Internal Brewsletter - June 5th, 2024
General
Smoking/Vaping Areas at the Tap Room
This is a reminder to keep smoking/vaping in appropriate areas. The breezeway between buildings is a non-smoking area at all times, as it is a work area for the Brewery and Distro teams and has air intakes for bringing fresh air into the brewery. (From Matt W.)
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 Olivia! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Prosciutto & Mozzarella Bruschetta.
We’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - Cans
Releasing Friday 6/7
Summer Knights //
Description: Brewed as the MVP for the season roster, celebrate the warm season under stadium lights with a cold one. Crisp hops and smooth malts make this brew the perfect choice for any occasion. // 5.30%
Key Takeaway: Brewed to celebrate our partnership with the Corvallis Knights Baseball team, this Kölsch is brewed to be imminently drinkable, a perfect balance of malt sweetness, hops, and smooth lager character. Light, crisp, refreshing.
Tasting Notes: Biscuit • Crisp • Grand Slam
Format: Draft & Cans
Special Release Info: Until we can access stock in early July, this item will only be available in the Corvallis community (our locations, the stadium, and Corvallis zip codes 97330-97339).
Series: Perennial
Beer Style: Kölsch
Kölsch is a lager-like style named for the region in which it is traditionally brewed, Cologne, Germany. It is pale yellow in color and light in body, with a crisp old-world hop character. It is always a very refreshing beer and finishes clean. Kölsch is lager-like in the fact that it is fermented warm with ale yeast but conditioned cold like a lager. The brewing process is similar to altbier.
Alumni Club: Portland Chapter //
Description: Welcoming a new member annually, the Alumni Club celebrates the OSU's lasting impact on the brewing industry. This year, we are working with the crew at Lazy Days Brewing in Portland OR. This sessionable West Coast IPA has a crisp body paired with a refreshing blend of hop characters like pine, grapefruit, and citrus. // 6.00%
Key Takeaway: Brewed in collaboration with Lazy Days Brewing, this west coast IPA is brewed with Chinook, Simcoe, and Mckenzie hops to create a sessionable West Coast IPA with strong character of pine, grapefruit, and citrus.
Tasting Notes: Citrus Pith • Dank • Celebratory
Format: Draft & Cans
Series: Synergy
Beer Style: West Coast IPA
An IPA Sub-style that originated in California. It has evolved over the years to showcase a balance of bright fruit, resinous pine, and dank (cannabis-forward) hop flavors and aromas, with a moderate to light malt presence and a dry finish with an assertive bitterness. West Coast is still a rapidly evolving style. The Variations of IPAs have become America’s primary contribution to the pantheon of world beer styles.
Fresh Flow //
Description: Ready to float into the finest beer dispensers around the Pacific Northwest, this summertime IPA features a soft malt base beneath a tidal wave of exotic tropical and juicy citrus hop varietals. // 6.50%
Key Takeaway: Summer is nearly upon us and that means our summer seasonal IPA, Fresh Flow is hitting the market for the season.
Tasting Notes: Clementine • Papaya • Runoff Season
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 6/7
Summer Knights // Kölsch
Alumni Club: Portland Chapter // West Coast IPA
Fresh Flow // IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE for Sippin’ Sunday
20% off all packaged beer to-go, $5 Crowlers and $10 Growler fills all-day Sunday
This week’s beer is: Joy
UPCOMING Releases
*This list is subject to change based on the production schedule, so please keep that in mind!
TC Mango Picoso // Lambic-Style ale with Mango, Chili, Lime, and Sea Salt
Series: Cellars
Releases: June 14th
Format: Draft & Bottles
Description: Turbulent Consequence is our turbid mashed, extended boiled, lambic-style ale spontaneously fermented and matured in our underground wild cellars. This blend was conditioned with Ancho, Guajillo, Habanero peppers, lime zest, mango, and sea salt.
Ice Knife // West Coast IPA
Series: Emerging
Releases: June 14th
Format: Draft & Cans
Description: Brewed with cutting-edge hop technologies, CO2 extracted Salvo™ and cryogenically frozen Strata CGX™. This West Coast IPA amplifies the most vibrant factions of sticky & pungent hop characters with a razor-sharp hop showcase of bright citrus peel oils & dense resin.
Pinot Noir // 2021 Pigage
Series: Wine / Cellars
Releases: June 14th
Format: Draft & Bottles
Description: Biodynamically grown Pinot Noir traditionally crushed by foot stomping and macerated with their stems. Free run must fermented and conditioned in neutral oak barrels.
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, June 13th at 4 pm!
