Today is Bend’s Fermentation Celebration, an Oregon Craft Beer Month event organized by the Bend’s Old Mill District with an incredibly cool premise: a “beer walk” featuring nearly all of Central Oregon’s many breweries, including a few that aren’t even open yet! (Looking over the list I see only McMenamins and the brand new Sunriver Brewing are not present.) The breweries will be stationed in various participating shops and restaurants, and be pouring samples of their respective beers. It all starts at 5pm and lasts until “dry”.

Center Plaza will have live music by Boxcar Stringband from 5-7pm followed by a presentation by the Mayor and City Council at 7pm on the importance of our craft brewing industry to the city’s economy.

Our breweries, old and new, provide hundreds of jobs, promote tourism, and play an important role in Bend’s economy. Prizes and the chance to win Ale Trail Beer for a Year will benefit the newly formed Central Oregon Brewers Guild. To purchase raffle tickets visit Bend Ale Trail Beer for a Year. Raffle tickets will be sold at the event until 6:30pm.

Entry to the event is free. Tasting are $15 and includes nine drink tickets and a Silipint. (One ticket = 4 oz. pour.) Enjoy fabulous beer in the Old Mill District’s limited edition Silipints which will be sold at Orvis, Ticket Mill and Central Oregon Visitor Association.

Bend Film will premiere The Love of Beer a film showcasing women brew masters including our very own Tonya Cornett. Alison Grayson, the filmmaker will be on hand to answer questions.

(Proceeds from the prizes will benefit the Central Oregon Brewers Guild.)

This is going to be a good event, and will be a lot of fun. And the entry price of $15 that includes a Silipint and 9 tastes is a really good deal. And there will be some amazing beers on hand as well; Crux will be pouring their new Pale Ale, for instance, and The Ale Apothecary will be pouring some of the last of their inaugural brew. It’s going to be a great time!

Make sure to swing by—and even if you’re not in Bend, there’s still plenty of time to get here!

Update: McMenamins will be there too, they’ll be stationed at Orvis Fly Shop and will be pouring dry-hopped Gunslinger Pale Ale. Don’t miss them!