There are breweries, and then there are institutions. Boneyard Beer, tucked into a converted auto repair shop on NW Umatilla Avenue in Bend’s industrial warehouse district, falls squarely into the second category. From the moment you pull open the heavy door and step inside, you understand that this place was built by people who are genuinely obsessed with beer — not branding, not Instagram moments, just the craft itself.
Boneyard has been a Bend fixture since 2010, founded by Tony Lawrence, a brewer with deep roots in the Pacific Northwest beer scene. The name is a nod to the salvaged and recycled equipment Lawrence pieced together to build the original brewery — and that scrappy, resourceful spirit still runs through everything here. The taproom itself is wonderfully unpretentious: high ceilings, exposed steel beams, the faint hum of tanks doing their work somewhere just beyond your line of sight. You feel close to the process, which is exactly the point.
The flagship beer, RPM IPA, has developed something of a cult following, and after your first sip it is easy to understand why. It pours a gorgeous amber-gold, delivers a bold hop punch without veering into the harsh bitterness that can sink lesser IPAs, and finishes with just enough malt backbone to keep things balanced. It is the kind of beer you order intending to have one and then find yourself nursing a second while you lose track of time chatting with the person on the next barstool.
But do not stop at the RPM. The rotating tap list is where Boneyard really flexes. Seasonal releases and small-batch experiments cycle through regularly, and the staff — knowledgeable without being the least bit condescending — will walk you through whatever is pouring that day. On a recent visit, a limited-release dark lager stopped me in my tracks: clean, roasty, and absolutely perfect for a cool Central Oregon evening.
The taproom also carries cans and bottles to go, which makes it a worthwhile stop even if you are heading straight back to your rental or campsite. Grab a six-pack of RPM and a bomber of whatever seasonal catches your eye, and you have the makings of a genuinely memorable evening under the Bend stars.
Parking is plentiful on the street and in the adjacent lot, and the location puts you within easy reach of several other warehouse-district gems if you want to make an afternoon of exploring. But honestly, Boneyard has a way of making you want to stay put. The vibe is relaxed, the pours are generous, and the beer is simply very, very good.
If you consider yourself even a casual fan of craft beer, a stop at Boneyard is not optional — it is the whole point of the trip.