Beer 101: Perennial Drop
Written by Garrison Schmidt, Head Brewer
Summer is upon us! With the beginning of the new season, come two big seasonal releases! This week we have two perennial beers dropping in-house and in cans for distro, Fresh Flow IPA and Summer Knights Kölsch. These beers have made their return and are here to stay for the duration of the summer.
Fresh Flow is a beautifully soft, fruit-forward, summer IPA that falls on the hazier side. We brewed a full 80 barrels of it (the biggest tank we have) with more to be brewed midsummer, so know that it’ll be around and fresh for the whole season. We’re counting on you to push this one hard and really talk it up! It should be the perfect beer to please any IPA lover but is approachable enough to suggest it to your more reserved friends and customers, too.
The second perennial dropping this week is one of my very favorite beers that we make. Summer Knights Kölsch is a beer that we have brewed for many years as the official beer of the Corvallis Knights, our town’s West Coast League baseball team. I have a ton of memories working for Block 15 at the Knights games, handing out raffle tickets to everyone who purchased a Summer Knights beer. It was a blast and I’m so glad that we’re making our return to Goss Stadium this summer. This Kölsch strikes a perfect balance between bready malt character, crisp hops, and refreshing lager-like fermentation character from its cold conditioning. Paired with a ballpark dog, it’s as close to heaven as I’m probably going to get. This is another beer that we are going to be brewing often throughout the summer, as we also supply the ballpark with it for the duration of the season. Look forward to having one after work, at home, and in the stands. Knights tickets are notoriously cheap and it’s a really great time. If you haven't been to a game, or it’s been a while, I can’t recommend it enough. Look for me at the game, or at work, and let me know what you think of the beer.
From the Executive Chef
MONTHLY SPECIALS! Releasing today!
PUB
Peanut & Ginger Chicken Sandwich-Soy and ginger marinated & grilled chicken thigh, sesame-napa cabbage slaw, house peanut & red curry sauce, and mayo on a toasted baguette.
Tahini Baba Ganoush-Roasted Eggplant, garlic and tahini dip served with Groundwork Organics snap peas, cucumbers & radishes, red bell peppers and house baked flatbread.
Summer Berry Salad Groundwork Organics’ salad greens, creamy citrus-parmesan dressing, roasted sunflower seeds, fresh local berries, julienned radishes & basil and balsamic pickled onions.
TAPROOM
Strawberry-Chipotle Burger NW beef burger, local strawberry & chipotle sauce, melted brie cheese, crisp lettuce, sweet onion and mayo on a toasted brioche bun.
Strawberry & Chevre Bruschetta - Toasted baguette with creamy chevre cheese, Groundwork Organics’’ strawberries & basil and balsamic glaze.
PUB UPDATES
Pub Focus Points
ALL: Take-Out Order Accuracy Awareness–We have had some feedback of missed sauces, sides, and inaccurate orders as of recent. Let’s be sure that we are thoroughly reading tickets when packaging & again when we are bagging orders for guests.
FOH: FOH to BOH Communication Awareness–Whenever there is a question about a ticket when running, an adjustment needing to be made on a ticket, or anything regarding a ticket that is up or being sent GO TO THE LEAD on the Line no matter what!! If you ask someone on the fryer side they will instruct you to talk to the Lead, even if they think they can help, as the Lead is in control of the Line. In order to keep the flow running smoothly the Lead needs to be in control and the Line needs to not be disrupted–especially when we are busy!
LINE: FOH to BOH Communication Awareness! BOH, if someone in the FOH is asking you for things, tell them to go to the LEAD even if you think you can help. In order to keep the flow running smoothly the Lead needs to be in control.
PREP: Putting Things Where They Go Awareness! Take the extra second to put something away correctly or reorganize if needed to make things easy to find (especially on the line shelf).
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
This is a reminder to keep smoking/vaping in appropriate areas. The breezeway between buildings is a non-smoking area at all times, as it is a work area for the Brewery and Distro teams and has air intakes for bringing fresh air into the brewery. (From Matt W.)
If the weather is going to be over 80 degrees, all the potted plants and hanging flower baskets need to be watered twice during the day at least 1 or 2 full pitchers each time.
OSU Graduation is next Saturday! Just a reminder we are not accepting any reservations next week 6/10-6/17.
We will be running a Dads and Grads merch and cellar stash sale next week! Merch will be online and at the TR it will run 6/10-17 and the cellar stash sale will run 6/14-6/17.
Merch will be 25% off and if ordering online, free shipping for orders over $50 also. (There will be a discount button to use)
Cellar stash sale will be a list of curated bottles for $10 and if you buy 4 or more receive 20% off. (Bottles will be listed under “500ml cellar stash” page in toast and there will be a button for the 20% off if buying 4 or more)
Reminder: Please make sure we are upholding our dress code policy and having a Block 15 logo visible on an outer layer when on the clock.
