Internal Brewsletter - February 1, 2023
GENERAL
Want to Pre-Order Bourbon Month Bottles? We’ve got it set up so you can use your employee discount.
Visit the store: https://b15tr.square.site/bottle-sale
Add items to your cart
Use the code BourbonEmp2023 in your cart when you’re checking out.
Pre-Order window ends Thursday at 5pm
No Sunday 20% discount on Sticky Hands The Kine, Kriek, or the 3 Super Nebula bottles
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - CANS
RELEASING FRIDAY 2/3
Sticky Hands: The Kine // Created with the stickiest high-grade hops grown here in the Pacific Northwest. Enjoy a blast of heady dank herb, blue spruce, and orange skunk hop notes wrapped up tight with a resinous Sticky Hands body. // 8.10% ABV
Takeaways: From deep in the archives, this is a sticky hands variant with the dankness dialed to 11. Last seen in 2014. Apollo salvo is used in place of the apollo co2 extract in all sticky hands variants.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Cannabis. Lifted.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - BOTTLES
RELEASING WEDNESDAY 2/1
Super Nebula 2023 // This year's annual imperial stout release was matured in Evan Williams bourbon barrels and then conditioned on wild harvest, fair trade Bolivian cocoa nibs, specially selected to complement its decadent character. // 12.30% ABV
Takeaways: A force of nature. certainly not subtle, but not heavy handed either, this balanced imperial stout is deceivingly smooth.
Tasting Notes: Chocolate, Espresso, Decadent
RELEASING FRIDAY 2/3
Super Nebula Breakfast with Williams // Our yearly Super Nebula breakfast edition features Evan Williams bourbon barrel matured imperial stout conditioned with fresh roasted Flame On coffee beans from our friends at Bespoken Coffee Roasters, maple, wild harvest, and fair trade Bolivian cocoa nibs. // 12.30% ABV
Takeaways: Comforting, cozy, and drinkable; true to style.
Tasting Notes: Familiar, Complex, Rousing
RELEASING FRIDAY 2/3
Super Nebula Xocolatl // A small blend of our annual imperial stout matured in Evan William bourbon barrels and conditioned on ancho and negro pasilla chilis, Mexican vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, cloves, and wild harvest fair trade Bolivian cocoa nibs. // 12.30% ABV
Takeaways: Super Nebula with ancho and pasilla negro chilis, Mexican vanilla, Bolivian wild harvest cocoa nibs, cloves, and ceylon cinnamon. inspired by the mesoamerican tradition of serving chocolate as a cold spiced drink, the term chocolate is derived from the Nahuatl word xocolatl.
Tasting Notes: Intricate, Earthy, Picante.
RELEASING WEDNESDAY 2/1
Kriek // Spontaneously fermented in our wild cellar, Kriek is our Oud bruin matured over two winters on locally farmed tart Montmorency cherries in second-run bourbon barrels, first used to mature Super Nebula, our imperial stout. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: This beer spends two winters on the cherries themselves. It is exceptionally tart for a Block 15 wild ale, and shows plenty of character from the fruit, the spontaneous fermentation, and the used Super Nebula barrels.
Tasting Notes: Cherry, Oak, Vinous
COMING UP ON DRAFT
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
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Charmed Life // Irish Red
Favorable Fourtune // Dry Irish Stout
Animal Cookies // IPA
Headhaze // Hazy IPA (Moonraker Collab)
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
None this week to focus on Bourbon Month!
No Sunday 20% discount on Sticky Hands The Kine, Kriek, or the 3 Super Nebula bottles
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
Barrel-Aging Part 2: Flavors
We use a number of different types of barrels for aging beer at Block 15. This week we are releasing four beers from that program. All four of these beers were aged in ex-Bourbon Barrels. We also use wine barrels extensively as well as Sherry, Cognac, Gin and more. Each barrel has its own attributes, taking on the flavor from the liquid that was in the barrel before.
Spirit barrels provide a wide array of flavors that contribute to making these beers unique. During manufacturing, barrels are toasted with fire before being sealed, the heat breaks the wood down into natural sugars that contribute caramel notes, color and aroma as well as coconut-like notes. Tannins are made less astringent and fiber in the oak breaks down into flavor molecules that produce clove and vanilla notes.
