Internal Brewsletter - December 20th, 2023
General
Gloria! Serving Change for Both Locations
We are changing up how we serve our Gloria! Pilsner starting this Friday 12/22 at both locations.
.3 L $6.25 (Current Dimple mug) - we will fill these the same way we have been
.5 L $7.00 ( .5 L stein from Bloktoberfest) - There is a half liter line on the stein, fill clear to there, foam to the top.
5 oz - $2.25
No more 10 oz offering - (no more half-full dimple mugs or using a 10oz glass.)
Packaged Beer Discount for this weekend
This Saturday 12/23 we will be extending our Sunday Sippin’ discount and all packaged beer to go will be 20% off! Make sure we tell customers and push that packaged beer all weekend!
Food & Beer Pairing for Continuous Darkness
This Friday we will be adding our next food and beer pairing special to the menu at both locations!
Country Bleu Cheese & Date Spread
Danish blue cheese, sweet dates & toasted pecan spread served with fresh apple and toasted artisan bread. $11.99
Complementing Continuous Darkness, this robust imperial stout reveals dark chocolate and toffee undertones that harmonize with the caramel sweetness of dates, while balancing the savory richness of blue cheese. The tartness of crisp apples adds a touch of acidity, effectively cutting through the overall decadence of both the cheese and the beer. This pairing creates the ideal light snack, giving a perfect counterpoint to the bold flavors of this substantial beer.
Employee Provision
A weekly special served at the Pub, the idea of which comes primarily from Block 15 employees.
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Kira! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Broccoli Cheddar soup in bread bowls.
We’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 12/22
Vital Vibe // Bring on the West Coast vibes with this bright and approachable IPA. Featuring a harmonious pairing of hops, it shines with notes of melon, kiwi, and pear with a crisp, snappy finish. // 6.60% ABV
Takeaways: Graduated through our creative process from experimental batch to stand-alone brand. We took one of our most popular emerging IPAs of 2023, Consortium: Mosaic x HBC-586, and developed a stand-alone brand for it.
Tasting Notes: Candied Peach. Orange Juice. Just Vibes.
Series: Orbital
Beer Style: West Coast IPA
An IPA Sub-style that originated in California. It has evolved over the years to showcase a balance of bright fruit, resinous pine, and dank (cannabis-forward) hop flavors and aromas, with a moderate to light malt presence and a dry finish with an assertive bitterness. West Coast is still a rapidly evolving style. The Variations of IPAs have become America’s primary contribution to the pantheon of world beer styles.
Continuous Darkness // Embrace the darkest days of the year with this luscious concoction that balances notes of chocolate, caramel, espresso, and decadent dark fruits, concentrated to velvety heights by an extended boil. // 14.00% ABV
Takeaways: Implementing several new techniques to make something unique, Continuous Darkness is a step beyond for us. No adjuncts were used to make this exceptionally big stout.
Tasting Notes: Bitter Chocolate. Espresso. Indulgent.
Series: Emerging
Beer Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Also more simply referred to as “Imperial Stout,” the term Imperial originates from the late 1700s when a London-made strong “export stout” was shipped to the Russian Imperial Court at the request of Catherine the Great. The Lonon-based brewery that exclusively made this beer, Anchor Brewing, later renamed Barclay Perkins, saw the marketing opportunity to rename this beer to “Russian Imperial Stout,” this is the origin of the term “Imperial” in describing beer with exceptionally high strength. As the name implies, this is a strong beer, usually between 8% and 12%, but some American examples can exceed 15% ABV. Dark with a strong roasted malt character, they often present notes of dried fruit, chocolate, and coffee flavors with a warm, bittersweet finish.
Upcoming Packaged Wine Releases
RELEASING Friday 12/22
Chalet Rouge // A deep red blend from the 2021 harvest of Grenache, biodynamic Syrah, and Viognier from Oregon and eastern Washington. // 15.00% ABV
Takeaways: Made from a blend of biodynamic Syrah, hand-harvested Grenache, and Salmon Safe Viognier from Oregon and eastern Washington, we designed this Cotes du Rhone-style wine to be perfect for sharing with loved ones on cold winter nights. Round, full, sweet, and luxurious.
Tasting Notes: Rich Jam, Structured, Epicurean.
