Internal Brewsletter - March 11th
General
Employee Provision - Submissions Needed!
A weekly special served at the Pub, with ideas sourced from Block 15 employees.
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Sophia K ! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Roasted Brussel Sprouts.
We’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas! Remember, if your provision gets selected, you can order one for free!
-This Week’s Releases-
Sol Fresco // Mexican Lager // 5.25%
Brewed for warm days in the sun and packaged fresh for your enjoyment. This golden-hued lager balances gentle corn sweetness, light hop bitterness, and aroma with a crisp, clean finish.
What are some highlights or changes for this beer?
Our take on Mexican lager, this falls neatly between the two extremes of the styles spectrum. From Negra to Clara, Sol Fresco pours a medium amber and showcases the very best of both worlds. Brewed with 100% domestic malt and 100% PNW hops.
Tasting Notes:
Blue Cornchip • Noble Hop • Tranquilo
Availability: On draft and cans to-go + Distributed to our network in Oregon & SW Washington
Series: Perennial
Returning seasonals released around the same time each year. Available for 1-3 months.
What is a Mexican Lager?
Established by Austrian and German immigrants to Texas and Mexico, these beers were originally Vienna-style lagers brewed with Maize. The style is controversial, though, as it can refer to a lot of different beers. Generally, the name is given to a low IBU lager with a clean fermentation profile and extremely high clarity. Macro breweries use corn in their mash to achieve a highly crisp drinking experience at low cost, but craft brewers sometimes prefer to use flaked maize in its place as it has had proteins, oils, and other components removed and is generally a higher-quality ingredient.
Ancient Grove // Amber Ale // 5.00%
Our GABF Gold-winning recipe, Ancient Grove, is brewed in the German Altbier tradition with extended cold conditioning. Beautiful caramel-rich malts are balanced with a crisp and refreshing finish.
What are some highlights or changes for this beer?
Gold Medal winning recipe blending the styles of lager and ale. using top fermenting yeast at lower than normal temperatures we are able to capture the mouthfeel and depth of an ale with the crisp clean finish of a lager.
Tasting Notes:
Toffee • Fresh Baked Bread • Tradition
Availability: On draft and cans to-go + Distributed to our network in Oregon & SW Washington
Series: Orbital
Limited release. Brewed periodically. Available for a month or less.
What is an Amber Ale?
Altbier, originating in Düsseldorf, Germany, is a traditional copper-colored German ale dating back to the 13th century. This top-fermented beer persisted even as bottom-fermented lagers gained popularity throughout Germany, with "alt" meaning "old" in German, referencing its ancient brewing style. Characterized by its clean, crisp profile with a moderate maltiness and pronounced hop bitterness, Altbier undergoes a cold conditioning (lagering) period after primary fermentation, giving it a smooth character that marries ale complexity with lager drinkability. The style presents a medium body with caramel and toasted malt flavors, balanced by spicy, herbal hop notes, and moderate bitterness. The long and short is that Altbier is a combination of ale and lager brewing styles, and represents a relic of the past that persists to this day. Ancient Grove, our Great American Beer Festival gold medal-winning Altbier, is themed after the native oak savannahs that covered the hilltops of the Willamette Valley lowlands. The image on our can depicts an oak, showing its roots as well as its branches, inspired by traditional illustrations of the Tree of Life. This image is associated with the archetype “as above, so below,” which ties in nicely to the beer's top-fermenting vs. bottom-fermenting nature. Read more under Beer 101 !
Block Pearl // Oyster Stout // 4.50%
Every year on Valentine's Day, Joel from Corvallis Brewing Supply would brew an oyster stout to be drunk on St. Patrick's Day. Sadly, they closed their doors in 2022. To keep the world from being deprived of this most festive tradition, we offered to brew it with him at our pub brewery! A dry Irish stout brewed with whole oysters in the mash and shells in the boil, Block Pearl has a unique mouthfeel and overall experience.
What are some highlights or changes for this beer?
Oyster stouts offer a unique mouthfeel due to the mineral content of the shell and a briney character from the oyster itself. Truly a unique drinking experience.
