Internal Brewsletter - October 14, 2020
MARKETING UPDATES
LATE FALL BOTTLE RELEASE
We will be doing a modified version of our Late Fall Bottle Release on Saturday, November 7th! This release will include Figgy Pudding, the always highly-anticipated release of Imagine, and the special 2020 variation, Imagine, Belgian Waffle. Each year we take a blend of Belgian-inspired imperial stouts, matured for one to two years in freshly-emptied bourbon barrels for the base, and then reserve a small portion to be conditioned with select ingredients to be released as a limited variation—this year being hot liege waffles and fresh maple syrup.
A quick, but important, heads up—this year’s release will be run just a bit different than in the past. For 2020 you will have THREE different options to procure an allotment of release bottles:
First is our yearly brunch, by reservation only, secured through our newsletter brunch lottery. This year’s brunch will be at the Pub and the Tap Room (Caves will just have public brunch as if it’s a normal Saturday). This lottery is currently open and accepting entrants, and will close this coming Tuesday.
Second, we are offering these releases via our Saturday Drive-Thru sale. The store for this will open as normal, on the Tuesday before the release (November 3rd). This will be done as all other Saturday Drive-Thru sales are done, so nothing new or special!
Third, we will offer ordering UPS delivery to Oregon addresses! Items on the UPS store will go live on Tuesday, November 3rd with fulfillment happening on Thursday, November 5th for delivery on Friday, November 6th.
We’ll provide more details as the event gets closer, in addition to more details provided to folks working at respective locations during the release!
FRESH PRESS CIDER
We’re super excited to announce that we’re making cider! The brew team has been hard at work developing this amazing new addition to the Block 15 lineup. Our first offering is called Fresh Press, a crisp, unfiltered style using sweet Fuji and tart Granny Smith apples.
Fresh Press will be on tap at both Pub and Tap Room locations in the coming weeks, with canned product in the near future!
More details regarding pricing, what it’s replacing, and additional logistics will be relayed as we get closer to a release date.
BLOCK 15 CREW: STAFF APPAREL DESIGN SHOP
This is the last week to order your custom Block 15 Crew apparel. We’re looking forward to seeing everyone rep their gear in their own style!
We’d also love to hear your feedback on this project as well. Do you like the flexibility to choose your own style? Like to have fresh staff-only designs? Anything else you’d like to see? Hit Pascal up at pascal@block15.com and let him hear it!
UPCOMING BOTTLE RELEASES
*We are going to start linking our distribution one sheets with these beer descriptions/updates so you can reference those for more detailed information and see what we give our accounts before they order!
The DAB Lab, Full Melt // Blazey IPA // The latest iteration of our DAB Lab series drops this Saturday! Full Melt is a sticky, tropical 1-2-3 using Citra Cryo, Ekuanot Incognito and Simcoe Co2 extract. We’re pretty stoked to add this dank, hazy addition to our DAB Lab family of beers that explore different hop extraction techniques. // 7% ABV // $4.50 / 16 oz can, plus deposit
Såjhon // Mixed-culture Saison // Mixed-culture fans rejoice! Såjhon is releasing this Saturday alongside The DAB Lab, Full Melt. Såjhon is a rustic farmhouse ale, blending classic Saison yeast and Brettanomyces. Mild funk and delicate acidity support notes of fresh hay and countryside flowers from a duo of noble German hops. A robust grist profile of both rye malt and flaked corn lend dryness and rustic earthiness to the finish. // 4.8% ABV // $11.50 / 500mL bottle
GENERAL UPDATES
Please continue to review our menu changes happening around the company starting this week and next and ensure you know what’s up! Here is an overview of the changes for you to review beforehand so you can be prepared!
For kitchen folks, procedures can be found here.
The OLCC has extended the authorization to accept expired Oregon IDs through the end of the year, so please FOH’ers be aware of this as we’re checking IDs!
DOWNTOWN UPDATES
Fall cocktails have officially launched! They are as listed below:
Chai Painkiller // Chai tea infused silver rum, coconut cream, pineapple & orange juices.
