After some unfortunate events in early 2011 I made the tough decision to move back to Madera from Santa Rosa. The seven months I spent in the North Bay were filled with more beer events than the last five years combined. Craft beer is part of the culture up there and a booming industry in this wacky economy (just ask Lagunitas). So it was with a heavy heart that I left my new friends and a wonderful city to come back to the black hole of the craft beer universe: California's Central Valley. It took me five months to get my shit together and make a decision. I absolutely had to be part of an active, vibrant community that not only offered a plethora of outdoor activities, encouraged physical and mental fitness and worked hard to improve education and decrease local crime but most importantly (ha ha) embraced a quality craft beer culture.
I almost immediately ruled out the East Coast. No offense but I just really love the West. Denver was about as far east as I considered and what a wonderful city it is. Other options were places I am already partially familiar with: Seattle, San Diego, Portland, and Vancouver. The last one, Bend, Oregon, was my favorite and probably the least familiar. I knew it was a small town of close to 80,000 people and that the craft beer industry was doing very well. Nestled up against the Cascade mountain range I assumed that the summer months offered a huge amount of camping, hiking, backpacking and rafting options.
Back in 2006, we had backpacked south of the Sisters peaks for a week and thoroughly enjoyed the area (and our quick trip to the Deschutes pub afterwards). One of the main reasons for putting Bend at the top of my list was of course my parents' decision to retire to the area in the next few years. My father, if you don't already know, is my best friend and drinking buddy through and through and my mom fuels my creativity and keeps me from doing too many things I might later regret.
So the first week of November I answered an advert for an after school teaching position that started in three weeks. Not something that can pay the rent by any means, but a reason to get me up and moving. I promised to be in class on Tuesday the 29th and by golly I would be there. So for the ump-teenth time, my dad 'volunteered' to help me move. This would be a thirteen hour drive one way for him, since we had to make a stop in Santa Rosa to pick up a few things. I treated dad to a few beers in town including some at the Platypus Pub and the Deschutes pub downtown. We had a great time in only a few hours and I can't wait for him to come back.
I do understand now that this can get out of hand quickly. I live within 5 miles of 10 Barrel, two Cascade Lakes locations, GoodLife, Silvermoon, Bend Brewing, McMenamin's, Below Grade, Noble, Deschutes, Boneyard and Old Mill Brew Works. This is ridiculous. I need to do this with a bit of restraint, willpower and sanity. I have discovered something new all ten days I have lived here and I plan on making that a routine. So here is to a new exciting year in 2012 and I look forward to hosting at least a few of you in this amazing forested, high desert of a town in the near future.
Slainte, Prost, Salute, Na zdravje & Budmo!
*Editor's Note: I am writing this at Cascade Lakes' 7th Street pub in Redmond, OR while drinking a King Kong Imperial Porter and watching the Steelers beat the Browns.
