Internal Brewsletter - February 22, 2023
GENERAL
We are removing limits from all Super Nebula and Kriek bottles (within reason, people can use their best judgment if someone is trying to buy us out of stock). It is late enough in the month that we want to move the product!
The 20th was our last weekly bourbon selection release! From here on out, just keep slingin’ the offerings that we have left.
Our last batch of Love Potion Coco Bells will go into rotation this Friday. Once those run out we will shift to the OG bell for a few weeks until the return of tres leches cake in mid March!
In celebration of our 15 year anniversary Marketing and HR would like to put together a “Yearbook” of sorts. If you would like to be a part of it please email a photo of yourself from 2008 to shelby@block15.com by March 7th.
The Employee Provision is BACK! This is a weekly special served at the Pub, the idea of which comes primarily from Block 15 employees. We’re kicking it off in early March. Submissions are open to everyone!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - CANS
Check back next week!
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING FRIDAY 2/24
Vine and Pine // Pairing the rich, floral flavor of muscat grapes with the bright pine and citrus of Amarillo hops, this "Vineyard-style IPA" offers a novel approach to delivering unique characteristics to a juicy IPA. // 7.50% ABV
Takeaways: A base Hazy IPA refermented on Muscat Grape concentrate and re-hopped with Amarillo Terpenes. Unique and likely unrepeatable, get it while it lasts.
Tasting Notes: Lychee. Tangarine. Fusion.
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Group Ride // IPA
Selection Series // Four IPAs using four different hops
Cosmic Cold Brew // Oatmeal Stout with Coffee
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Fluffhead
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
IRISH BEERS
With Saint Patrick’s day approaching, we’ve released our two annual Irish beers: Charmed Life Irish Red Ale and Favorable Fortune Dry Irish Stout. Ireland has a rich brewing tradition dating back to the Bronze age, but these two styles have the greatest recognition and make up the bulk of beer that is produced in Ireland.
Dry Irish Stout
Evolved from the early British Porters, the tradition of brewing dark porters and stouts began in the 18th Century in Ireland, with Guinness being founded in 1756. The invention of black patent malt in the early 19th century allowed Irish brewers to make darker beers more cheaply. The lower ABV Irish-style stout evolved from this innovation. Guinness first started brewing “extra stout porter” in the 1820s, which was eventually renamed Guinness Stout.
These beers are characterized by using pale malt and roasted barley (up to 10% of the mash), with unmalted barley to produce dry, surprisingly light beers that rarely exceed 5% ABV. Another feature is the pronounced bitterness, which helps balance and gives them their drinkability. This combination has made dry Irish stout one of the most popular beer styles in the world.
Irish Red Ale
The other iconic beer style from Ireland is also defined by a lower ABV and a dry finish, but with little to no perceived bitterness. Instead, a delicate layer of caramel and toffee flavor gives Irish Red its distinct appeal. “Irish Red Ale”, while an iconic style name in the U.S. is not recognized by the same moniker in Ireland. Smithqicks’s, the most popular Irish red in Ireland, is simply called Irish ale as are most beers of this style. The term red comes from Killian’s Irish Red, a lager, not an ale, and is made by Miller-Coors. Killian’s was originally called “Enniscorthy Ruby Ale” and was brewed by Lett’s brewery in Ireland before they closed and the rights to the beer were sold to a French brewery, later Coors, who began brewing it in the 1980s.
The popularity rise of Killian’s in the U.S. just before the craft beer boom led to the style being widely adopted by craft brewers, though its popularity has waned somewhat in the past decade. This is all a very complicated way of saying that Irish Red Ale is an authentic and iconic Irish style, but Americans’ perception of it is dominated by a sub-par American-Macro knockoff. As the consolidation and monopolization of brewing enterprises continue at the hands of fewer and fewer mega breweries, the lines between authentic national and generic globalized products continue to blur. This continues to be an issue within the craft beer community, as well. That is why the act of being genuine in what we do is so important to making Block 15 what it is.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
We have a BIG week starting this Thursday with many home OSU games (Men’s & Women’s basketball, baseball, and wrestling) so be sure to check the events area of the roster board to see what’s on deck for the day!