Currant Mood // Buffalo Trace bourbon, Clear Creek Cassis liqueur, lemon juice, honey, Q Ginger Beer.
The Pollinator // Crater Lake Gin, honey-sage-ginger simple syrup, and lemon juice.
Hot Spiked Cider // Applejack Brandy, Tuaca, and hot apple cider.
**Also, our seasonal fruit lemonade flavor has changed from Passionfruit to Black Currant-Blackberry.
We are shifting our closing server schedules. We now have a "1st off" and "2nd off" closer with the "1st off" being responsible for the upstairs closing duties.
Mug Club shirts & mugs, as well as Bourbon Month Passport shirts, are all now all available for pick-up. Members and Passport completers have been given a few different options as to how they would like to receive their swag, so Pub servers may have some members ask if they can pick up their items. Servers should check in with the manager on duty who will then be able to grab shirts/mugs for the guest.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We’re pushing back the new menu here at the Tap Room until next Tuesday, October 20th due to some mechanical delays!
Starting once the current 2Towns cider runs out on draft, we will transition to Wandering Aengus as our draft cider for the time being (until our own cider, Fresh Press, goes live)!
TAKE-OUT/DELIVERY UPDATES
On Monday, Chris discovered a change in the online system when it comes to gift card usage. Turns out that as of August 1st, Square changed its fee structure for deliveries and they no longer accept Gift Cards for delivery orders! BOO!!!!
With this knowledge, there are 2 options:
If the guest has not cleared their shopping cart for their order through the website: Tell the guest they can put through the order as a take-out order, and enter their address and phone number in the final section of “notes to seller.” This will still allow them to use their card, and send the order through the system.
If their preference is to do the order over the phone: Please take their order, and get their address and phone number. Based on which gift card they are using, please use either the POS or Square gift card number Either option you go with, please make sure to check with the take out/delivery team to give an accurate projection of the delivery time for their order.
STAFF UPDATES
Give a big warm welcome to our newest staff members!
Hannah Copeland - Host
Darla Bodway - Host
Congratulations to our fearless scheduler & Pub manager Laura, who recently marked her 5-year anniversary with the company!! 🍻
WHAT’S UP ON INSTA??
WHAT’S GOING ON TAP SOON?
This schedule is subject to change based on availability & brewing logistics!
Tap Room & Pub
Friday, 10/16 - The DAB Lab, Full Melt / Såjhon
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
Blacklight / Black Lager/Schwarzbier
Turbulent Consequence, Duivels Bier/ Spontaneously Fermented Dark Lambic-style Ale
Charlie’s Delights, Pear & Maple Upside Down Cake / Overly Fruited Tart Wit-style Ale
THE PEOPLE’S PINT
October’s People’s Pint will benefit Corvallis Mountain Rescue Unit!
DINE-OUTS
Pub Dine Out: Check back in November!
Tap Room Dine Out: Check back in November! (The previously scheduled Dine-Out has been cancelled due to the restructuring of the organization!)
CASA’S SHOP SMALL, HELP BIG FUNDRAISER
CASA - Voices for Children is a non-profit organization working with foster children in Corvallis. They are Court Appointed Special Advocates, and their mission is to provide advocacy for 100% of abused and neglected children with open dependency cases within Benton County. CASA is a unique program; there are no other agencies or nonprofit organizations that provide advocacy on behalf of children in foster care. CASA is built on the foundation of everyday people contributing to make a difference in an abused child’s life.
Due to Covid-19 and the difficult year they have experienced as a community, they have decided to try a new "Shop Small, Help BIG" fundraiser this fall:
They are asking community members to purchase gift cards or certificates to their favorite local business and donate them to CASA. The cards and certificates will be gathered and auctioned live on our website or platform in the first week of December.
Our staff doesn’t have to do anything other than sell gift cards and the rest is handled by CASA! So it is a super easy, great way to support this organization. If you do have any questions, though, please reach out to Katy or Paige.