Ablestock

Twas the week before Christmas, and all throughout Bend

The breweries were pumping out beer without end

Growlers sat empty right next to the door

A reminder tomorrow to go and get more

For more will be made, now that much is certain

‘Cause if it were not, this town would be hurtin’

The economy, yes, but also our mood

Face winter sans beer? Um, no thank you, dude

Which is why we are lucky to live in a place

With the tools to make beer at a bustling pace

Deschutes is the big dog; a benchmark of suds

Thanks to good brews, and very few duds

There’s Bend Brewing Company down on the river

And the good folks at Silver Moon always deliver

The bad boys at Boneyard with their punk aesthetic

A lengthening Ale Trail for the peripatetic

For those anti-walking, the Cycle Pub’s cool

Moving slowly through town, all “woo-hoos!” and drool

If you lean in real close, you just might hear who’s drivin’

Shouting out all the beer brands that keep this town thrivin’

“Drink Brew Werks and GoodLife, Below Grade and Crux!

Cascade Lakes and Worthy, give Rat Hole your bucks

Oblivion, Juniper or Bridge 99

Indeed, all the above keep this bike-bar online!”

Now, Keep Local Habit’s a popular saying

It’s good to consider whose bills your beer’s paying

But if out-of-town owners don’t fill you with dread,

McMenamins for you! Or 10 Barrel. (‘Nuff said)

On the opposite end of the corporate spectrum

The Ale Apothecary deserves your affection

There’s Monkless, a new outfit in some guy’s basement

RiverBend or North Rim, there is no replacement

For supporting fellow beer aficionados

“United we stand” seems a suitable motto

In a region with eye-popping craft-brew excess

To help ensure our future sudsy success

Oh, and beer does, in fact, exist outside our city

There’s Three Creeks in Sisters; the drive is so pretty

Redmond claims Smith Rock and Wild Ride, uh huh

Solstice in Prineville, Sunriver … duh

The point is there’s beer here in every direction

Light, dark or neither, a massive selection

So when you sit down to give holiday thanks

Remember true joy can be found in those tanks

That work through the night so that you can imbibe

And clink a few “cheers!” when you toast with your tribe

This phrase may you utter to make spirits bright:

“Merry Christmas to all, and to all a full pint!”