McMenamins’ Old St. Francis School

The kingdom of pints is before you

Est. 2004, Bend

Be grateful for the dead: the Grateful Dead, that is. At the rear of this 2-square-block complex — a circa-1930s Catholic grade school resurrected in 2004 by the Portland-based McMenamins group — is O’Kane’s Bar, which plays exclusively music from Jerry Garcia and the Dead. The former school also includes two more outlying bars, a 19-room hotel, a movie theater, a meeting and music room, even a Turkish bath. Most visitors instantly find the main Bond Street restaurant, perhaps sneaking a peek into its basement, where colorfully painted brewing tanks occupy what once was a children’s nursery. This is where the magic happens.

 

The 6 barrel brewhouse residing just below the main pub produces the majority of the beer for the entire Old Saint Francis School campus. Since Since opening days, the brewery was under the care of head brewer Mike “Curly” White for 14 or so years. The brewer baton was then handed to Vance Wirtz who had been in the trenches since 2013. This workhorse of a brewery continues to produce tried an true beers you can find at any McMenamins in the Northwest, as well as unique “Saint Francis only” beers that are really quite tasty.

McMenamins Old St. Francis School › 700 NW Bond St › Map it! › 541-382-5174 › mcmenamins.com
Broom Closet Hours › 3p – 10p Daily
Fireside Bar Hours › 4p – 11p Sun – Thur | 4p – 1a Fri – Sat
O’Kanes › 3p – 10p Mon – Thur | 3p – 11p Fri | 12p – 11p Sat | 12p – 10p Sun
Main Pub › 7a – 10p Sun – Thur | 7a – 11p Fri – Sat

Beer me! › Happy Hour 3p – 6p Sun – Thurs

Q&A

Beers are great, but can ya hit me with a stiff drink? Four full bars stiff enough for ya?
Should I bring the kids? Oh yeah, bring the kiddos to breakfast, lunch, dinner, and matinees at the theater – It’s never too early for some popcorn and a pint!
Conversations with my cat are becoming redundant, can you entertain me? In addition to several TVs, there are pool tables, shuffleboard, a theater, a soaking pool, outdoor fire pits, and a fireside lounge with sofas – make yourself at home.
Got any tips? Take a stroll with your pint and check out the artwork in this place!
Can I get some tasty beer to go? Check the tap list, bring your growler – especially on Mondays, and call ahead to order a keg!
Walk, bike, or drive? It’s downtown – walk or bike it for sure! Better yet, if you’re from out of town, spend the night in one of the really cool rooms to score a sweet spot in the parking lot.
Last one – Is there like a locals night or something? Growler Monday $2 off 64-oz growler & Crowler Tuesday $2 off 32-oz crowler

Beer Geeks

McMenamins on ›› beeradvocate.com ›› unTappd.com ›› RateBeer.com

Bonus reasons to raise a pint!

  • Growler Mondays!
  • It’s in an old Catholic School!
  • Dinner, movie, AND a pint!
  • Indoor fireside bar and outdoor firepits!
  • 1, 2, 3, 4 bars! You have no excuse.
  • Soaking pool!
  • Pint it up, your room is but a stumble away!
  • The brewery is in a dungeon! Well, not really, does the basement count?
  • Live music almost everyday!

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