We nearly always buy barrels that have already been used in alohol production and those products also leave flavor behind that we can access while aging. This year’s Super Nebulas were aged in Evan Williams Bourbon Barrels, even when the barrels are emptied, there is still alcohol soaked in to the barrel staves that interacts with the beer once we have filled the barrels. Liquid moves in and out of the barrel staves naturally during the aging process
Another factor in flavor development is oxidation; typically we go to great lengths to prevent oxidation in the brewing process. Oxygen is a major spoilige factor, leading to beer staleing. Barrel aging is the exception, oak staves are micropourous and allow slow oxidation over time. This develops complex sherry-like notes that add a richness to aged beers.
Time is another factor in barrel aging, typically we age beers for one year at a minimum. With time bitterness softens and malt becomes more pronounced. With slow oxidation, the beer also evaporates, concentrating the alcohol and increasing the viscosity. Temperature also plays a major role as well, we keep our barrel room a constant temperature and the cellar at the pub stays a consistent temperature and humidity.
Once the beer has reached the maturity we’re looking for, we rack it out of barrels in a process called blending. From there we treat it like a normal beer, keep oxidation down and conditioning before packaging.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
Bourbon Month Specials!
Maple Bourbon Bacon Patty Melt (Addition, Launches Feb. 1)
Arugula & Medjool Date Salad (Replaces Chickpea Shawarma Salad, (Launches Feb. 8) This is being put off one week due to chorizo shortage! We will still have the Chickpea salad this week!
Monday, February 6th Pub Special Release Bourbon:
Two James Grass Widow, 91 proof $15 for 1.5oz pour
Nose: Roasted nuts, figs, sweet
Palate: Warming spice, hazelnut, raisin
Finish: Spicy and hot with mild sweetness
About Two James Grass Widow:
"Grass Widow was originally a whiskey made in Detroit until the onset of prohibition in 1908. A “Grass Widow” is also a term that refers to a married woman whose husband is away, whether it be because of wartime or work, he would never return home with no explanation of his life making the return trip either. This Grass Widow Bourbon contains a unique high rye mash bill of 36% Rye, 60% Corn and 4% Barley.”
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Bourbon Month Ice Cream Special!
We will be running a special dessert at the Taproom ONLY during bourbon month! Lindsey collaborated with Nathan at Sugar J’s and helped to develop a dope sundae.
Super Nebula Spiced Chocolate Sundae-Decedent chocolate ice cream made with cinnamon, chiles and Super Nebula! Served with salted caramel, cinnamon & sugar fried wontons, whipped cream and a cherry on top! Not for the weak of heart, this sundae has a spicy kick!
Bourbon Month Specials!
Maple Bourbon Bacon Patty Melt (Replaces Mashpaddle Patty Melt, Launches Feb. 1)
Herb Feta Brulee w/ flatbread and pears (Addition, Launches Feb. 1)
Monday, February 6th TR Special Release Bourbon:
The Representative, Barrel Proof $15 for 1.5oz pour
Nose: Vanilla, cherry, peach
Palate: Citrus and tobacco
Finish: Long and sweet with notes of spice
About The Representative:
"Aged a minimum of 4 years (2 Congressional Terms) Small batch, approximately 20 barrels. Barrel entry 120 proof"
We should never have to mess with the new breaker box out near the switches for the heaters. As long as you turn the vertical lever from off to on and use the switches, you will get power. The breaker box should always remain locked.
Brewers Dinner and Bottle Release Party this weekend! Get ready to rage!
Madi made an SOP on the appropriate way to discount items and deal with open tabs at the end of the night. Please read this before your next shift so we are all on the same page!
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!We’ll be having a weekly employee HotSchedules message with updates- please make sure to read before your first shift of the week.
MARKETING
Check back next week!
EVENTS
Bourbon Month
Pre-orders close Thursday 2/2 at 5pm
Bourbon Dinner tickets go on sale Sunday 2/5
Events
Bourbon Month Begins + Stamp Books available 2/1
Brewers Tasting 2/3
Bottle Release Party / Brunch 2/4
Cheers for Charity with 4 Spirits 2/7
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
Brendan - Shout out to Brendan for being a manager that is invested in his employees and always checking in. Brendan is constantly radiating positivity and support!
Danica Pommerenk - Shoutout Danica for always kicking ass!
The ENTIRE brew staff - You are all absolutely amazing and have been putting out some AWESOME beers! You all work so hard every day and I appreciate you! You are a major reason why I love working for this company!
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week
SAFETY TIPS
Remember to test the weight of something before you lift it up completely; it might be too late if you realize a few seconds later that it’s too heavy or cumbersome for you. If the load is too heavy for you to handle alone, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
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!