Internal Brewsletter - June 7th, 2023
General
This Friday (6/9) we will be switching to a new ground beef and moving away from Painted Hills. It is an all-NW beef that comes from the trim of Fulton’s steak program. Because it is steak trim, coming from all different cuts, it has superior beef flavor and texture. I am really excited for this new product to continue striving for the best dang burger! - Sarah
Company BBQ is Sunday, August 13th. More info to come, save the date!
Employee Provision: We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
This week’s special is brought to you by Kolleen! Stop by the Pub this Thursday to try Bibim Mandu, a Korean potsticker salad.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/9
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.
Tipping Point // Freshly foraged, these sticky spruce tips pair with layers of cryogenic, super-critical hop extracts. It all comes together with dank and fruity notes layered with a lingering, resinous finish. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: We added 2.5 pounds of hand-foraged spruce tips per barrel for this very special west-coast IPA.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Blue Raspberry. Coniferous.
Queen of Spices // Navigating a bearing between the delicate flavors of cardamom and the depth of roasted malts, this full-bodied stout is inspired by the rich, equatorial tradition of export-strength beers. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Enjoyed for over a century by the residents of hot, equatorial nations; yes, you can still enjoy a stout in the summer. Paired with delicious Cardamom to give a botanical punch.
Tasting Notes: Espresso. Mint. Surprising.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/9
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
Tipping Point // IPA with Spruce Tips
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout with Cardamom
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Joy Pale Ale
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
TopWire IPA No. 02 // West Coast IPA
Cassidy // Wild Ale with Honey, Hibiscus, and Rose Petals
Alumni Club // Dry-hopped Kölsch
Liberty & Justice for All // India Pale Ale
Keen As… // India Pale Ale
The Incredible // Triple IPA
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: Beer foam
Foam plays an important role in the presentation and experience of drinking beer, dense stable foam is also one of the features that distinguish beer from other carbonated alcoholic beverages. Carbon Dioxide in the solution in the beer nucleates and is released during dispensing and as the beer sits in the glass. The foam is produced because of hydrophobic polypeptides derived from grain. It is then made more stable by iso-alpha acids from the hops, this holds the foam and also produces the lacing as the foam clings to the glass as you drink it. We always work to create stable foam in our beers. Foam can help prevent oxidation in the glass while drinking as well as add to the aesthetic.
Producing foam during beer dispensing is critical and our modern draught systems are designed to pour efficiently and to produce stable foam. There are many special tools used in beer dispensing that can aid in head retention; nitrogenators and nitro faucets, side-pull faucets, and the sparklers used in hand pump beer engines all help produce stable foam.
On our recent trip to Japan, Nick and I encountered Asahi auto-pour units that actually lift the glass, pour gently down the side, then straighten it and pour foam directly on top. They were everywhere and the beer came out perfect every time. It was such a reliable experience to get a cold Asahi lager with perfect foam that we decided to look into replicating that experience when we release Kumo later this month.
We decided to bring in a couple of creamer faucets for the pub and taproom to use. These work with two actions; the first action is the normal operation of a faucet, pull forward and dispense beer, the second action you push the faucet closed a little more and spits foam on top of the beer you just poured. We think the presentation of our rice lager deserved this special treatment.
Before Kumo releases, we want to make sure everyone is familiar with these faucets and will be installing the on the Blue Truck lines that are coming back this Friday. The idea is to pour within a finger or two of the top of the pint glass and top it with foam. We bought Perlick faucets that are identical to our normal beer faucets.
Further Information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzLZIW-nih0 This is a different faucet, but a similar design.
PUB UPDATES
As outdoor seating ramps up, be sure to check for debris and dog water bowls under each table as we are cleaning them.
Napkin awareness! When running food, we should be grabbing one napkin per person/entree. Messy burgers or wings can get two, but it’s easier and less wasteful for us to bring extra napkins if they are requested.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We will be doing a bottle cellar stash sale next week as we lead into graduation weekend! There will be a selection of different vintage bottles on sale for $12 and all other bottles will be 20% off. This will run June 15th-18th. Let’s sell some beer!