Tasting Notes:
Roast • Briny • Deep
Availability: On draft only + Distributed to select locations around Oregon
Series: Synergy/Pub Life
Synergy: Collaborations with friends of Block 15. Available for a month or less.
Pub Exclusives: Small and limited batches found only at our locations. Available for a very short period of time.
Upcoming Releases
*This list is subject to change based on the production schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Selection Series: Confluence
Series: Orbital
Releases: 3/27/26
Availability: On draft and cans to-go + Distributed to our network in Oregon & SW Washington
Harbinger
Series: Synergy - Collab with Xicha Brewing and Hetty Alice Beer
Releases: 3/27/26
Availability: On draft only + Distributed to select locations around Oregon
Crowler/Package Sale for Sippin’ Sunday
20% off all packaged beer to-go, $5 Crowlers, and $10 Growler fills all-day Sunday of a specific beer.
This week’s beer(s) is/are:
Charmed Life & Ocean Man
Beer Education
Barrel Room Roundtable - Thursdays at 4 pm
REMINDER - BRRT IS AT PUB DURING TAPROOM RENOVATION
This week’s topic: Selection Series Tasting, compare and contrast
BEER 101
By Garrison Schmidt, Head Brewer
Altbier: Germany’s Ancient Beer
Altbier, meaning “old beer,” is Germany’s oldest surviving beer style. It’s a top-fermenting ale rooted in the brewing tradition of Düsseldorf, and has been around since before lager yeast completely transformed German brewing in the 16th century.
When cold-fermented lagers swept the rest of Germany and Europe, Düsseldorf brewers held tight to their tradition of brewing ales. They did condition the beer at near freezing temperatures, which led to an especially crisp, clean character. Today, traditional brewpubs known as Hausbrauereien serve altbier fresh off the tank in small, .2 liter glasses.
Altbier is copper to dark brown, dry, bitter, and malt-forward. It does not have the fruity sweetness of British ales of the same color. Pale and Vienna malts with specialty malts for color and German Noble hops provide herbal, earthy bitterness. Esters are controlled and mitigated by the extended cold conditioning.
Altbier feels both ancient and modern. It’s sessionable, balanced, and famously showcases the very best that beer has to offer.
Some recipes endure because they got it right the first time.
This week, we are packaging and releasing Ancient Grove, our GABF gold medal-winning Altbier. The image on the can represents the Oak Savannahs that covered our Willamette Valley before colonial settlers cleared them for farmland. It also hints at traditional Tree of Life Iconography, showing that the root systems of trees often resemble their branches. As above, so below, a reference to the beer containing both top-fermenting and bottom-fermenting characteristics.
Marketing Updates
By Holly Amlin, Marketing & Creative Manager
Block 15 Kickball Team & Playground Sports Sponsorship
I shared this info in my Sling announcement, but wanted to make sure everyone saw it. ⬇️
Block 15 will be sponsoring Playground Sports again this summer, and as a part of that, we get to have a Block 15 Kickball Team! This is your invitation to join.
To field a team, we need at least 10 players each week: five guys and five gals. We can have up to 20 per game, though. You do not need to commit to coming every week, but we will make a sign-up sheet to make sure we meet our minimums.
Cost: Free
Location: Crystal Lake Sports Fields in Corvallis
When: Season runs June 17th - July 15th on Wednesdays
Time: Games start at 6:30 pm and 7:30 pm, with one double header
What's provided:
Shirts
One free pitcher of beer at the Pub after the game to share with the team
What you need to play:
Good shoes to run in (cleats are great but not required)
They have an alcohol permit, so you can bring bevs to the field. A lot of people bring their dogs/friends/family/picnics to the games to hang out. It's very laidback. Large speakers encouraged.
I've played in the league the last two seasons, and it's a ton of fun. Everyone who plays cares more about having fun and good sportsmanship than being hardcore super athletes. You DO NOT need experience to play. I'll be the team captain and have a lot of kickball experience to be able to help you with the basics (yes, I know that sounds funny, but we all have our strengths haha).
Please Sign Up by May 1st!
Events List:
Check back in next Week!
From the Executive Chef
By Sarah Farey, Executive Chef
Don’t forget to share your thoughtful personal or guest food feedback!
