Internal Brewsletter - July 24th, 2024
General
Beer Tasting with the Brewers - This Thursday @ 4 pm
The next tasting is this Thursday, 7/25/24, @ 4 pm in the Game Room at the downtown Pub.
Come join us to taste through beers, discuss our beers, brewing, or any other related topics you have questions about. A casual session anyone is welcome to attend.
If you have an interesting bottle of beer, you would like to taste/share, bring it in.
Your first beer is on us for anyone attending.
Chris King Visit - August 16th
This August, we will be releasing a collaboration beer with a company located in PDX called Chris King Precision Components. They manufacture bike components in PDX that are serviceable and last for years. This collaboration encompasses the craft of two very different products from companies who share the same audience and company vision of craft, sustainability and community.
Learn more about them: WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM
We hosted their team on the brew day of the beer two weeks ago, called Buzzworks NW Pilsner. They wanted to invite us to their location to get a tour from their team as well. We will be visiting on 8/16. Please reach out to me at kelsea@block15.com, if you have any questions or want to join!
Employee Provision
A weekly special served at the Pub, the idea of which comes primarily from Block 15 employees.
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by James W.! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Pizza Burger!
We’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - Cans
Releasing Friday 7/26
Animal Cookies //
Description: Brewed for the hop-loving animal inside of you, this can is packed with sticky, pungent hops. Unleash a swirling circus of pineapple, tangerine, mango, pine, and dank herb hop characters. // 7.00%
Key Takeaway: The return of a classic Block 15 IPA. Hazy IPA done the Block 15 way.
Tasting Notes: Ripe Papaya • Navel Orange • Mesmerizing
Format: Draft & Cans
Series: Perennial
Beer Style: Hazy IPA
An IPA sub-style originating in New England, it originally evolved from American IPA to have a lighter malt bill, that had a soft finish from adjuncts containing higher protein levels and water naturally high in Chloride. Early versions retained an assertive bitterness, but that mostly softened over time giving way to a soft, juicy beer with a big, sweet body that mostly featured fruit notes (citrus, tropical, stonefruit, red fruit, etc..). Some versions can contain pine or dank notes as well. Bitterness ranges from light to moderate, and body ranges from moderate to heavy. Hazy is still a rapidly evolving style. The Variations of IPAs have become America’s primary contribution to the pantheon of world beer styles.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
Releasing Friday 7/26
Animal Cookies // Hazy IPA
Dark Surroundings //
Description: Brewed in Collaboration with Black Tide Brewing, located in Kesennuma, Japan, this American Porter features caramelized Okinawa Sweet Potatoes in the mash and was conditioned on roasted Japanese chestnuts. // 5.00%
Key Takeaway: This beer was brewed for the Fuji to Hood: Japan/Oregon Collaboration Festival, where it will make its first public debut. The fest's location alternates between Japan and the US (Oregon) every year; this year, it will be in PDX on 7/20!
Tasting Notes: Gentle Nuttiness • Cocoa • Friendship
Format: Draft Only
Series: Synergy
Beer Style: Porter with Okinawa Sweet Potatoes and Japanese Chestnuts
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 beers are: DAB Lab SubZero at the Pub & Clouded Coast at both
UPCOMING Releases
*This list is subject to change based on the production schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Kumo // Japanese Rice Lager
Series: Perennial
Releases: August 2nd
Format: Draft & Cans
Description: An incredibly dry, Japanese-inspired rice lager, Kumo features NW-grown Pilsner malt and vibrant Liberty hops. Crisp and easy-going, Kumo breezes through like a drifting cloud in the sky.
BEER EDUCATION
2:30 pm Tuesdays @ the Tap Room
Join us at the Tap Room every week for an educational session where you can taste and learn about the week’s releases. All are welcome!
4:00 Pm Every other Thursday @ the Pub
Join us every other Thursday in the Game Room at the Pub to taste through beers, discuss our beers, brewing, or any other related topics you have questions about. This is a casual session anyone is welcome to attend. If you have an interesting bottle of beer you would like to taste/share with the group, bring it in. Your first beer is on us if you attend. The next tasting is Thursday, July 25th, at 4 pm!
