Belgian Beer Me! Alumni,

After much thought, rumination, self-reflection and by popular demand, I’m launching the BBM! Alumni Reunions with hopes that there is at least one each upcoming year, to be held in different regions of the United States. This is an opportunity to gather with travelers from the tours you’ve been on and meet some travelers from other tours.

There’s going to be three this year. One in the Phoenix, Arizona, area April 9-12. and one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 12-15 and Bend, Oregon, July 22-25

* Beer cities I’m considering for the future BBM! Alumni Reunions are: Bellingham, Washington; ; Portland, Maine; Asheville, North Carolina; Austin, Texas and Denver.

Bend, Oregon BBM! Alumni Reunion July 22-25, 2026,

& Deschutes Brewery Tour & Tasting

Four days, three nights

This BBM! Reunion will center around the beautiful high-desert city of Bend, Oregon, and its more-than-thirty brewpubs. 

Day One, July 22 • We’ll plan to converge on Bend today. Dinner is on your own, then we’ll have an optional pre-bottle-share session at 7 p.m. at Funky Fauna Artisan Ales, 1125 NE 2nd St., Bend, about a 15-minute walk from our official hotel, McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewpub & Hotel. This brewpub comes highly recommended by Gary Rischitelli, who you will all meet soon.

Since some people are arriving later in the day, our official start will be our Welcome Bottle Share at 9 p.m. at the McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewpub & Hotel. The exact location on the property is to-be-determined. I’m asking you to bring at least two cold cans of beer or one large bottle that represents your city or region of the country. Or, maybe just a favorite chestnut of yours. Also bring your favorite beer glass and your BBM! name badge, which I know you all still have displayed in a frame in a prominent location in your home. There are currently 11 of us.

Day Two, July 23 • Today is Brewpub Day. We’ll do some walking in between closer brewpubs in Bend, and I’ll hire and pay for rideshares to more distant locations as part of the reunion. At 5 p.m., we’ll have a company dinner at the award-winning Monkless Belgian Ales, owned and operated by BBM! Alumni Robin & Todd Clement.They, unfortunately, won’t be there as they have a commitment of town, but will try to attend the bottle share. You’re really going to enjoy their food and beer!

Beer and food is on your own at the first brewpubs.

Brewpub Day Itinerary •

11 a.m. Meet at McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewpub & Hotel.

To: Mirror Pond for a group picture. This is the namesake of the famous Deschutes Mirror Pond Pale Ale.

To: Bend Brewing Co. and their beautiful beer garden

To: Deschutes Public House for lunch on your own in this cozy original location of the brewery, which started here 38 years ago. It’s a touchstone in Bend, and no visit here would be complete without imbibing here in good food and beer.

To: Crux Fermentation Project. Legendary.

To: Van Henion Brewing Co. Clean German-style lagers and IPAs. 

To: The Cellar Brewing Co. specializing in porters. (Time permitting).

To: Monkless Belgian Ales for a company dinner at 5 p.m., featuring a delicious menu and award-winning Belgian-inspired beer.

Pickup at 7 p.m. to McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewpub & Hotel. 

Day Three, July 24 • Morning is free to enjoy Bend. At 11:30 a.m., we’ll meet in the lobby to walk to lunch and a tasting at UPP Liquids. Our hostess will be Brewster Tonya Cornett. In 2025, UPP Liquids was awarded the Best Brewery in America (251-500 barrels) at the Great American Beer Festival!

"UPP Liquids is a brewer-owned brewery and restaurant, in the Box Factory. Here at UPP, we make award-winning small-batch beer with unique profiles and serve flavorful food from our from-scratch kitchen. Our world class brewing team features Tonya Cornett (voted Best Brewer in Bend at the Great American Beer Festival along with many other Best Brewer Awards over the years), and the previous 10 Barrel innovation crew: Ian Larkin, Ben Shirley and Jose Ruiz. Together, they love creating handcrafted beer that showcases the fun and flavor of Bend."

Tasters during lunch are included in the reunion. Lunch and full beers are on your own.

Afterward, we’ll return to McMenamin’s to freshen up, then gather in the lobby again at 3:30 to walk to Deschutes Brewery for our private VIP tour of the Barrel Room, where we will get to indulge in some special beers, hopefully including the Black Butte XXXVIII, “the latest release in our Reserve Series.This Imperial Porter spent time aging in Port barrels, developing rich notes of dark berries, chocolate, and orange peel. Oregon cranberries bring a bright tartness, while vanilla and milk sugar round things out for a smooth, layered, and beautifully balanced drinking experience.”

Deschutes Brewery is celebrating 38 years brewing fantastic beer.  Founder and Board Chairman Gary Fish, and some of their senior brewers are BBM! Alumni. He and current CEO Peter Skrbek, both played a role in making our alumni group feel especially welcome. Thanks, guys!

The evening is free for dinner on your own and to enjoy Bend.

Day Four, July 25 • The reunion concludes with breakfast at your hotel.

Alumni may fly in and out of Redmond Municipal Airport (RDM).

Bend Reunion Cost

Deadline to sign up is July 20. 

All inclusive $195/per person

Includes the Deschutes Brewery tour and tasting the Brew Pub Day, ground transportation in Bend and a company dinner and beer at Monkless Belgian Ales.

Lodging is up to each traveler. The official hotel is McMenamins Old St. Francis School Brewpub & Hotel, however, you may stay anywhere you like. Use Booking.com to compare hotels and check availability.

Please share BBM! tours with your beer enthusiast friends and encourage them to join the fun!  

• Airfare

• Airport transfers.

• Hotel

• Some meals and beer on your own.