Deschutes plans to expand distribution

Deschutes Brewery is starting 2014 off with a bang as the brewery begins its distribution in four new states and gives beer drinkers far and wide a plethora of new options to choose from.

The brewery will begin expansion with weeklong events starting next Friday in Ohio and Kentucky, according to a press release. It will then broaden its supply in Pennsylvania in April and continue its Midwest journey into Wisconsin and Michigan later this year.

“More of our fans will be able to get our beers in their home states, and we’re making some pretty amazing additions to our lineup for the year,” said marketing director Jeff Billingsley in the press release.

Some of those additions will include six-packs of Fresh Squeezed IPA and three 22-ounce brews — Pine Mountain Pilsner, Armony XPA and Cinder Cone Red — which will all be sold year-round starting in March. Throughout the year, other beers including Belgian IPA, Not the Stoic, Mirror Mirror, Black Butte XXVI and 12-packs of River Ale will become available. For a complete list of release dates and events, visit www.deschutesbrewery.com.

It’s High Gravity time at McMenamins

McMenamins Old St. Francis School (700 N.W. Bond St., Bend) goes high gravity Saturday night, hosting ales from 16 breweries around the state.

Brewers from McMenamins, Bend Brewing Co., Three Creeks Brewing, GoodLife, Worthy, Smith Rock Brewing Co. and Solstice Brewing will participate by offering tastings of their high-gravity ales from 1 to 10 p.m. Saturday. High-gravity ale — beer brewed with a higher gravity — has a higher alcohol content due to concentration of sugar used in the brewing process. The event is open to all ages, with tastings for the 21 and older crowd costing $1.25.

Live music starts at 3 p.m. with Trixy & the Nasties; at 6 p.m., the Urban Sub All Stars will play with Mosley Wotta and Tony Smiley, followed by Redwood Son.

— From staff reports