Beer 101: Dark Surroundings and Fuji to Hood
Written by Garrison Schmidt, Head Brewer
XXRecently, we were invited to participate in an awesome program called Fuji to Hood. In this program, brewers from Japan and Oregon collaborate to create a beer using ingredients from the visiting region. The program alternates between locations, with the beer being brewed in the area where the event will be held that year. This year, the beer was brewed in Oregon with ingredients from Japan.
We were paired with Black Tide Brewing, situated on the Sanriku coast, surrounded by brilliant green mountains in Kesennuma, Japan. We put our heads together with their brewers and developed a porter called Dark Surroundings. We added dark purple Okinawa sweet potatoes to the mash and conditioned the beer on Kuri chestnuts. The result was a unique, mildly nutty porter that I feel really captures the essence of Black Tide and Block 15, both nestled in misty coastal mountains.
The best part of this collaboration was getting to meet and spend time with James and Yoshi, who traveled to the event and came to visit our brewery. We traded knowledge and inspiration, as well as more than a few beers. The event itself had one of the most interesting beer menus
I’ve ever seen (only one IPA!) and was a venerable Murderers Row of Oregon brewers matched with the very best Japan has to offer. Japanese vendors and artists displayed their work, and musicians played traditional music and percussion. It was incredible to spend the day immersed in another culture and learn what they had to share. They have a great respect for the Pacific Northwest’s brewing culture and acumen, and we were so happy to pass along what we knew as well.
I’ll be looking forward to taking part in this program in the years to come, and I am excited to say that Dark Surroundings will be pouring at both Block 15 locations starting this Friday. It was a crowd favorite at the event, and I hope you try it and like it as well. As always, let me know what you think, and reach out to me with any questions, comments, or feedback at garrison@block15.com
From the Executive Chef
August monthly specials will go live Wednesday, August 7th!
PUB
Sausage and Pepper Sausage Sandwich-Grilled peppertree sausage, roasted local onions and peppers, caper aioli and melted provolone.
Creamy Coconut Shrimp Salad w/ local grape tomatoes, red onion, apricots, jalapeno-coconut dressing and tortilla strips
Herb & Panko Fried Zucchini w/ Caper Aioli
TAP ROOM
Apricot Chicken Sandwich-Chicken tenders, jalapeno-apricot glaze, cilantro mayo, melted Swiss, greens and fresh tomato.
Elotes Hot Dog-All beef hot dog topped with roasted corn elotes, cilantro, tajin, queso fresco
PUB UPDATES
We have some dope Animal Cookies coasters that we can use while we have the beer on–please make sure you snag some of these when doing the restock lists come Friday morning!
The ice bin cover is getting fixed, we are going to hopefully also install some rubber bumpers to help prevent this from happening again (since it’s been twice in one year).
Pub Focus Points
ALL: 86 Item Communication Awareness!! When we have 86'd an item, make sure that we are passing this message along to EVERYONE, writing it on the whiteboard, and ensuring that someone has updated the POS. Same goes for when we have an item back in-stock.
FOH: Table Resetting Awareness! When cleaning a table, all surfaces should be wiped down (tables, chairs, table tents, salt & peppers) and the floor should be fully free of debris. If there are chairs, they should be pushed in. A table reset should look like it’s the first time that someone is sitting at that table for the day.
Line: Re-Stock Awareness! Let's focus on stocking this week! Make sure items are in the correct spot, double checking dates on items for rotation purposes, and that we are not over stocking slow moving items such as BC Crumbles, Balsamic Onions and such...if you have any questions check in with a Lead or Mgr. so we are all on the same page!!
Prep: Project Goal Times Awareness!Time to take a look at goal times again. How do you compare for projects you do often, and projects you don't usually do?
Pub Company Direction Objectives
Consistently promote and encourage teamwork and strengthen the ties within our team–we are our most successful when we work together and support/understand each other.
Promote ongoing education on all things Block 15 through monthly "Deep Dives" on items from the kitchen, and from the brewery/bar. Each month (roughly) Sarah and myself will send out our information on respective Deep Dives on menu items. Food & Beverage Discovery 5/15/24
Demonstrate to every guest that we are happy they have joined us. Make connections and show genuine interest and excitement!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
My last day at Block 15 will be August 4th. It has been a true pleasure working with all of you over the years. Anytime any of you are in Bend, you always have somewhere to go if you need! Come see me at the TR or grab a beer with me and Gavin before we move if you would like! Love, Madie
The dishwasher needs to have rinse aid and washing detergent added to it every time it gets filled or drained and refilled. To do so you will want to hold down the top 2 switches on the left of the dishwasher for about 20-30 seconds. If you open the dishwasher you will be able to see it coming out into the dishwasher.
