Internal Brewsletter - August 21st, 2024
General
Brewery Happy Hour this Thursday 4 pm at the Pub
Join the Brewery Thursday, August 22nd, 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.
New Dessert starting Friday 8/23
German Chocolate Bell will be replacing Strawberry Bell
Our classic chocolate cake with silky chocolate frosting sandwiched in the middle and topped with a fudgy, coconut pecan frosting. The cakes are finished with a cherry at the center of our usual swirly.
Closed Sunday
Both Block 15 locations will be closed on Sunday for the company party. Caves will be open for Brunch service only.
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 Scotch Eggs!
We’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - Cans
Releasing Friday 8/23
Bloktoberfest //
Description: Celebrate Oktoberfest Block 15-style with this amber-hued Märzen lager. Noble hops impart subtle floral and spicy aromas, while PNW-sourced Pilsner and Munich-style malts build a delicate base. // 5.50%
Key Takeaway: We continue to move our lager program to regionally sourced malt. This Bloktoberfest is almost exclusively from the PNW, but it still has that authentic flavor.
Tasting Notes: Wildflower Honey.Toasted Biscuit. Prost!
Format: Draft & Cans
Series: Perennial
Beer Style: Märzen Lager
Märzen Lager is a beer style that originated in Bavaria during the 15th century. The beers are traditionally brewed in March, which is where the style gets its name. Beers were only allowed to be brewed in colder months, as warmer months produced off flavors without modern temperature control, and Märzen was one of the last to be brewed. They’d then be lagered in underground caves and cellars where it was cool until fall when they’d be served at Oktoberfest. Compared to other German lagers, Märzen is fuller in body, has a slightly sweeter malt profile, and is slightly less bitter. It has an amber-golden color, a thick, frothy head, and is crystal beer.
Buzzworks™ //
Description: Brewed with our friends at Chris King Precision Components to celebrate the riding season, this West Coast Pilsner is bursting with citrus, lychee, and strawberry hop notes. // 5.50%
Key Takeaway: Brewed featuring Belma, Citra, and Strata, this WC Pils brewed for Chris King Precision Components is a hoppy end-of-summer crusher.
Tasting Notes: Lychee • Kaffir Lime • Shifting
Format: Draft & Cans
Series: Synergy, collab with Chris King Precision Components
Beer Style: NW Pilsner
These are emerging styles, still in active development across the craft brewing world, and certain to change dramatically over the next few years. While the malt and fermentation profiles resemble classic continental pilsners, these beers feature aggressive hop aromatics and flavor from newer North American and Southern Hemisphere hop varieties typically used in IPAs. Light, sessionable, snappy, and dry, these beers offer a lighter alternative to the heavier or stronger IPAs that usually feature these flavors.
Highland Hymn //
Description: Inspired by the majestic sights and sounds of Scotland, Highland Hymn is a malt-forward crescendo of caramelized sugar and toffee notes accompanied by a robust, and complex finish. // 5.80%
Key Takeaway: Comforting, cozy, and drinkable; true to style.
Tasting Notes: Fresh Biscuit. Rich Toffee. Spontaneous Ballads.
Format: Draft & Cans
Series: Perennial
Beer Style: Scottish Ale
Scotch ale can refer to a spectrum of beers that are almost all amber to dark with prominent malt flavor and have a light hop flavor and bitterness that leads to a smooth, sometimes decadent drinking experience. Scottish ale usually refers to a beer of moderate strength, between 5% and 6%.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
Releasing Friday 8/23
Bloktoberfest // Märzen Lager
Buzzworks // NW Pilsner
Highland Hymn // Scottish Ale
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: No Crowler Sale or Sippin’ Sunday Sale due to closure for the company party!
UPCOMING Releases
*This list is subject to change based on the production schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Rocky Shores // American IPA
Series: Emerging
Releases: August 30th
Format: Draft & Cans
Description: As rugged and unique as the rocky shorelands of the Oregon Coast, this bright and flavorful IPA showcases both southern hemisphere and PNW hops with a blend of citrus, stonefruit, and herbaceous notes.
Sticky Hands: Beer Pageant // Hop Experience Ale
Series: Sticky Hands
Releases: August 30th
Format: Draft at the Tap Room ONLY
Description: Sticky Hands all dressed up for the big show. This version of Sticky Hands had its dry hop cranked up to 11. With copious additions of Citra and Strata on top of our standard dry hopping regime, this version of Sticky Hands will surely be a crowd-pleaser.
Deep Seek: Beer Pageant // West Coast IPA
Series: Pub Life
Releases: August 30th
Format: Draft at the Tap Room ONLY
Description: Deep Seek all dressed up for the big show. This version of Deep Seek had its dry hop cranked up to 11. With copious additions of Citra, Nectar, and Chinook added on top of our standard dry hopping regime, this version of Deep Seek will surely be a crowd-pleaser.
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, August 22nd, at 4 pm!
Beer 101: Scottish Ales
Written by Garrison Schmidt, Head Brewer
Scotland has a long and proud brewing history. 5000 years ago, folks living in neolithic warrens brewed ales from malt steeped with bitter herbs like heather and thistle and were some of the first brewers to mix wild hops in with their brew. As time went on, they continued the tradition of brewing malt forward, lightly bittered beer, and Scottish Ale today remains more influenced by their own brewing traditions than many other brewing regions around the world, which were heavily influenced by English, Belgian, and German brewers.
