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Yes, it’s true.  Deschutes Brewery will start selling beer in Minnesota starting the week of March 29th. Partnering with J.J. Taylor Distributing Company of Minnesota, the largest beer distributor in the state, Deschutes Brewery will be focusing on the greater Twin Cities region for its initial launch.

Black Butte Porter and Mirror Pond Pale Ale, along with a limited amount of select Reserve Series beers, will be available to Minnesotans in 22-ounce bottles and on draft.

“Minnesota is a place where people are passionate about their beer”, said Gary Fish, Deschutes Brewery’s Founder & President. “Getting our beer to more people who want it and are passionate about it has been part of our plan for quite a while, and we are looking forward to developing that relationship in Minnesota, starting with our two most popular beers. The response so far has been outstanding.”

For more information on where Deschutes Brewery beer will be available in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, please contact JJ Taylor’s Director of Specialty Brands, Bob Pacyga, at (651) 482-1133 .

Our newest seasonal, Red Chair NWPA, is now on tap all over the west. It quenches any mighty thirst before, during, and after epic days on the mountain. And it just might get you to the mountain as well!

During February and March, select events featuring Red Chair are happening on the hill and in town.

Look for it on tap at your favorite wateringholes, including:

• Taps Lounge at Schweitzer Mountain
• Noah’s Canteen at Silver Mountain
• The Bierstube at Whitefish Resort
• Flaming Joes in Spokane
• Blue Spark in Spokane
• Rico’s Pub in Pullman
• Eichardt’s Pub in Sandpoint

Red Chair will be pouring out of Woody, our giant wooden barrel, at:

• The Brewfest at Whitefish Resort (Mar. 6th)
• The Jimmy Huega Center Vertical Express for MS at Schweitzer Mountain (Mar. 13th)

Flowing lazily through Bend thanks to a small dam, the otherwise wild and turbulent Deschutes River pools up to form the serene Mirror Pond. Sitting at the heart of downtown Bend, this beautifully reflective pond provides locals and visitors with the perfect summer stroll amid the massive Ponderosas along the bank. Kayaks and river floaters share the pond with the swans and ducks, and footpaths wind along the shoreline. Warm summer nights bring thousands along the shore to enjoy concerts every week. Car shows, farmers markets, concerts, and countless other festivals fill the shady green lawns of adjacent Drake Park throughout the year.

Do locals take quaint little Mirror Pond for granted? Sometimes. Afterall, a 20 minute drive can put you among dozens of remote high alpine lakes, deep in the Cascade Range. Yet despite its diminutive size and pedestrian traffic, this shiny pond provides daily respite from the bustle modern life. Whether you’re a Bend local or in town for the slopes or trails, do yourself a favor and enjoy a nice stroll, bike ride, or picnic along Mirror Pond.

All of the above can also be said about our Mirror Pond Pale Ale. Tried and true, a blend of wild and civilized, our award winning Mirror Pond Pale Ale embodies all that is great about Bend. So whether at our pub, at the Munch ‘n Music festival, or at home, keep the Mirror Pond flowing!

Geoffrey Landgraf

Author of “All Around Bend” & Deschutes Brewery employee