This week is the last Tunes n Brews! Thank you to everyone who came to support, worked during them, etc! It wouldn’t have gone so well without you all!!
Tap Room Focus Points
FOH: Glassware! Keep up monitoring the glassware and dishwasher. Please make sure we are serving customers drinks in clean glasses and rewash items when needed. Give glasses a once over before pouring into them.
ALL: Keep it up! Thanks for working hard, communicating, and staying informed. You are all appreciated!
Upcoming Events
Tunes, Brews & BBQ! Last one of the year!
First 4 Wednesdays of July! Live music and bomb.com BBQ specials!
Wed 7/24 BBQ Special: Brisket Burnt Ends, Texas Toast, Watermelon, Elotes $16.99
Dessert: Peach Shortcake
Music: Tuesday String Band
Tour ‘N Taste
July 25th between 5:30 - 6:30 pm
2 tour times available: 5:30 & 6 pm from the brew staff, a first taste of Animal Cookies, and a small-bite pairing of Roasted Tomato, Feta, & Hot Honey Tartlet from Sarah.
We’re charging $5 this time around to encourage reservations. Tickets can be purchased for either the 5:30 or 6:00 tour slot on our website, through the event page or our online store under Experiences.
Each time slot is limited to 15 people. 21+ only.
If we don’t sell out, walk-ins are welcome.
2024 Objectives
Elevate engagement through impactful community-centered opportunities and events
Enhance the visibility of the Block 15 Bakery and unique Taproom menu items
Amplify the customer convenience factor
Bakery Highlight: Bier Bread Pretzel
The bier pretzel recipe comes to us from our fearless leader Nick Arzner! He researched pretzel recipes and made test batches at home before handing it off to our fledgling little bakery back in the early days. Blocktoberfest 2009 spurred the idea, and the resulting product was kept on the menu at Caves when she originally opened in 2011. To quote the recipe, in regards to shaping the dough, "Every pretzel should have a smile".
Pretzels have a rich history in the beer world, originating in south Germany in the 6th or 7th century. Here is a good article about the history of the beer pretzel!
When the taproom opened in 2015, since we moved our bakery operations from the pub to the new space, we thought the pretzel would be a wonderful addition to the menu as a quick fire taproom item and as a way to really highlight the bakery! And then it quickly hopped onto the menu at the pub!
Pretzel is a fantastic vegetarian option, but it does contain butter so it is not a vegan offering.
Try to highlight and/or suggest this item to 3 different customers per shift you work!
Caves Updates
2024 Caves Direction Objectives:
Deliver elevated consistency through the Caves experience
Hit our service and food standards every single time! Show our guests why we should be their regular spot and what sets us apart with our elevated experience.
Keep eyes up and out and move through the restaurant rather than just behind the bar when making loops. Offer to grab another beverage, refill waters, or pre-bus tables, even if they aren’t yours.
Amplify education and enthusiasm within our food and beverage programs
Through elevated and thorough education on new menu items and revisiting tried and true classics, or beverages with more history and information.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Brittany Bernstien - She's doing a great job learning all our prep projects. Welcome to the team!
Patience Womack - Thanks SO MUCH for bringing down all those boxes, and thanks for checking to make sure the boxes ended up in the right spot so we can find what we need.
If you have kudos or kind words to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
Human resources
STAFF SECTION
Please welcome the following folks to the team:
Ricardo Garcia Garcia (Brewery)
Thalia Rosales (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Slow down and make sure you’re listening for safety calls! We need to be slowing down, consistently using our corner calls, and keeping eyes forward when moving through spaces for safety purposes. We are a busy and fast paced restaurant and need to be giving time to each other to safely move through work spaces. Please take a deep breath and remember to slow down & while making safety calls.
Office Hours
Monday: Canceled.
Wednesday: Tap Room 1-4 pm
Thursday: Tap Room 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Pub 1-4 pm
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Check back next week!
WHAT’S UP ON INSTA??
FEEDBACK
Hey friends! If you find yourself sitting at home, or out and about and something pops into your mind that you would like to pass along to the team, feel free to use this form! Please be mindful of keeping feedback or suggestions constructive and positively worded!