MARKETING
Beach Clean-up & Beer Collaboration for World Oceans Day
World Oceans Day is on the horizon (June 8th, to be exact), and to celebrate this day, we are teaming up with Sunriver Brewing and Buoy Beer Co to host a beach clean-up and a collaboration brew! This project came together when Buoy Beer contacted us about our connections with Ocean Blue Project. The inspiration behind this project is that “All rivers lead to the sea”, with all three breweries located by a major river and Buoy by both river and sea.
Our collab Beach clean up will be in Newport on June 24th from 1-4pm with a Tap Takeover at NyeCreek Taphouse from 5 - 8pm, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved! This is a volunteer opportunity, so please join us if you have time in your schedule! It will be fun!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
Please fill out this form if you are going:
EVENTS
Portland Beer Week - June 16th-25th
Portland Beer Week is all set! Please join us at the following events if you have the time:
Block 15 Kickoff Party w/Pizza Thief
Friday, June 16th, 5-8pm @ Pizza Thief
Our founder, Nick Arzner, collaborated with Pizza Thief to recreate his all-time favorite snack of sourdough bread, cheddar, and fresh crab, called the "NW White Pie", paired with our Joy pale ale.
Block 15 Cellar-bration
Saturday, June 17th, 1-5pm @ Tiny Bubble Room
We'll be clearing out the cellar for a one-time Cellar-Bration! 15 vintages plus a few palate cleansers for you to enjoy. This is an event hosted by Block 15, come say hi!
Block 15 Beer & Cheesecake Pairing
Sunday, June 18, 2023, 1-4pm @ Imperial Bottle Shop & Taproom
Beer and cheesecake pairing flights, choose the "Cellar" pairing or the "New Release" pairing... or both!
Mussels from Brussels
Tuesday, June 20th, 12-8pm @ Wayfinder Beer
A tasting and pairing competition pitting 5 breweries against each other for the best mussels sauce and beer pairing! We've got a killer recipe for ya!
This is a ticketed event: https://www.pdxbeerweek.com/calendar/musselsfrombrussels2023
Portland Beer & Cheese Festival
Sunday, June 25th, multiple sessions @ Living Haus Beer
Master cheesemonger Steve Jones and Portland Beer Week teamed up to select 10 beers from 10 different breweries, each expertly paired with a corresponding cheese in this carefully guided tour of flavor.
This is a ticketed event: https://www.pdxbeerweek.com/beerandcheesefest
Block 15 Closing Party w/Pizza Thief
Sunday, June 25, 2023, 5-8pm @ Pizza Thief
Our special NW White Pie will be served once again for the closing party of Portland Beer Week.
Beach Clean Up & Collab Beer Release Party - June 24th
Clean Up: 1-4pm @ Nye Beach in Newport
Release Party: 5-8pm @ The Taphouse at Nye Creek
Come help us clean up the beach for World Oceans Day from 1-4pm! We’re partnering with Buoy Beer Co, Sunriver Brewing, and Ocean Blue for a collaborative clean-up effort with a beer release party at the Taphouse at Nye Creek afterward from 5-8pm. More info in the Marketing section above.
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
6/13 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 6/20 6:10pm @ Rene Moye West, 6/27 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 7/11 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 7/18 8:45pm @ Pioneer Park, 7/25 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 8/1 6:10pm @ Rene Moye West.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Zach Griffiths (FOH)
Katie Mularky (FOH)
Dain Byquist (Caves BOH)
Congrats to Garrison and Goody on 10 years at Block 15!
SAFETY TIPS
Make sure to practice good posture while sitting or lifting to avoid sprains, strains, muscle tears or dislocations on your back or hips.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint - The Month of June
Gloria! is our People’s Pint Tap during the month of June! Each pint or can purchased at our locations helps support the Ocean Blue Project and its initiatives to rehabilitate and conserve the world’s oceans, beaches, and rivers through clean-ups, solutions to keep pollutants from entering ecosystems, community-driven service learning, and youth education.
Clean Up the Beach
On June 24th from 1-4pm, we're joining up with Sunriver Brewing and Buoy Beer Co. to clean the beach on behalf of World Oceans Day with Ocean Blue Project. Come by and volunteer with us! We're meeting at Nye Beach in Newport.
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!