Scottish Ales traditionally are named alongside a number, generally between 40 and 90, that represented how many shillings (designated by the symbol /- ) a pub would be invoiced for a hogshead of beer. A hogshead is a barrel very similar to today's bourbon barrels. Breweries might have brewed several beers under the same shilling designation. For instance, Maclay brewed a 54/- stout and a 54/- Pale. Eventually, these designations began to fall in line with the strength of ABV and would be associated with familiar terms we know today. The Scottish Ales are largely understood to be;
Light - (60/-) under 3.5%
Heavy - (70/-) between 3.5% and 4%
Export - (80/-) between 4.0% and 5.5%
Wee Heavy - (90/-) above 6%
Export beers are named as such in the UK as they are taxed at a different rate if sent out of the isles. Beers sold at home are taxed based on ABV, whereas beers sold abroad are taxed by volume, so they can make a stronger beer to compete in foreign markets.
Wee heavys are named that because they were viewed as so strong that they were sold in 6 oz. “nip” bottles.
Scottish Ales are malty, low in bitterness, and deliciously caramel-forward. They vary in strengths and color but tend to have a full, chewy mouthfeel and low-hop character.
This week, we release Highland Hymn, our take on the Scottish Ale, which falls at 5.8%, somewhere between an export and wee heavy. It is robust, with lots of toffee, caramelized sugar, and warm honeyed malts, and finishes with an uncommon degree of complexity. It’s been described as cozy and should be a welcome addition to your cellar as cooler fall weather moves in. I’m always excited when we release malt-forward beers, as they give us a break from the norm. This has been a special pet project for brewery Production Manager Danny, so if you like it, give him a high five and let him know that the work is appreciated.
From the Executive Chef
September monthly specials will drop Wednesday September 4th! Here is a sneak peek at the list! Be ready to read over more in depth information and procedures next week! XOXO
PUB SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
Shrimp & Red Curry Noodles-Spicy & creamy coconut red curry sauce, tender yakisoba, red bell peppers, zucchini, sweet onion & snap peas topped with wild caught gulf shrimp, crushed peanuts & cilantro $15.99
HB, PB & J Burger-NW beef burger served on a Bread Stop toasted brioche bun with creamy Freddy Guys’ hazelnut butter, sweet marionberry jam & crispy pork belly. $18.99
Jalapeno Popper Dip-Spicy jalapeno & cream cheese dip, topped with cheddar jack cheese & parmesan breadcrumbs. Served with house fried tortilla chips. $11.99
TR SEPTEMBER SPECIALS
El Padrino-Pepper Tree Sausage House chorizo, aleppo-lime roasted sweet potatoes, cilantro-jalapeno mayo, mixed greens and jalapeno kettle chips on house baked ciabatta bread. $15.99
Melon & Prosciutto Salad- Fresh greens, fresh cantaloupe, prosciutto, smoked gouda, balsamic glaze, citrus basil vinaigrette and fresh basil $16.99
PUB UPDATES
Please do not hang/tape any signs or posters to the front of the host stand. GR Res signs can go in the two holders in the back, and posters can go on the corkboard or in the holders on the windows.
When coming out to the Corral, please make sure to flip the signs from “Order at the Bar” to “Please See Inside for Seating”.
Pub Focus Points
ALL: 86’d Items & Low Items Communication Awareness!! When it’s slower it can be easy to feel like you told everyone, but still miss some people. This could be good practice as we head into the start of fall.
FOH: Wine Knowledge Awareness!! Let’s freshen up our wine knowledge as this can be a difficult talking point. We would like to encourage people to taste a couple wines per shift & read up on the bottles so that we can all make more educated recommendations. We are going to be switching to 2022 Lumos Pinot Noir soon so this is perfect timing!! Goody will be updating the wine info sheet with this change as well. Also, please refer to the link on the Brewsletter for the Basic Wine Info Sheet for Caves as this will give more detailed information about wines.
Line: Fresh Garnish Awareness!!Let's make sure that when we prep the garnishes in the morning and at shift change that we flip that container so we are not just adding fresh herbs on top of older ones.
Prep: Boomstick Awareness!! Please be gentle with the boomstick. Make sure the blade is always submerged below the level of what you are blending, and move it around slowly. If you hear screeching or a bad motor noise, stop!
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
Thank you so much for the warm welcome to the team everyone! As I get settled into my new position, I would like to invite you all to please send any feedback you have my way on current operations, what is currently going well and what could be improved upon. Feel free to use the feedback log upstairs, or email me at: elise@block15.com
I am excited to hear from you!
Upcoming Events
Check back next week!
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
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.
Events
Corvallis Beer Week - August 29th - September 7th
Corvallis Beer Week will run from August 29th - September 7th this year. We’ll be hosting and participating in a few events this year:
Thursday, August 29th at Caves: Starting location for the Kickoff March & Pub Crawl. From 4-5 pm, we’ve invited folks to hang out and enjoy a hand-selected lineup of beers paired with a special Gather Hour menu.
Tuesday, September 3rd at the Pub: From 5-7 pm, we’re hosting a Flight & Pretzel Bites event and getting people excited about Bloktoberfest by giving out a free half-liter mug with the purchase of the pairing.
Friday, September 6th at Treebeerd’s: They’ll be celebrating their 5th Anniversary with Block 15 and Dirt Road beers pouring from 4-8 pm.
Saturday, September 7th at Avery Park: We’ll be pouring a few beers at Septembeerfest to close out the week’s celebrations.
Bloktoberfest - October 11th - 12th
Check it out! The website HUB is live with all the details about the event.
Starting September 5th, folks will be able to pre-order Stein Packages from this page. All other tickets will be sold at the door.
HIGH FIVEs
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:
Ben Lieberthal (BOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Remember to follow safe lifting guidelines such as keeping a wide base of support (feet shoulder-width apart), bending at the hips and knees only, keeping good posture with your back straight and lifting slowly while holding the load as close to your body as possible.
Office Hours
Monday: Pub 10 am - 1 pm
Wednesday: Tap Room : 1 - 4 pm
Thursday: Tap Room 10:45 am-12:45 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!