Bakery
Notes from Lindsey Henriksen, Bakery Manager
Check back next week !
Pub Updates
By Kira Sciarrotta, General Manager
Closing awareness! While you guys have been doing great helping out labor with your quick closes, we also need to be VERY mindful that our hospitality does not fall through the cracks. It is not acceptable to get swept up in cleaning duties and forget to give every patron the same Block 15 Hospitality that we’ve become known for. Guests FIRST, Closing SECOND.
Another Hospitality reminder brought to you by Tivey: Similarly to the lesson last week on “just one,” when seating a guest dining alone - avoid using transactional phrases like “do you want…” Instead, work to use phrases like “would you like…” or “can I bring you…”
Sling Reminder! Every now and then we have to kindly remind everyone that the Out Times listed on Sling for your shift are a VERY ROUGH estimate. Please be mindful of your peers and be flexible. Shifts are dependent on floor needs and patterns that everyone is not always privy to. Trust your floats and give them the space to make decisions on the floor - of course it is always appreciated to bring insight on your section, but not to coerce a floor decision pre-maturely!
It is EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY to bus and flip tables when we are on a wait. If you are walking through a section that isn’t yours and see dishes/glassware that could be bussed. BUS IT! We are a team working towards the same goal and making money in the same tip pool. Make sure to pull your weight and be a Blockstar!
THIS SECTION IS FOR LEADS. Kelly has put together a wonderful additional check list for our Lead Servers! Let me set the scene: have you ever checked shift change and thought “that’s awesome, boxes have already been carried downstairs,” only to walk past the Brewery and see ONE MILLION HEAVY BOXES WAITING TO BE CARRIED DOWN THE STAIRS. Here’s where the new Lead Checklist comes in! I want to impress upon the Leads this new responsibility. There will be a few things that Leads are double checking for and if things are being checked off, but not completed - bring it to a manager immediately. Find this checklist on the bottom of the Shift Change List soon. We love our Leads! <3
Tap Room Updates
Check back next week !
Caves Updates
By Aidan Welch, General Manager
Check back next week !
High Fives
Bre- Bre just kills it with doing our scheduling!!! Thank you for being so communicative and prompt with time off requests and swapping. You make it look easy Queen!
Bre- She has been doing great with cocktails and has been brewing up some tasty ideas!
Sophia K- Sophia is always pulling through with an extra set of hands or has already read my mind and gotten a task done! Slays every time <3
Sophia S- Sophia has been crushing it in her new role in Marketing! She has great energy and works hard every day.
Aubrey- You’re always locked in & helping in any way, regardless of whether it’s your “designated” role, and always keep a great energy going!
Cedar- My favorite shifts are always with Cedar, she knows exactly how to balance professionalism & a fun time at work ! Genuinely one of the kindest and easiest to talk to, regardless if it’s related to work.
Wiley- Darth Wiley rocks, that’s it.
Kaidyn- Takes double & triple seating like a champ & always respects the host’s decisions, it goes a long way!
Kira- So grateful to have such a great manager, it really can make or break a job. You keep the vibes and energy up ALWAYS at B15.
Staff Section
Please welcome the following folks to the team:
Selkie Carr - Host/Food Runner
Charitable Programs
Dine Out! for CHS Robotics - March 19th
Next Thursday, we’re partnering with the Corvallis High School Robotics Team! All day on the 19th, a portion of food sales at the Pub will be donated to help fund their season. We’re very excited to work with this local group - some of whom are related to Block 15 employees.
Please be prepared to introduce the Dine Out to our guests on the 19th! The Robotics Team will also provide table tents so people can learn more about them while they dine with us.
Learn More About CHS Robotics
Each January, the team receives the year’s competition rules — and from there, they have just two months to design, manufacture, assemble, program, and test a fully competition-ready robot before heading into events. By April, the season wraps — but the work to fund it continues year-round.
What will our donation go toward?
The money we’re donating supports more than just a robot. It goes towards registration fees, parts and raw materials, travel expenses, and competition costs. As well as supports hands-on engineering, problem-solving, teamwork, and the next generation of innovators.