Ton o' stuff today...  starting with this article from AAA's Via Magazine... 2 out of the 6 breweries mentioned are in Oregon...  taking a tour at Deschutes is a great excuse to visit Bend, THE hotspot right now for craft beer in Oregon, as you will read below...

Speaking of Bend, Worthy Brewing is the latest venture in Central Oregon, an ambitious project from former Laurelwood Brewer Chad Kennedy...

Bend's population is somewhere around 75,000.  Counting Worthy, there are now-- by my count-- 10 breweries in Bend proper: Deschutes, Bend Brewing, 10 Barrel, Boneyard, Old Mill, Silver Moon, Good Life & Cascade Lakes. Solstice Brewing in Prineville and Three Creeks in Sisters are within easy driving distance.  So is Cascade Lakes' original location in Redmond.  Is there any better place in Oregon to be a Beer Geek?

HAPPENING THIS WEEKEND:

Chowder Challenge at Lompoc's 5th Quadrant.  Yes, Black Hole IPA will be on tap.

3rd annual Nano Beer Fest at Max's Fanno Creek Brewpub in Tigard.