Internal Brewsletter - August 23rd, 2023
General
Employee Provision:
We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 8/25
Bloktoberfest // Celebrate Oktoberfest Block 15-style with this amber-hued Marzen lager. Noble hops impart subtle floral and spicy aromas, while PNW-sourced Pilsner and Munich-style malts build a delicate base. // 5.50% ABV
Takeaways: We continue to move our lager program to regionally sourced malt, this Bloktoberfest is almost exclusively form the PNW, but still has that authentic flavor.
Tasting Notes: Wildflower Honey.Toasted Biscuit. Prost!
Series: Perennial
Billy Breathes // This Imperial IPA is a dreamy, hazy exploration of soft grains and vibrant hops. Double dry-hopped with several tropical and citrusy varietals, floating on a soft and sweet grist. // 8.00% ABV
Takeaways: The return of a fan favorite IPA, juice to the max. Citra and Mosaic star with Cashmere and El Dorado providing some pleasant citrus and tropical support.
Tasting Notes: Sweet Melon. Ripe Mango. Above the Trees.
Series: Orbital
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 8/25
Bloktoberfest // Märzen Lager
Billy Breathes // Imperial Hazy IPA
Block 15 Hard Cider // Packed with a custom blend of apples, this is an unfiltered, zippy dry cider with soft apple notes and a white wine finish. Fermenting with select Norwegian Kveik yeast gives this cider a smooth, cloudy appearance. It’s delightfully complex, yet perfect as an everyday refreshment. // 6.00% ABV
Takeaways: We're excited to bring cider back! Using PNW apples, this is a brewer's take on cider. Using Kveik Yeast from Norway, we stabilized the fermentation using hop extract without bringing hop character into the taste.
Tasting Notes: Bright Lemon. Bartlet Pear. Refreshing Dryness.
Series: Emerging
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Stoke Coast
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Sticky Hands: High 5 // Imperial IPA
Fresh Hop Gloria! // Pilsner
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
C-Hops // American IPA
Fresh Catch // Fresh Hop IPA
Fresh Hop Nugg Hugg // Fresh Hop 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
Beer 101: Oktoberfest Beers
Written by Ted O’Hanlan, Head Brewer
Originating in 1810 to commemorate the wedding of the Bavarian Prince Ludwig to Princess Therese of Sachen-Hildurghausen, the first Oktoberfest offered free food and beer at four different locations around Munich. For roughly 60 years Bavarian Dunkel was the beer of choice at the festivities, this was a dark lager, not to be confused with Dunkel Weisse. It was around 5% and was a very popular style in Munich at that time.
Marzen was introduced sometime in the mid-19th century, certainly between 1841 and 1872, but sources disagree on which year specifically. Marzen is an amber lager, currently made between 5.8% and 6.3% ABV. Marzen is believed to have been developed to compete with Vienna lager, a similar style, that was gaining popularity in Europe at that time, but the name, which literally translates to “March Beer,” originates from a 1553 decree in Bavaria that forbade brewing beer between April 23 and September 29. This, like the more famous Reinheitsgebot of 1516, was one of the first food safety laws passed in the world. Beer brewed in the warmer months was known to spoil faster, so limiting the time of the year when it could be brewed was meant to prevent spoilage. The result was brewers making stronger beer and cold storing it, mostly in cellars, using a process called lagering, so the beer would last through the summer. The 1870s also saw the introduction of Bock strength beers at Oktoberfest, up to 8%, this included the Marzen beers made for the festival. This remained the case until World War I. After that ABVs came down to the range they are today, 5.8-6.3%.
The late 20th century saw participating breweries moving away from amber beers that dominated for so long, and making lighter beers that were closer to the pale lagers that became so dominant throughout the 20th century. These “Festbiers” are usually a golden color, in the same abv range, with a sweet finish and a noticeable hop bitterness. They are lighter to drink, and thus easier to drink more of.
All of these beers are Oktoberfest beers, but according to the EU only versions brewed in Munich are allowed to be labeled as “Oktoberfest”. American breweries typically ignore this, and Boston Beer Company likes to boast that they are the world’s largest producer of Oktoberfest beer, which is technically true.
Bloktoberfest is our take on the Oktoberfest beer, and is modeled on the Marzen-style, but is a bit lighter in color and lower in ABV. At 5.5% it is exceptionally drinkable with notes of honey, toasted bread, and caramel. A gentle bitterness balances the malt sweetness and contributes to its drinkability. Brewed in the spirit of these beers, we contribute our own methods and influence to create something that is unique.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
On Friday we will be re-launching Block 15 cider (draft only)! This will replace 2 Towns OutCider, but we will still have Blueberry Cosmic Crisp and Pacific Pineapple. Just a reminder: we cannot Crowler any cider per labeling requirements for wines and ciders. We can fill a Growler if someone has the glassware.
