Crooked River Brewing in Prineville will tap into some of its own beer and cider after it clears permitting hurdles.

The brewery has been open for the past 18 months on the corner of Fourth and Main streets, but selling other companies’ beer, said Jesse Toomey, a partner.

“Right now we have 23 taps, and we will be adding six of our own,” Toomey said. “We had always planned to brew our own beer.”

With Crooked River Brewing poised to start production, Prineville will soon have two craft breweries in the town of about 10,000 people. Located on Main Street, Crooked River Brewing is stirring up revitalization, said Josh Smith, Prineville planning director.

“This is happening spontaneously,” Smith said. “People desired it, so they decided to open a brewery. I know Jesse has always wanted to do this. The two breweries will provide more vibrancy in our downtown.”

Meanwhile, even with a $500,000 incentive, Madras can’t seem to draw a brewpub.

Madras has several drinking establishments and taprooms, but is among the few Central Oregon cities without their own craft breweries. La Pine also lacks a brewery.

Crooked River Brewing is across the street from Ochoco Brewing Co., which opened in 2011 as Solstice Brewing Co. and in 2015 rebranded as Ochoco Brewing Co.

The two pubs have created a walkable corridor, Smith said.

“The breweries have created a nexus for us at Fourth and Main, and the other spot is the theater with the diner next to it.

“These are local people who created these breweries. We didn’t do anything to attract them.”

Toomey and his partner, Josh Saxbury, plan to install a six-barrel system at the pub and brew on-site, he said. They have hired Stephen Henderson as their brewer, he said.

The Crooked River Brewing application for a license to make cider is pending with the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.

“We’d like to have our own out there and not someone else’s,” Toomey said. “There’s a need for beer. We considered going to Madras, but I can walk to work here, and that’s great.”

— Reporter: 541-633-2117, sroig@bendbulletin.com