The month of February marks 18 years of brewing beer for Bend Brewing Company, and all month long they’ve been offering up all of their award-winning beers (both on tap and in bottles). Today, Saturday the 23rd, they are celebrating with live music, giveaways, great beer prizes, and more (Facebook event page):

We’re celebrating 18 years in business, and we invite you to come celebrate with us. Saturday, February 23rd we will be featuring free music from Tone Red. They will be rocking the BBC from 8pm-10pm. We will also be offering our famous locals night beer prices starting at 4pm. There will be prizes and giveaways. Did I also mention that all of our seasonal beers will be medal winners! Cheers! Hope to see you all there!

BBC is Bend’s second-oldest brewery (after Deschutes, and third-oldest in Central Oregon overall as Cascade Lakes opened a year earlier) and what’s amazing is, even after almost two decades in the business, they have stayed remarkably consistent in an industry of change (well, the beer has gotten better, of course!); as I wrote a few years ago: “[W]hat’s remarkable about it is how little it’s changed: they are still in the same building, with the same overall decor and atmosphere, and (largely) serve up much of the same menu over the years. They exist in a popular niche in Bend and done a great job nurturing that niche.”

And, to help BBC look back on 18 years I thought it’d be interesting to excerpt a bit about the brewpub from the first edition of The Brewpub Explorer of the Pacific Northwest, published way back in 1996 only a year after they opened:

Bend Brewing is more upscale than its friendly competitor, Deschutes Brewing Company, just up the road, but the atmosphere is still relaxed and comfortable. Large windows offer a pleasant view of the park and Deschutes River. Antique tables and chairs possibly once gracing an old English pub are scattered about the main dining and bar area. During warmer months, outdoor seating is available.

The brewery’s beers are mostly traditional in style. Outback Old Ale is the brewery’s strong ale and house favorite. Skyliner Stout and Elk Lake India Pale Ale are usually on the menu. Seasonal beers have included Paulina Pilsner, a tasty Sasquatch Scotch Ale, and Downtown Brown Ale.

That was written 17 years ago—like I said, it’s remarkable how consistent they’ve been over the years! (Outback Old Ale and Elk Lake IPA are still on the menu, and Elk Lake is bottled as well.)

Cheers to Bend Brewing! I’ll be enjoying some of their tasty beers today for sure.