New tasting room hits Bend beer scene

Friends and beer fans filled up their pints Thursday night at a new tasting room in northeast Bend. Bridge 99 Brewery is expanding from its home operation to a tasting room and production facility. The company is already distributing kegs to restaurants and growler fill stations in Oregon, but has found the need to grow.

“It’s time to go to a commercial space so I can have a tasting room and expand a bit,” owner Trever Hawman said Thursday.

The tasting room at 63063 Layton Avenue, gives craft brew fans the chance to try Bridge 99 Brewery’s beers in one location. The warehouse was full Thursday night with friends, family and others exploring one of Bend’s newest breweries.

“He really loves it, and it’s really fun to watch someone grow and have an absolute passion for the business like he does,” friend Dee Dee Cochran said.

Hawman said he will be able to move from his home production location once the license goes through to brew on-site. For now, the site is serving as a tasting room.

The brewery’s namesake comes from the bridge that crosses the Metolius River in the Deschutes National Forest. Beer names include some Oregon staples: Bull Trout Stout, Candle Creek Pale, Wizard Falls IPA, and Camp Sherman ISA.

Learn more at Bridge 99’s Facebook page.