It is crucial that we are still providing exceptional customer service and service to all our customers. Please make sure we are continuing to check in with tables consistently, offering suggestions, and going above and beyond!
Tap Room Focus Points
ALL: New Specials! Make sure you are aware of the new monthly specials, procedures, etc. gather any feedback you can this week!
FOH: Table check-ins! Please make sure we are still checking in with as many tables as possible, giving great hospitality, and doing our best to provide top tier service!
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
Upcoming Events
Grads and Dads 6/10-6/17
Online: All merch will be 25% off and free shipping for orders over $50
In person at the TR:
Merch will be 25% off
6/14-6/17 Cellar Stash sale - curated list of bottles $10 and 20% off if you buy 4 or more.
Beer School Thursday, June 27th 5-7pm
Join us for our Beer Education Class hosted every other month by our Brewery Team at our South Town Production Facility and Taproom! Each class will explore a beer style’s history, our brewing techniques to create a Block 15 beer and finish with a tasting flight. In this educational experience, we will cover a staple style to any PNW brewery, the India Pale Ale. Come with questions and a note book, and get ready for beer school!
Tickets available on our website!
Tunes n Brews!
First 4 Wednesdays of July! Live music and bomb.com BBQ specials! First one is Wednesday July 3rd
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.
Interesting Facts & Tidbits About our Pretzel from Lindsey!
In a world where soft pretzels aren't hard to find on pub menus, I think ours stand out as exceptional amongst a sea of bland, dry, bready offerings. What sets our pretzels apart from less tasty counterparts out there? It could be the fact that we use 100% Gloria! pilsner in place of any water (literally putting the "bier" in bier pretzel)! It's also thanks to the addition of a little whole wheat flour (from our friends at Camas Country Mill). And it's most certainly helped by all the butter in the dough, not to mention the melted butter that's brushed on top at time of service. Once everything is mixed into a smooth dough, it gets a slow rise in the fridge overnight.
Perhaps the most impactful step in our pretzel-making process is the two-stage cooking method. Akin to bagels, our shaped pretzels get dipped in a boiling baking soda solution prior to going in the oven. This chemical reaction results in a beautiful dark brown color, a slightly chewy crust, and more pronounced flavor in the end.
These days we make pretzels for all 3 locations and they are in production most bake days. They require following a lot of steps, but it's a labor of love. At this point we could all make pretzels in our sleep. If we had to. Don't actually take me up on that!
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
Ian H. - Thanks for dealing with our plumbing issues... we appreciate it.
Rachel Zmolek - Rachel has been doing an amazing job. Whether it be providing warm, top-notch service at the restaurants, or at the accounting desk, she's crushing it.
Nicole Ceperich - Nicole's been doing a great job learning to bar tend at Caves. Her service with a smile is infectious and a wonderful thing to be greeted by.
Annalee Anglin - I love the positive, attentive energy she brings to work! She's been learning to bar tend at Caves and is doing a great job.
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:
Brandon Serrell (BOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Maintain correct posture: make sure your posture is correct when you lift, push, pull, or carry things to avoid straining your back or neck.
Office Hours
Monday: Tap Room 10 am - 1 pm, Pub 2 - 5 pm
Thursday: Tap Room 1-4 pm
Friday: Pub 1-4 pm
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint - Month of June
For the month of June, we will be hosting a People’s Pint Tap! What is a People’s Pint Tap you ask? For the whole month, we dedicate a portion of proceeds from a beer (or tap space) that goes directly toward an organization! This includes packaged and draft sales from the beer of choice.
People’s Pint Tap beer: Gloria!
Organization: Ocean Blue Project
A grassroots 501c3 nonprofit organization with a compelling mission – to rehabilitate and conserve the world’s oceans, beaches, and rivers. We work to keep pollutants from entering ecosystems through the recovery of plastics from ocean, beach, and river clean-ups, solutions, collaborative community-driven service learning projects, and youth education. Our commitment to a cleaner, healthier ecosystem drives our work, and we empower individuals and communities to join us in this vital mission.
Beach Clean-Up - June 30th 11 am - 1 pm
With that, we will be hosting a beach clean-up in Newport, OR (at Nye Beach) on June 30th to celebrate World Ocean’s Day and do our part in cleaning up our beach! This is our 3rd year in a row doing this and it is a fun way to get outside and help our environment!
Date: June 30th
Time: 11 am - 1 pm
Location: Nye Beach
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!