Internal Brewsletter - July 26th, 2023
General
Employee Summer BBQ info and RSVP!
Please RSVP by August 1st
Employee Provision:
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Garrison circa 2017! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Garrison's Maple Double Animal, a double 1/4# with white American cheese, maple glazed bacon, and grilled onions.
We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 7/28
Paddle Season // A confluence of our love of sessionability and our desire to bring refreshing, hop-forward beer to the masses. Bright, fruit-forward hops run through a crisp, satisfying experience. // 5.00% ABV
Takeaways: Light with a pleasant malt backbone, minus the caramel notes, this is a classic American Pale Ale amped up with CTZ, Chinook, and Mosaic to push a distinctly west-coast hop profile. Tropical, pine, allum, dank; all the good stuff.
Tasting Notes: Tangerine. Blueberry. Float on.
Consortium: Mosaic x HBC 586 // Amplified like a stereo record this IPA unites two hop varieties to create a special sensory experience. We paired the dank, tropical notes of mosaic with the citrus character of HBC 586. // 6.60% ABV
Takeaways: We're dropping the hybrid concept and moving Consortium into the realm of west coast with a great combination of two dynamic hops. Mosaic and the newcomer, HBC-586. We've used 586 a few times now and we're really taking a liking to its distinct herbal and tropical components.
Tasting Notes: Candied Lemon. Kiwi. Explorations
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 7/28
Paddle Season // West Coast Pale Ale
Consortium: Mosaic x HBC 586 // India Pale Ale
Rekindled // A blend of wild gold barrels aged on biodynamic Pinot Noir pomace from our winery. The barrels selected tasted wonderful but didn't fit the flavor profile for any of our other standard gold blends, so this is truly a second life! Look for robust acidity, vanilla, and tart cherry. // 7.50% ABV
Takeaways: Giving a second life to raw materials that would otherwise be thrown away, but are still able to be used. Making sure we get the most out of what nature gave us.
Tasting Notes: Tart Cherry, faint oak, puckering
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Fresh Flow
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
TopWire IPA Block No. 03 // India Pale Ale
Native Land 2.0 // Mexican Lager, collaboration with Bow & Arrow Brewing Co
Hop Shuffle // West Coast IPA
Peach Punch // Hazy IPA with Peaches and Apricots, collaboration with Great Notion
Stoke Coast // West Coast 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: Pale Ales
Written by Ted O’Hanlan, Head Brewer
Pale ale has existed in one way or another since the 18th century. The name “pale ale” encompasses dozens of different styles, many British beers that we identify individually, such as Bitter, or ESB fall under the umbrella of Pale Ale. British Pale Ale, as a distinct style, developed as a result of the rise of the popularity of India Pale Ale in the 19th century. Though the term already existed, it began to refer to beers that were lower abv versions of the stronger IPAs that were being exported. These beers were characterized by a golden to amber color with a predominant hop character and an abv between 5-6%.
Pale Ale became one of the first breakout styles in American craft beer but transformed into a distinct style with the addition of American hop varieties that featured more prominent citrus and pine flavors. Sierra Nevada first brewed their pale ale in 1980 and became iconic with many breweries drawing inspiration from that beer and adding more varieties of American hops as the expansion of hop breeding in the U.S. brought more and more distinct varieties to the market.
The 21st century has seen an even greater variety of characteristics in pale ales, especially with the explosion of popularity in Hazy IPA. Hazy Pale Ales have removed caramel malts, dropped bitterness, and pushed more fruit-forward hop combinations mimicking the characteristics of Hazy IPA. Joy is a very modern, hazy-ish take on the American Pale Ale. It is softer and juicier than a classic version of the style but still retains a pleasant complexity that makes it unique.
This week, we are releasing Paddle Season West Coast Pale Ale. We chose the “West Coast” moniker for this beer to differentiate it from Joy and because, much like with IPA, Pale Ale is having a moment again with a resurgent interest in brite, bitter beers that showcase dank, piney, and even herbal characteristics that seemed to be going out of style just a few years ago. We are constantly learning and developing new processes in how we make beer, especially hoppy beer. Paddle season reflects this by taking classic ingredients and arranging them in a very contemporary way. It calls back classic pale ales but is also very modern.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
With the extended hot weather we have been having, please make sure to water the barrel on 3rd St. twice a day with a full bucket of water each, and the barrel next to 101 also with a full bucket of water. This task is on the Host list and should be completed before being phased.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Thanks to everyone for kicking butt during all the Tunes Brews and BBQ Wednesdays!
Reminder: When folks are returning kegs/taps and not picking up another one make sure to write down the name that was on the order, their phone number and what they are returning (1/6bbl, 1/4bbl, 50L, any taps, etc)
Please keep the tables and chairs in the barrel room about 5-8 inches away from any barrel as they are very leaky and sticky right now. If you see any of it get on the tables or chairs please clean it quickly so it doesn’t get stuck on the surface.
Caves UPDATES
We are tapping a new and exciting beer from the Chicago area tomorrow!
Lagered by the Sun updates!
We will be putting up displays at each location this week! Our Pub will be digital (on the TV above the doorway) and our Taproom will have a printed display. Check out our website hub for a sneak peek!
For a quick hit list to remember what Lagered by the Sun means, just remember:
Solar Powered
Local and Regional ingredients
Sustainable Brewing
Community Focused
MARKETING
Check back next week!
EVENTS
Tunes, Brews & BBQ - Last show today 7/26
We have a dedicated web page for the events this year, with a complete list of details: https://block15.com/tunes-brews-and-bbq-2023
Wed 7/26 - The Hunks and The Hottie
BBQ Special: Brisket Burnt Ends, Texas Toast, Pickles, Elotes
Bloktoberfest - October 6th-7th
Save the date!
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Check back next week!
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STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week!
SAFETY TIPS
Make sure to not carry more than you can reasonably handle. Make extra trips or don’t be afraid to ask for help.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Cheers for Charity - August 1st
Hosted by Corvallis Young Pros, a portion of the day’s drink sales from the Tap Room will be donated to support ABC House. ABC House is the only children's advocacy center serving Linn and Benton Counties. For over 25 years, ABC House has provided a continuum of comprehensive services to over 12,000 children and their families including child abuse assessments, forensic interviews, family advocacy and support, and trauma counseling.
Dine Out! for Hunters of Color - August 15th
On August 15th, a portion of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help support equitable access to outdoor recreation, hunting, fishing, and conservation for the Hunters of Color community in Oregon. This financial support helps us further our mission of making 'The Outdoors for Everyone' by engaging and empowering community members in outdoor recreation and conservation work.
Representatives from Hunters of Color - Oregon will be on-site at our Southtown Tap Room from 5-7 pm, providing more information about our organization. Stop by and say hello!
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!