Internal Brewsletter - June 14th, 2023
General
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 Employee Provision will be brought to you by Ian! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a chicken, apple, and brie sandwich, featuring caper aioli and onion jam.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/16
Alumni Club // Welcoming a new member annually, the Alumni Club celebrates the OSU's lasting impact on the brewing industry. This year we are working with James Birnie, of Excelsior Brewing in Minnesota, a Block 15 Alumni as well. This refreshing Kölsch balances a traditional base, with a contemporary hop profile. // 4.80% ABV
Takeaways: Hop-forward, and modern, but still clearly a Kölsch. Waimea (New Zealand) bring some nice woody and citrus aromatics, while Lorien (indie hops, Oregon) brings more citrus, plus some melon and a touch of lemongrass.
Tasting Notes: Honeysuckle. Lemon Balm. Summer Sun.
Liberty & Justice for All // Dedicated to a shared vision of liberty for all Americans, and our need to stand with those whose dreams of equality are yet unrealized. Proceeds from this beer will be donated to Unite Oregon. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: A B15 classic that sees a slight change every year, this year we added Amarillo terpenes to the dry-hop. These terpenes are an ultra concentrated co2 extract that are designed to use after fermentation. They were made using our selected amarillo hops.
Tasting Notes: Pine Resin. Candied Orange. Free Will.
TopWire IPA No. 02 // This rotating IPA series brewed for TopWire Hop Project features hops grown and sourced directly from Crosby Hop Farm, showcasing the distinctly unique flavor and aroma of different varietal combinations. Featured hops: El Dorado CGX and Strata CGX. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: The same base beer, but a new hop combination. Juicy El Dorado pair with dank Strata, and we kept the delicous Crosby estate-grown Comet in there for good measure. Modern and approachable.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Dank Herb. Patio Season.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - Bottles
Releasing Friday 6/16
Cassidy // Inspired by my daughter, Cassidy is matured in Sauternes wine barrels and conditioned on spring flowers and honey from her grandpa's hive. Blended every spring since 2015, each bottle contains a portion of all previous years' blends. // 8.40% ABV
Takeaways: A lovely and robust wild farmhouse ale, Cassidy finishes pleasantly dry, with a floral kick. A unique staple in our wild lineup.
Tasting Notes: Floral. Rustic. Celebratory.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/16
Alumni Club // Dry-hopped Kölsch
Liberty & Justice for All // India Pale Ale
TopWire IPA No. 02 // West Coast IPA
Cassidy // Wild Ale with Honey, Hibiscus, and Rose Petals
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: NONE this week!
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Keen As… // India Pale Ale
The Incredible // Triple IPA
Kumo // Rice Lager
Island in the Sky // Imperial Hazy 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
PUB UPDATES
We will be running a limited menu for graduation weekend this week Friday-Sunday! Please follow the link below to see what we will be running! Also, we have our grill back as of this morning (YAY!) so we will be good to go!
Wednesday (today) and Thursday, we will just be running the same limited menu that we have been so prep has time to get everything back up to par for the weekend. Thank you all for being such rock stars!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Friday-Sunday the bakery has added a dope lemon ricotta cheesecake with a graham cracker crust, local berries, and whipped cream for graduation weekend!
We are doing a graduation cellar stash sale Thurs 6/15- Sun 6/18! Cellar bottles will be for sale for $12 as well as 20% off all other 750ml bottles only! (Sunday will still be 20% Off all pkg beer to go)
Be ready to rock this weekend! Stay positive, communicate, and take a quick break when needed. Keep the energy and the hospitality high!
Be proactive with pre-bussing, running dishes, and checking in with customers to keep the flow of the restaurant running smoothly
Reminder: The online keg ordering deadline is now 2pm instead of 5pm on Thursdays. With that make sure you are double checking if a keg order needs a tap rental to go with it when giving folks their orders.
Any taproom-related questions should be directed to Madie moving forward!
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
Alumni Club beer release at OSU! - June 15th
Hey Block 15 crew! A few of the brewers and I will be over at OSU’s campus tomorrow (Thursday 6/15) to celebrate the graduates of the College of Ag Science and the beer release of Alumni Club: Minnesota Chapter. We will be there from 5 to 7 pm between the MU building and the Student Experience Center. There will also be ice cream and snacks offered by OSU. Read more HERE. Hope to see you there! - Kelsea
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 for the entire week alongside Block 15 beers. Join us Sunday to close down Portland Beer Week festivities!
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:
6/20 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 the following folks!
Maggie Hackethorn (FOH)
Welcome back!
Shelby Johnson (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Never operate a piece of machinery until you have been trained on it and fully understand the safety procedures, including what to do in an emergency.
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!