Before early microbreweries extolled the virtues of Cascade hops and two-row barley malt, there was a time when most people hadn’t the haziest idea what beer actually is. People knew beer came in a bottle or a can, their dads reached for one after a hard day at work and that beer is what you […]
Beer & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
Chill Axe
Drinking in the New Year at
Three Creeks Brewing
This year, I resolve to broaden my search for review-worthy beers. I’ll be striving to bring more regional beer reviews from outside of Bend. To start the new year and the beginning of winter, I took a trip to Three Creeks Brewing. I hadn’t been to the brewery in probably three or four years, and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Cereal-ously Adult Cocktails
Milk punch for your inner child
Are cereal milk cocktails a thing? Christina Tosi, the pastry chef of the Milk Bar chain, brought cereal milk from the bottom of the bowl into ice cream, panna cotta and bottles in the early aughts, but I wondered if it had reached a high ball. It turns out as soon as Tosi’s idea hit […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Do Not Buy!
A guide for what not to buy for beer lovers this season, and what to consider instead
Holiday gift guides are so ubiquitous this time of year the last thing you need is another listicle screaming at you to spend your hard-earned cash on the latest, greatest beer gadget. With only a few shopping days left in the holiday season, I thought it would be better to provide a DO NOT BUY […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Are You Experienced?
Bend-based Ablis CBD opens a CBD lounge in the Rose City
Fans of Bend-based Ablis CBD Infusions have a new space to sample the goods—in Portland. Ablis, founded by Bendistillery owner Jim Bendis and sons Max and Duke Bendis, was a pioneer in the CBD beverage industry, bringing its first product to market in 2014—the first beverage of its kind on the market. These days, Ablis […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A Tour of Monkless Brasserie
Brewery celebrates its grand opening and embarks upon a collaboration with The Ale Apothecary
Early last month, I enjoyed an awesome meal at The Brasserie by Monkless Belgian Ales. I’ve always enjoyed Monkless beer and had high hopes for the new space adjacent to the Deschutes River. I was NOT disappointed. During the grand opening, I had the Belgian Firkadellen—which are tasty meatballs—as well as a bowl of potato […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Absinthe: Mysterious & Misunderstood
From the green fairy to opium, there's more to absinthe than the rumors and fake news
Absinthe is illegal. It’s made with opium. You’ll see the “green fairy,” because it makes you hallucinate. All of the above statements are false—but those misconceptions permeate our culture. Absinthe never had opium in it. It’s a high-proof spirit made with the flowers and leaves of Artemisia absinthium (wormwood), anise, fennel and other herbs. The […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
“Dark beer” doesn’t always mean strong and sweet
“I don’t like dark beer.” Anyone who’s ever spent enough time in a brewpub or taproom has heard those words. Of course, “dark beer” runs the gamut from hoppy Cascadian dark ales and crisp, malty dunkel lagers all the way to robust, roasty imperial stouts. Dark beer is not some monolithic beer style; dark describes appearance, […]
Posted inFood & Drink
My Northwest Beercation
A trip to the Inland Northwest to sip some new brews
You don’t have to travel far to have a great beercation. Spokane is about a six-and-a-half hour drive from Bend, or a short plane ride out of Redmond, and it’s worth it. According to visitspokane.com, the Inland Northwest Ale Trail includes over 40 breweries, including some in Idaho. We took a visit to Spokane a […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Bend Runs on Beer
18 local breweries strut their stuff
Bend may be a small city, but its cup certainly runneth over with a wide range of local craft brews. By last count, Bend is home to a whopping 22 breweries. On Saturday, Northwest Crossing will be occupied by ale aficionados, pouring a total of 40 favorite and new-to-the-scene beers as part of the 3rd […]