ITINERARY: THE REDMOND BEER TRAIL
TAKE THE REDMOND TAPS TOUR
Redmond is no stranger to the brew scene. Central Oregonians love craft brews and the region has become a mecca for beer aficionados.
In 1994, just off 7th Street, Redmond’s first microbrew opened its doors. Today, Cascade Lakes Brewery continues the tradition of crafting fermented beverages and is joined by other breweries, a cidery, and a distillery. Redmond’s flourishing brew pub scene is yet another great reason to visit the heart of Central Oregon.
Redmond Brewing: A Rich Narrative
The city’s regional craft beer movement has its roots in its state’s brewing history. Before Oregon was Oregon, German immigrant Henry Saxer opened the Liberty Brewery in Portland in 1852, and the renowned Henry Weinhard began building his beer empire. Prohibition, however, brought beer production practically to a halt. It wasn’t until the 1980s, that the craft brew industry blossomed and Oregon became a “microbrew mecca” for beer connoisseurs. Today, well-crafted beer is considered one of the main food groups in the 33rd state.
Why Here?
It turns out that Oregon has an abundance of natural resources to support its love for brew which Redmond brewers have easy access to. The grand European tradition requires four simple ingredients — water, malt, hops and yeast.
The Beer Pioneers
Oregonians are perfectly suited to be dominant players in the brewpub scene with their creative and independent spirit. It was the self-determination and will of its founders that discovered the path to sliding fresh-poured pints across the bar to their customers. A small group of Oregon homebrewers helped pass a law that allowed brewing and serving beer on the same premises.
You’ll recognize these trailblazers now as McMenamins, BridgePort Brewing, Portland Brewing, and Widmer Brothers Brewing. Since then, the craft brewpub scene has burgeoned, fueled by the same do-it-yourself mentality. From almost every Oregon town, it seems you can throw a rock and hit a taproom that serves a vast array of made-in-Oregon ales.
Redmond is no exception. From its oldest brewery (Cascade Lake Brewery opened in 1994) to its newest brewery (Initiative Brewery opened in 2019), Redmond has forged a brewery culture that exudes the city’s spirit — hard-working, fun-loving, down-to-earth, and dedicated to quality and service.
Here’s a guide to help you explore Redmond’s brewpub scene with confidence:
Cascade Lakes
Cascade Lakes is the oldest brewery in Redmond! Recently, their Pineapple Kush IPA made quite a splash on the brewscape. The brewery’s popular mainstays include Blonde Bombshell and 20” Brown. Enjoy indoor and outdoor seating (with a fire pit to keep you warm during the brisk evenings) and horseshoe pits.
Wild Ride Brew
Wild Ride lives up to its name by producing beers that are fun and fearless. Try their Nut Crusher Peanut Butter Porter, Laughing Face Imperial Coconut Porter, and Stand Up And Shout Vanilla Coffee Stout. Some beers off the beaten path would be their Tarty to the Party sour ales, hazy IPAs, Whoopty Woot Wheat Hefeweisen and a Red Ryeno Imperial Red Rye Ale. Wild Ride offers extensive outdoor seating with open fires and large umbrellas depending on the weather. Sundry food trucks dot their extensive parking lot and the Wild Ride complex acts as the de facto hub of festivals, car shows, and special events.
Wild Ride Brewing Co. / Photo courtesy of Visit Central Oregon
Kobold Brewing & The Vault Taphouse
Kobold started as a homebrew project and remembers its roots with beer names that are derived from the couple’s neighborhood in Bend like Screeching Blonde Pale Ale and 3rd Street Cred Red Ale. Kobold offers a larger line-up of dark beers like their Cascadian Dark Ale, Baltic Porter, and Russian Imperial Stout. Kudos for details like aging their beer in barrels from Oregon Spirits Distillery and lavishing extra time and labor on specialty beers like the Lookout Lager.
Initiative Brewing
Full-service, family-friendly brewpub. 100% locally sourced food, along with vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Ample indoor seating and a huge, fully walled-in patio with communal firepits. Come in for a daily happy hour and specials that include kids eat free night and IPA night. Try their classic west coast IPA’s, Hoppy Habits, and Hare of the Dog, or their traditional foreign style stout, Redemption Stout. Open late 7 days a week.
Porter Brewing Co.
There’s no comparable pub within a hundred miles of Porter Brewing Co. where they serve authentic English ale, unfiltered, unpasteurized and unadulterated. You’re sure to get a unique experience from the only cask brewery in Central Oregon and one of two in all of Oregon. From the British varietals of grains and hops to the hand-pumped 20 oz imperial pints daringly served at cellar temperature, this is about as close as you’ll get to an English pub without flying across the Atlantic Ocean.
Gompers Distillery
When you walk in the door to Gompers, you’ll be transported into a scene from Boardwalk Empire. The Gompers tasting room, decked out as a Prohibition-themed speakeasy, is just one more way the owners show their love for detail and excellence. You’ll get nothing but delicious spirits and kind-hearted service in this just-opened venue. Gompers deserves special recognition for tying the distillery to an important historical family narrative. From escaping the Nazis to running an L.A. bakery loved by the Hollywood stars, Opa and Oma Gompers were people full of zest and exuberance. The Harts hope to capture that spirit in every bottle they distill.
Beer Stop
Come into the Redmond Beer Stop for your Growler Fills! Over 20 Beers on tap, and dozens of different varieties and brands of bottled and canned beer. Growler Fills, Single beers, six-packs, and more! Always a great variety of beer on display at the Beer Stop.
Rimrock Taphouse
Rimrock Taphouse is an upscale pub featuring a warm and friendly atmosphere. We like to think of ourselves as the “Cheers” of Redmond. Serving quality craft beers, ciders and wines, brewed in the Pacific Northwest and other areas around the country.
General Duffy’s Waterhole
General Duffy’s Waterhole is a family and pet-friendly taphouse and food card pod. With over 20 beers, wines, kombucha, and CBD beverages on tap, as well as 5 high-quality food trucks, General Duffy’s is Redmond’s cool new hangout with tons of live music and events.
