For this month’s Savage in Bend, Santi R. asks, “How and why did beer become more popular in Bend than most other places?” The first mention of brewing in Central Oregon began all the way back in the late 1800s. The success was contagious, and other breweries soon followed — Cascade Lakes Brewing in Redmond, Bend Brewing Company, Silver Moon, and they just kept coming. Our city consistently finds itself in the company of popular beer hubs like Asheville, North Carolina, and Portland, Maine. For a more detailed history and a super fun read, check out Bend Beer by Jon Abernathy or the recent episode of the radio show, “Secret Central Oregon” on community station KPOV.