Internal Brewsletter - January 25, 2023
GENERAL
If you take any items (to-go boxes, bar supplies, food/ingredients, napkins, etc.) from any of our locations, it needs to be recorded on the Transfer Log to make sure that our inventory is accurately tracked. If you are unsure where the Transfer Log is, or how to fill it out, please check in with a manager. Thank you!
Love Potion #9 Coco Bell is Back this Friday! It will replace the OG bell at both locations
Decadent chocolate cake featuring our Love Potion #9, with a fluffy raspberry cream cheese filling. This update to a childhood classic is then topped with silky ganache, finished with a classic swirl! $8.00
Starting February 1 we will be changing our cheesecake topping to a tart kriek cherry topping!
Don’t have time to attend an educational beer session during the week? Ted Talks on Tuesdays are getting filmed! Watch the videos below to learn more about each of the beers coming out.
Help us choose which charity to donate to! We regularly return empty cans and bottles from our locations and donate the deposit money to charity once we’ve accrued a larger chunk of change. Give us your input as to where this money should go by filling out this anonymous poll:
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - CANS
Releasing Friday
Love Potion #9 // Brewed with a tantalizing blend of dark malts and conditioned with chocolate and red and black raspberries. A most romantic concoction balancing rich notes of chocolate ganache and bountiful berries. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Our ode to valentines day, Cocoa nibs and raspberry puree drive the delectable flavor of this full-bodied stout.
Tasting Notes: Wild Berry. Cocoa Powder. Enchanting.
Blue Truck // A beer for those after work hours and the workers who make them happen. Brewed only in the Pacific Northwest with the finest Oregon water, premium malted barley, and choice hops. // 4.70% ABV
Takeaways: Our take on the classic American Premium Lager, with Block 15 quality. Easy drinker.
Tasting Notes: Crisp. Spicy. Heartland.
Highland Hymn // 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% ABV
Takeaways: Comforting, cozy, and drinkable; true to style.
Tasting Notes: Fresh Biscuit. Rich Toffee. Spontaneous Ballads.
Ice Knife // Brewed with cutting-edge hop technologies, including Co2 extracted Salvo™ and cryogenically frozen Strata CGX™. This WC x NE Hybrid IPA amplifies the most vibrant factions of sticky and pungent hop characters with a razor-sharp hop showcase of bright citrus peel oils and dense resin. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Our first trial of Crosby's new CGX (cryo processed hop pellets), is a hybrid west-coast IPA with features of both hazy IPA's and west-coast.
Tasting Notes: Grapefruit Juice. Pine Resin. Razor's edge.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
Love Potion #9 // Stout with Cocoa Nibs and Red & Black Raspberries
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
Highland Hymn // Scotch Ale
Ice Knife // India Pale Ale
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Sticky Hands: The Kine // Imperial IPA
Bourbon Month Beers:
Super Nebula // Imperial Stout Matured in Bourbon Barrels with Cocoa Nibs
Super Nebula Breakfast with Williams // Imperial Stout Matured in Bourbon Barrels with Cocoa Nibs, Coffee Beans, and Maple
Super Nebula Xocolatl // Imperial Stout Matured in Bourbon Barrels with Cocoa Nibs, Chills, and Spices
Kriek // Oud Bruin Matured in Second-use Bourbon Barrels with Cherries
Charmed Life // Irish Red
Favorable Fourtune // Dry Irish Stout
Animal Cookies // IPA
Headhaze // Hazy IPA (Moonraker Collab)
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale - Squirrel Stash
BEER EDUCATION
Weekly Tastings of new releases and some classics is continuing:
Tuesdays at 2pm at the Taproom
Thursdays at 11am at the Pub
Beer 101
American Premium Lager
American Premium Lager is the official style name for a broad range of North American lagers used in official competition. American lagers emerged in the mid-19th century when German immigrants began brewing beer in America. Through wars and prohibition, the brewers that survived maintained their businesses by continually adapting their recipes with cheaper ingredients and more efficient methods of production. Corn was introduced in the 19th century to offset the higher protein content of the 6-row barley that grows better in the humid regions of North America. Rice was introduced during World War II when corn and barley were highly rationed. The result of decades of cost-cutting led to a product that was cheap, and watered down compared to the pale lagers of Europe.