Series: Cellars
AVA: Red Mountain Rocks District
Vineyards & Vineyard Management: Hedges - Biodynamic, Los Rocosos - Sustainable, Watermill - Live & Salmon Safe
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 12/22
Continuous Darkness // Russian Imperial Stout
Vital Vibe // West Coast IPA
Chalet Rouge // Red Blend
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: DAB Lab, Mo$aic
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Scientifical // IPA
Frequency Illusion // West Coast IPA (collab with Baerlic Brewing)
A Nugg Hugg // Hazy IPA
HS16660 Draft Only // West Coast IPA
Highland Hymn // Scottish Ale
BEER EDUCATION
Weekly Tastings of new releases and some classics:
Tap Room
Tuesdays at 2 pm
Pub
First and third Tuesdays at 11 am
Second and Fourth Thursdays at 11 am
Beer 101: Graduating Brands in our series
Written by Ted O’Hanlan, Head Brewer
This week we are releasing Vital Vibe, a new brand, but not a new beer for Block 15. This is the graduation of Consortium: Mosaic x HBC-586 that was released last summer from that Orbital series to a stand-alone brand. We often use our recipes we’ve already developed, either rotating beers in our Orbital series or stand-alone beers in our Emerging series, to move up to stand-alone beers in our Orbital or Perennial series. Without getting too complicated as to the differences between these, it changes who Block 15 Distribution offers these beers to in the market, making them more widely available. Because of this we prefer to only graduate beers that we truly believe in, that have the opportunity to become staple beers that our fans think of when they think about Block 15.
We have to constantly develop new brands, just as we have to occasionally let some go. This is part of the process that keeps our beers fresh and appealing in the market. We have graduated several beers throughout 2023; Tipping Point and Juice Joint being two that graduated from the DAB Lab series into stand-alone brands. Next week’s release of Scientifical is as an Orbital brand, graduated from the Emerging series. The series that we use; Emerging, Orbital, Synergy, Perennial and Perpetual, as well as Sticky Hands Variants and DAB Labs, make up a pipeline for creative development that we use to constantly evolve our offerings and our brand.
PUB UPDATES
While we mentioned in the Brewsletter last week that we would be adding the Season of Mists to the menu this Friday, we are getting close to the end of our supply of Marionberries and will be changing the lemonade flavor to Blood Orange in about two weeks. At this time, we will add the Sparkle Motion (Donny Darko reference) back on the menu. This was a popular cocktail that we’ve run a few winters in a row featuring Prosecco, Aperol, Blood Orange, and Soda Water.
We are closing at 4pm on Sunday for Christmas Eve, and will be closed on Christmas Day. We are also closing at 8pm on NYE, and will be open normal hours on January 1st. Happy Holidays, everyone!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We will be swapping out the Cranberry Orange Ginger G&T to a cranberry ginger paloma this Friday 12/22
Like mentioned above, we are switching up the pour offerings for Gloria starting Friday. This also means we have mugs to use for Mug Club members. Main thing to remember is that if something is in a 14oz size they can get a Mug Club pour of it in the mug!
We will be closing at 4pm on Sunday for Christmas Eve and Closed Monday for Christmas. Happy Holidays to everyone!
Next week will be the last Craft Night Tuesday, we will be switching it up going into 2024!
Caves UPDATES
We will be closing after Brunch at 2pm on Christmas Eve, and will be closed on Christmas Day. On NYE, we will be open and seating guests until 9pm for those that want to celebrate with us. We have some specials that we are going to be featuring through the weekend, so see the Newsletter for more details. Both Block 15 locations are closing at 8pm, so we are likely to see a pop between 8pm and 9pm when folks are looking for dinner. We will be open normal hours on Monday, January 1st.
Events
Holiday Toy Drive for Cameron Merrill’s Legacy
December 4th - December 22nd
Cameron Merrill passed away from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2013, at the young age of 2 years and 4 months old. In response to this devastating loss, his family established Cameron Merrill's Legacy to support children with serious illnesses and their families. By gathering toys for these children, they hope to bring joy during very difficult times, while showing their families community support.
Block 15 is collecting new, unwrapped toys for kids of all ages between December 4th and 22nd. These gifts will be delivered to Doernbecher and Randall Children’s Hospital’s pediatric ICU in time for the holidays! Toys can be dropped off at either the Block 15 Downtown Pub or Southtown Tap Room locations during business hours.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Ian Hutchings - For killing it at hosting Trivia and making it a great event. You rock!
Garrison Schmidt - For always making my day brighter when I see him and always has the best, funniest stories/sayings. Love you Garry!!
Ted O’Hanlan - Ted is so passionate about craft beer and I think he's really brought a lot of our favorite recipes even closer to perfection, thanks Ted!
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Congratulations to Gabi, Jack, Barb, and Katie for stepping into Lead Server roles!
SAFETY TIPS
For those interested, the Safety Committee Notes can be found on the Sling page labeled “Safety Committee Notes.” Please reach out if you have any questions or feedback or if you’d like to join the monthly safety committee meeting. The next meetings will be 1/17 at 12:30 pm at the Tap Room and 1/18 at 10 am at the Pub.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Check back next week
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!