

There will be a BBQ, live home brew demonstrations, tasters and pints for sale.

Visit beerdawgs.net for more info.