Bend, Oregon – Abstrax, a leader in pioneering flavor technology for the beverage industry, is set to launch its first annual Kindred Craft event on Wednesday, September 10, 2025. The gathering, hosted at UPP Liquids, Pub & Fermentations in Bend, Oregon, aims to foster connection and innovation within the craft brewing community, with a specific focus on the future of flavor.
Kindred Craft is designed not merely as a social mixer but as a nationwide celebration of brewing culture and a showcase for technologies that are shaping the tastes of tomorrow. This inaugural event in Bend highlights the city’s prominent status within the craft beer landscape, often referred to as a craft beer lover’s paradise, boasting more breweries per capita than many other regions in the country. The choice of Bend underscores the event’s commitment to engaging with and supporting regional brewing communities.
At its core, Abstrax is dedicated to advancing flavor science. The company, founded by a team of PhD scientists and flavor chemists, leverages its expertise in botanical flavor technology, particularly terpenes, to create innovative solutions for the beverage sector. Abstrax Hops, a key division, focuses on providing brewers with advanced hop products and services that push the boundaries of brewing innovation, offering authentic varietal-specific hop flavors, dank aromas, and next-generation hop products. Their technologies aim to ensure exceptional flavor and aroma consistency, significant yield reduction, and streamlined brewing logistics. This commitment to innovation aligns with broader industry trends that emphasize beverage analytics and a scientific approach to creating new and unique beer flavors.
The event promises an engaging experience for brewers, partners, and craft enthusiasts. Attendees can look forward to complimentary beer and food, alongside live music from local favorites Broken Top Bluegrass. A central attraction will be Abstrax’s hands-on dosing station, offering a unique opportunity to interact with and understand the advanced flavor technology that influences many distinctive craft beverages. The evening will also include traditional brewery hangout contests, such as “Guess the Number of Hop Pellets,” with multiple raffle prizes available to guests who receive ten tickets upon arrival.
Tonya Cornett, Brewer and Co-Owner at UPP Liquids, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the event, stating, “At the heart of our name – Uniting People and Places – lies our passion for connection. We take great pride in hosting and are thrilled to collaborate with Abstrax, offering brewers a unique opportunity to explore the next frontier in hop innovation.” This sentiment is echoed by Nathan Smith, Senior VP of Sales at Abstrax, who noted, “Kindred Craft is about more than great beer – it’s about creating space for connection. Brewing has always been rooted in community, and this event reflects both that tradition and our passion for pushing flavor science forward in fun, engaging ways.”
Abstrax’s vision extends beyond a single event. Kindred Craft is planned to rotate cities annually, allowing it to connect with diverse regional brewing communities and continually highlight industry innovation. This strategy positions the event as a recurring platform for dialogue and discovery in the ever-evolving world of craft beer. The craft brewing industry is increasingly embracing technological advancements and exploring new flavor profiles, with trends pointing towards greater experimentation with ingredients, data-driven recipe development, and a focus on sustainability. Events like Kindred Craft are crucial in fostering this forward momentum, bringing together the minds that are defining the future of beer.
The Kindred Craft event in Bend, Oregon, signifies an important development in the craft beer news cycle, heralding a new annual tradition focused on collaboration, community, and the exciting evolution of beer flavor. The gathering aims to inspire creativity and provide practical insights into the advanced technologies that are shaping the future of brewing, cementing Bend’s role as a hub for such influential industry events.
