Internal Brewsletter - June 21st, 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 Sylvie! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Spinach Artichoke Grilled Cheese.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/21
Caves Saison No 002 // Created for our sister restaurant, Caves Saison uses a solera method starting in our oak foeder. We remove a fraction of the volume when peak character is reached; then, new beer is added and allowed to mature, gradually increasing complexity with age. Batch 002 spent eight months in the foeder molding it into a lovely, fruit-forward young mixed-culture saison. // 7.20% ABV
Takeaways: This first blend is matured from one batch of Caves saison, half the Foeder was pulled and allowed to condition naturally before packaging. We topped up the foeder with fresh wort that will produce more of this young, approachable mixed-ferm farmhouse in the near future.
Tasting Notes: Meyer Lemon. Passionfruit. CH-CH-CH-Changes
Keen As! // Heaps of juicy, and intense New Zealand Superdelic and Nelson Sauvin hops pair with pungent NW-grown Simcoe and Citra. Crisp, refreshing, and guaranteed to lighten your mood... if you're keen! // 6.60% ABV
Takeaways: First used in Sticky Hands: Past, Present, and Future, we're just loving this super tropical new hop variety from New Zealand. Superdelic is just the kind of hop we get excited about.
Tasting Notes: Ripe Papaya. Creamsicle. Jandal Season.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/21
Caves Saison No 002 // Farmhouse Ale
Keen As! // West Coast IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Deep Seek
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
The Incredible // Triple IPA
Kumo // Rice Lager
Island in the Sky // Imperial Hazy IPA
Scientifical // India Pale Ale
Ice Knife // India Pale Ale
Fresca Pils // Italian Pilsner
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: Solera Method
Learn more about this technique, also called a Perpetual Blend, by watching the Ted Talk on Caves Saison above!
PUB UPDATES
Great job this weekend everyone! It was an INSANE weekend and you all crushed it. While weekends like this can feel a little rough at the end, it was such an honor to work with you all through it and see how amazing this crew is. I mean, did you see what the kitchen was able to crank out?!
We are replacing the Mutantis Mexican Amber Lager with their Helles in the weeks to come. This will be a nice crisp addition for the summer.
Once Kumo launches, we will be doing a special food and cocktail item to tie in with the inspiration behind Kumo. Keep your eyes peeled for details.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Starting this week, we are accepting large party reservations on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in the Barrel Room Only. If someone calls, please still direct them to Taproom@block15.com at least 24 hours in advance. Double-check with the opening manager about any day-of reservations.
The time deadline for Keg and Corni sales has changed from 5 pm to 2 pm on Thursdays.
Tunes, Brews & BBQs is returning in July! More info soon.
Wed 7/5 - Wild Hog In The Woods
Wed 7/12 - Summer Of Love
Wed 7/19 - Ludicrous Speed
Wed 7/26 - The Hunks and The Hottie
Caves UPDATES
We have a handful of new food & beverage items coming up! Be sure to check the Caves Newsletter below for more details on what’s coming up and what we are focusing on this week!
Lagered by the Sun!
What is it?
Our lagers are inspired by historical European and international lagers that emerged regionally and are brewed with local and regional ingredients. Created with a spirit of place and community, our lagers are crafted with North West grown malts and hops, soft Willamette Valley water, and harness the sun's power from our solar panels for cold lagering until peak maturation is achieved. All of our beer bearing the mark Lagered by the Sun showcase these efforts and offers an authentic taste of the NW and our community.
Why should we care?
Lagering beer is an energy-intensive process! It is estimated that it takes between 50 - 66 Killowhatthours to power, on average, to brew one barrel of beer (from the Brewers Association). A large portion of this energy is to keep the tank cold during the lagering process, which can last 6-8 weeks.
Outside of energy, we emphasize our local and regional sourced ingredients from hops, malt, fruit, and the ingredients in our kitchens. Have you seen our second silo at our Taproom? Notice the 100% NW Malts! This is also a tie into our dedication to local, sustainable, and reducing the impact of what it takes to brew the beer.
We care because we want minimal environmental impact while delivering the best product possible. It builds our relationships with our community, from farms to the delivery drivers that live just a town over while ensuring the beer has the most sustainable approach possible.
In these next couple of weeks, tune into Beer 101 as Ted and Matt dive deeper into the process of Lagering and what it means to source these regional and local ingredients.
For a quick hit list to remember what Lagered by the Sun means, just remember:
Brewed by the Sun
Local and Regional ingredients
Sustainable Brewing
Community Focused
MARKETING
THIS SATURDAY! BEACH CLEAN-UP & BEER RELEASE PARTY
To celebrate World Oceans Day, we teamed up with Sunriver Brewing and Buoy Beer Co to host a beach clean-up and collaboration brew, “Where Rivers Meet” pale ale, to benefit 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.
The beach clean up is THIS SATURDAY the 24th from 1-4 pm in Newport at the Historic Nye Beach or “The Turnaround” parking area.
We’ll provide the gear you need to safely collect items off the beach. All you need to bring is yourself, your friends, fam, and doggo - all are welcome! Look for our tents in the parking lot when you arrive.
Stick around afterward, as The Taphouse at Nye Creek is hosting a Release Party from 5-8 pm for our beer collaboration, Where Rivers Meet pale ale.
If you haven’t already RSVP’d to the clean-up, use the button below!
EVENTS
Portland Beer Week - June 16th-25th
Please join us at the following events if you have the time:
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!
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
6/27 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
Entire Prep Department - Just wanted to shout out the whole prep department, they have been crushing it and keeping us stocked with consistently awesome food. Special thanks to Tivey and Mars for keeping it cool down there. Thank you for everything!
Goody (Alex) Goodwin - Big shout out to the Boss lady that can be everywhere at once! Since her move to working at Caves as well, she has still spent plenty of time making sure each and every one of us at the Pub feel supported and have the tools to be successful. Thank you for being an incredible Boss Goody!
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!
Samuel White (BOH)
April Zandofsky (BOH)
Mallory Brown (PDX Sales Rep)
Welcome back!
Tim Gordon (BOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Don’t let a spill ruin your, or your coworker’s, day. Safely clean up spills right away or mark the area to warn others and report the spill.
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 THIS WEEKEND!
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!