Dan B.
Yelp
After visiting the big kid on the block (Deschutes) it was time to switch to the opposite side of the spectrum - a small microbrewery called Boneyard. My phone was on the fritz, so I crossed the river on foot to the location I had seen earlier on a map. Once I sensed I was getting close, I asked locals for help. I struck out with one passing group, but the couple walking their dog smiled knowingly and gave me directions that ended with "...and then you'll be on a dead-end street in sort of an industrial area."
Even with the great directions, I almost walked by it. Boneyard was behind a nondescript door on a rectangular building with aging aluminum siding. I walked in to the small tasting room, where a few staff and two locals were knocking backs some beers (It was 20 min to closing time). They filled me in on the rules - no pints served here, but i was welcome to do the tasting menu and take home sealed beers or growlers after that. I accepted their terms.
The theme here was "gear-head paraphernalia", including: motorcycles, gears, motor parts, plus lots of skulls and skeletons (per the name). Most t-shirts and swag were black on white or white on black (some had a touch of red). I would almost say the place had a heavy-metal vibe, but they weren't playing any of that on the stereo.
I thoroughly enjoyed tasting their beers. All were really well-made and had something interesting going on. The tasting menu order started from lighter to heavier, with the following highlights, for me:
-- The Incredible Pulp: Tasty summer beer with lowish ABV but solid body and a nice orange twang. I'm not a big fan of fruity beers, but I could drink this on a shady porch all day
-- RPM: My favorite. Solid, delicious, balanced IPA.
-- Hop Venom: Double IPA. My sweet spot. Dangerous but oh sooo tasty.
During my visit, business picked up suddenly as about a half-dozen different locals stopped by to grab some big (32 oz?) cans before closing time. Consequently I got to watch their canning machine in action - Cans that were filled from the tap would then be sealed right there (complete with a pop-top for later opening). I would have loved to buy a few of my own, but I had no way to keep them cold on the journey home the next day. (But I kicked myself later for not Macgyvering a solution; it would have been simple).
Great beer served in a low-key, unpretentious environment. This is what micro-brewing is all about. If I'm ever in town again, Boneyard is on the short list.