If you see wine boxes or liquor boxes in the Server Restock Area that are full of products that we carry, please unpack them onto the shelves and breakdown/recycle the boxes.
Continental Breakfast is officially 86’d and will be replaced by the Ginger Spice toddy that we ran at the Taproom for the Winter Warmup as another hot cocktail option. This change will likely happen this Friday just as the weather is getting super chilly.
When something gets 86’d on the bar side of things (beers, cocktails, wine, etc.) please take a moment to help make sure that it lands on the 86 board in the kitchen with the date listed next to it. These things often happen when we are busy, so it can be tough to update the whiteboard, so this should help keep us all on the same page!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We will be launching a new lemonade and Fruit Vodka lemonade flavor this Friday! Get ready for some tasty Cherry Limeade!
With us coming out of Bourbon Month and into spring, let’s focus on great hospitality all around and making customers feel welcome and comfortable. We should be accommodating everyone the best that we can.
When bussing dirty dishes or glassware please do not put them on any “clean surface” ex: bar top, window area where the big tray lives, prep counter, etc. if you must, please use the sani spray and a rag to wipe it clean after.
With Sean out of town for the next week or so please reach out to Madie if you have any questions or need help with anything Taproom related!
CAVES UPDATES
MARKETING
Hey folks! Each quarter, our marketing team gets together with the head of each department. If you’re curious about what we cover, we made our Q2 Meeting Notes public to the whole company! See below what we covered and what’s to come for Block 15 Brewing!
We have a new Perennial (Seasonal) beer coming! Group Ride IPA is our new bike-inspired beer for the folks excited to get out with more sunlight approaching. We will run some group rides throughout this release… so get your bikes tuned up and ready to roll for some fun rides! Reach out to Kelsea@block15.com if you’re super jazzed about riding bikes and want to be involved with the planning!
EVENTS
Bourbon Month
Less than one week left of Bourbon Month!
Distro Tap Takeover 3/1 at Social Goods
Look at this INSANE draft list Zack put together for his event at Social Goods! Join us next Wednesday if you can from 6-8pm in Newberg OR.
Block 15 Deep Seek IPA, Ferment IPA, Foreland Using Technology IPA, Block 15 Joy, Ferment Pale
Block 15 Fluffhead, Ferment Crystal Kingdom IPA, Block 15 Crisp Start, Ferment Grey Jay IIPA, Block 15 Sticky Hands
Foreland Lithospheric Pilsner, Foreland Landform Pilsner, Ferment 12 Degree Czech Pilsner, Foreland Liteland, Foreland Fruit Equinox mixed fruit ale, Ferment Red Rye Lager, Block 15 Carpathians, Foreland Schwarzbier, Ferment Guajava sour
Block 15 Charmed Life, Block 15 Highland Hymn, Block 15 Squirrel Stash, Block 15 Favorable Fortune, Ferment Woodsman Porter, Ferment German Pilsner
Block 15 Caves Saison, Foreland Wooden Castle mild, Block 15 Turbulent Consequence: Peche Lambic, Ferment Biere de Garde, Foreland Cast Shadow BA stout
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Andy Hill - Andy went out of his way to return some outdated beer, get price tags made, and stock the new beer at Roth’s in McMinnville making my life a LOT easier! Thank you Andy!
Travis Smith - You are constantly killing it in the kitchen. Travis always has good work ethic and is willing to come in on a day off to support the BOH. Thanks for killing it in the kitchen
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week.
SAFETY TIPS
The weather is supposed to get chilly and icy this week so remember to plan ahead and give yourself sufficient time when walking or driving places, move slowly if uncertain if the area is icy and wear shoes with good traction.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Check back next month!
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!