Bend’s Bridge 99 Brewery has been open since the latter half of 2013, but the primary outlet for the beers has been Wubba’s BBQ Shack in northeast Bend (on Empire and Layton). That’s set to change with the opening this Thursday, January 22 of Bridge 99’s new tasting room, located at 63063 Layton Avenue (across the parking lot from Wubba’s). The Bulletin featured the brewery and tasting room in a recent article:

Until now, [owner and brewery Trever] Hawman, a carpenter and building contractor, has brewed his assortment of beers at home in a 1.5-barrel system with a two-barrel fermenter. That part will remain the same for the time being.

But starting Jan. 22, he’s opening a tasting room with nine beers on tap and moving production out of the 400-square-foot attachment to his home and into the 2,000-sqare-foot commercial space at 63063 Layton Ave., Bend.

Hawman has been brewing under license at home since September 2013, he said. His hobby, which he shares with friend and Bridge 99 brewer Rod Kraemer, grew with every pint glass filled until it became a hobby no more.

Hawman has in fact been eyeing the space he’s moving into for some time—almost since he began selling beer, actually! I profiled Bridge 99 early on, on my beer blog, and wrote that “Trever is already thinking ahead to a seven-barrel system housed in one of the industrial buildings behind Wubba’s which would not only increase output substantially but also allow him to focus on the brewery full time.” The larger brewing system isn’t materializing yet, but it sounds as though by starting brewing in the new space that will help set the stage for that expansion.

The tasting room opening will be taking place from 3 to 7pm on both the 22nd and 23rd this week, and then it will fall into the planned regular hours of 2 to 6pm Thursdays through Saturdays. Note, the tasting room is 21-and-older only (they’re not serving food).

Make sure to stop by tomorrow (Thursday) or Friday to check it out and congratulate Bridge 99 on the opening!