We are officially onto the 2021 vintage of our Lumos Pinot Noir. Below are some tasting notes and relevant information. If you have ever received any feedback that the 2020 vintage had some smoke characteristics, this new vintage will not exhibit those as the vineyards were not subjected to the effects of the wildfires like they were in 2020.
Continue to plug Happy Hour to your tables and squeeze in that last pint or snack before the time ends. For years we put a pause on Happy Hour, so it may take some time to get folks used to it again. Letting them know what rad options we have will encourage them to come back!
In the same vein, please make sure you are offering packaged beer to go, and/or dropping a to-go beer menu to every table that is enjoying a pint or two. This is a very easy sell that will equal more money in your pocket.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We are switching out the passionfruit marg on Friday with a white peach guava version with a sugar rim.
Keep pushing Happy Hour and offering another round of drinks, snacks, etc. and give menus to every table! Pay attention to when it hits 2pm on HH days!
Take note of the music throughout the day and see if it matches the pace and vibe of the restaurant at that time and adjust the station if needed.
We are not taking any reservations for the Barrel Room between Sept 10th and Oct 20th. The barrel room will be out of commision for us as they need the space for more barrels! We can still do outside ones during Mon-Thurs but NO reservations on the weekends during that time.
Caves UPDATES
We have a couple of new beers coming out this week! Bajaveza will be replaced by an Export Stout from Grand Fir out of Portland (hooray for those that are looking for something darker) and the Vapor Machine will be replaced by The White Lodge by Holy Mountain which is a Witbier (Belgian-Style White Ale). More information on these rad selections can be found inside the Caves Newsletter!
Pre-March Kickoff Gather Hour is happening this Friday! Menu can be found in the Newsletter.
Events
Corvallis Beer Week
We have joined the fun as Corvallis Beer Week has returned. Block 15 and Caves will be involved in 3 different events… See below!
Pre-March Gather Hour at Caves - August 25th at 4 pm
About: The Kick-off for Corvallis Beer Week at Caves with 3 unique small bites paired with 3 beers chosen from our cellar. This will be followed by the traditional Beer Week march around Downtown Corvallis
Taste and Tour at Block 15 Taproom (Southtown) - August 28th at 6pm
About: Guided tour of the Southtown Brewery, complete with a walkthrough of the brewing process and examples of the grains and hops used to make our beers!
Folks will stick around after the tour for a $10 tasting flight special (4, 4oz beers). We'll also have a food special that day, more details to come… Sign-ups are online (now full!)
Caves Beer Dinner - August 29th at 6 pm **Ticketed***
Favorites from the past are making a resurgence alongside fresh new dishes at our next Caves Beer Dinner. We'll have six courses of unique offerings paired with hard-to-find cellared bottles and curated draught beer selections.
Link for tickets: CAVES BEER DINNER
Bloktoberfest 2023
More information is available and going out to the public this week. Please refer to the Bloktoberfest HUB for the most up to date information.
Dates/times:
October 6th from 4-11pm
October 7th from 12pm-11pm
Pre-Sale Packages (sale starts 9/11):
Half Liter $25
Full Liter $35
Regular Admission $5 for those 13+
Music & Entertainment
Schedule is listed on the HUB, go check it out!
HIGH FIVE SECTION
James Watts - He saved our butts this week! BOH would have been down 3 people on a 100 degree day but he picked up the shift and came in with that classic positive energy
Jerika Mutschler - Jerika has been a real trooper grinding through consecutive weeks of canning shifts. Thanks, Jerika.
Kolleen Peters - Way to step up and help everyone out by washing dishes when the kitchen was short staffed. You are appreciated!!
Monday TR Crew! (Kailey Brana and Bailey) - kicked butt on a very busy Monday evening! Your hard work and calmness under pressure is very greatly appreciated and you all are rock stars!!!
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STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week.
SAFETY TIPS
Remember to test the weight of something before you lift it up completely; it might be too late if you realize a few seconds later that it’s too heavy or cumbersome for you. If the load is too heavy for you to handle alone, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Dine Out! Elakha Alliance - September 12th
On September 12th, a portion of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help support Elakha Alliance.
About: Sea otters are a keystone species whose predation and behavior have a profound effect on the mix of species around it. In their absence, Oregon’s marine ecosystem has suffered, becoming ecologically less robust.
The Elakha Alliance was formed in 2018 by tribal, nonprofit, and conservation leaders with a shared belief in a powerful vision: an Oregon coast 50 years from now where our children and grandchildren co-exist along with a thriving sea otter population and a robust and resilient marine ecosystem.
Their mission: To restore a healthy population of sea otters to the Oregon coast and to thereby make Oregon’s marine and coastal ecosystem more robust and resilient.
Elakha (ee-LAK-uh) is a Chinook trading language word for sea otter, which were once plentiful in Oregon’s coastal waters.
Representatives from Alakha Alliance - 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!