The Craft Beer revolution, which started with New Albion Brewing Co in Sonoma, California in 1976, initially rejected the style and instead promoted flavor-rich ales like Pale ales and stouts, and eventually the India Pale Ale craze that helped propel craft beer into the mainstream throughout the 2000s and 2010s. Many craft breweries also chose to make classic European lagers, as authentically as possible with the ingredients available to them, it took time for suppliers to grow to be able to import specialty ingredients and offer them coast-to-coast.
A recent uptick in interest in lagers with craft beer consumers has allowed breweries to revisit the macro-lager styles that consumers once had no other choice but to drink. Craft lagers, light-lagers, Canadian lagers and the American Premium lager are making their way into tap lineups at breweries across the country. Blue Truck is our ode to the American Premium Lager, light-bodied, crisp with a slight, sweet finish, but backed up with a more balanced bitterness and hop flavor that is classic to the style.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
Bourbon Month Specials!
Cajun Red Beans & Rice (Replaces Stroganoff Pot Pie. Launches THIS Friday)
Maple Bourbon Bacon Patty Melt (Addition, Launches Feb. 1)
Arugula & Medjool Date Salad (Replaces Chickpea Shawarma Salad, (Launches Feb. 1)
Bourbon Month kicks off next week! Be sure to study up on your bourbon info (beers, specials, bourbon offerings, etc.) and get ready for a fun-filled and busy month!
Blackberry Kiwi SeekOut is on it’s way out and will be replaced by the Raspberry Lemonade SeekOut.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Bourbon Month Specials!
Cajun Red Beans & Rice (Replaces Stroganoff Pot Pie. Launches THIS Friday)
Maple Bourbon Bacon Patty Melt (Replaces Mashpaddle Patty Melt, Launches Feb. 1)
Herb Feta Brulee w/ flatbread and pears (Addition, Launches Feb. 1)
This week we are focusing on our line efficiency. We have been doing a stellar job of busting out the line super quick, but with bourbon month starting next week, we will be pouring more alcohol and cocktails and I want to make sure that it is on the forefront of everyone's minds to get our guests through the line as fast as possible. When we have 3 people on, we should be utilizing the 2nd handheld and the 3rd order station as much as possible. Let’s blow people's minds with how quickly we can get them to the front!
There are a lot of events happening at the Tap Room next week! Make sure your knowledge is on point and let’s get ready to rock!
CAVES UPDATES
We’ll be open for Valentine’s Day! We’ll be serving our regular menu with additional specials, similar to our New Year’s Eve setup. We’ll do some social media marketing to let folks know- but feel free to let people know if they ask! Look forward to our specials for this Tuesday evening!
Bourbon month is starting Feb 2! We’ll have food specials, a Caves specific whiskey that will be included in the passport, and a special Bourbon Dinner: stay tuned for details!
Great job keeping the back hallway clean and organized! Please continue so we can use this space functionally!
MARKETING
Check back next week!
EVENTS
Bourbon Month
Pre-Orders
Pre-order email sent to Mug Club Monday 1/30
Pre-order email sent to Newsletter Subscribers Tuesday 1/31
Pre-orders close Thursday 2/2
Events
Bourbon Month Begins + Stamp Books available 2/1
Brewers Tasting 2/3
Bottle Release Party / Brunch 2/4
Please encourage guests to sign up for our newsletter if they’d like to participate in some of the more limited events. The QR code on the table tents leads to the Bourbon Month HUB, where guests can sign up.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Thomas Barber - Thomas is always crushing it in the prep kitchen with a positive attitude and a badass disposition. What a joy!
Sylvie - Shout out to Sylvie for always working hard to keep things moving in the FOH. Hospitality, teamwork, work ethic and drive are admirable. Thanks for being awesome!
Benny - High fives for Benny! I always enjoy walking by Benny when he is talking with a table. His customer service skills are genuine.
Wyatt Laramee - Wyatt is always going the extra mile to ensure that everyone that he works with is happy! Not only does he ensure that everyone BOH is happy, but he is ALWAYS helping out FOH and I absolutely appreciate it! You are rocking it, Wyatt!
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week
SAFETY TIPS
If the floor is wet due to water or ice please make sure to use the wet floor sign and get the spill cleaned up as quickly as possible.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Cheers for Charity with 4 Spirits Distillery and 4 Spirits Foundation - February 7th
11am-11pm at both Block 15 locations
Tasting from 5-7pm at Block 15’s Downtown Pub
A portion of beer, wine, and spirits sales will be donated to the 4 Spirits Foundation. 4 Spirits Distillery will be at the downtown location for a special bourbon tasting between 5-7pm.
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!