Internal Brewsletter - August 2nd, 2023
General
Native Land 2.0 Food Pairing!
Friday we will be serving a Pork and Blue Corn posole to pair with Native Land 2.0. This special will run the entire time we have the beer on draft.
Pork & Blue Corn Posole: Carlton Farms and Organic New Mexican blue corn, bell pepper, onions and spices in a savory broth with shredded cabbage, radishes, avocado and cilantro. Served with house-fried tortilla chips. $10.99
Employee Provision:
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Holly! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Blackberry and Burrata Plate with fresh basil, olive oil, and balsamic reduction.
We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 8/4
Native Land 2.0 // Joining Bow & Arrow Brewing, Native Land 2.0 is a Mexican-style lager using Blue Corn from Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. Part of this beer's proceeds will go to All Are We Water Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to connecting Tribal and Indigenous Communities to co-create therapeutic outdoor educational and recreational programs for families. Block 15 Brewing will join 39 other breweries around the United States to raise awareness that Native Americans are not only an important part of our country's history but are still here. // 4.70% ABV
Takeaways: The second charity collab beer from Bow & Arrow, the concept for 2.0 is a Mexican lager using native corn from the region of the brewery collaborating, and the proceeds benefit land stewardship for access, or to preserve traditional foods for a native organization. Oregon did not have a native corn, so we purchased corn from the tribal organization at Santa Ana Pueblo in New Mexico, this is the same corn that Bow & Arrow uses in their Denim Tux Pilsner, among other beers.
Tasting Notes: Floral, Honey, Classic
Series: Synergy
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 8/4
Native Land 2.0 // Mexican Lager, collaboration with Bow & Arrow Brewing Co
Hop Shuffle // We're shuffling our deck of hops to bring you something unique. Talus, Chinook, and HBC-586 combine tropical and citrus notes with pine resin in a crisp, dry West Coast. // 6.80% ABV
Takeaways: The first of a rotating draught-only IPA series. We are striving for novel hop combinations we have never tried before, but also to explore the subtle ways we can incorporate different malts into our west-coast IPAs to make them more balanced, and unique. This batch combines Talus, Chinook, and HBC-586 with the addition of Weyermann Toasted Wheat to add a biscuity complexity as well as body to a dry West Coast.
Tasting Notes: Candied Orange. Pine Resin. Surf Wax.
Series: Emerging
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Topwire No. 2
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Peach Punch! (You in the Eye) // Hazy IPA with Peaches and Apricots, collaboration with Great Notion Brewing
Stoke Coast // West Coast Pilsner
Standing Sun: Tangerine & Pink Guava // Fruited Sour Ale
TopWire IPA Block No. 03 // India Pale Ale
Flicker // West Coast IPA
Bloktoberfest // Märzen Lager
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
Topo Chico will soon be stored in the Breakroom and will be part of pick lists. If we are running low, let a manager know and we will get more ordered.
Please check for wine boxes on Thursday and Friday evenings in the Server Restock Area and unpack them into their respective areas. Boxes should be recycled as soon as they are empty.
Credit card reader on the broken handheld has been fixed, and the one that was having intermittent issues should also be good to go (both newer styles of handhelds).
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We now have a new 3rd Toast Handheld! Please keep it by the window/silverware area to be used as quick access to 86 items, put numbers in, cash folks out, beer to-go, etc.! (Make sure it gets plugged in at night with the others to charge tho)
Please be gentle with the rockers. We have had one break already and they see a lot of wear and tear. We want to keep them looking good and in good condition!
Please keep the barrels by the bar decluttered. Personal water bottles and drinks are totally fine but clean up what is yours when leaving and keep other items up in the break room.
Please only do up to 2 rows of 1 kind of packaged beer in the coolers. It is ok to have a couple of open rows as more cans come out every Friday. Rearrange cans to keep open rows towards the sides or bottom of the coolers.
Caves UPDATES
A couple of new beers on the horizon! Keep your eyes peeled for updates!
Corvallis Beer Week is coming back and Caves is jumping in on the fun! We will be hosting the Kick-Off March as we have in years prior, and are offering a super exciting beer dinner as a ticketed event. More details to follow!
Lagered by the Sun updates!
Continuing our series about our sustainable brewing practices, we wanted to dive into the power we generate right here at our brewery through our solar panels.
In December of 2021, with the help of Oregon Clean Power Cooperative and the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition, 98kW of solar panels were installed at the Southtown Brewery and Taproom. This is enough to provide the facility with 40% of the building’s needs. To this date, the solar panels have provided 193.36 MWh of power. To put this in perspective, this is enough energy to power 371 lightbulbs nonstop for a year. To see live tracking of the energy being produced, head here: Solar Kiosk.
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
Hi all, it’s been a little while since we went over what our beer series mean and I wanted to share a reminder. Last year when we refreshed our branding, we started putting a series on our beers. Each series represents a category of beers we make and is a helpful piece of information for understanding if a beer is new or one we make year-round, etc.
I’ll be adding the series on each beer above starting today so that there’s better visibility on which series the beer lives in. You can always find this information on the top of the One Sheets, which are posted at both locations and linked on each beer above.
Cheers, Holly
Block 15 Beer Series explained:
Perpetual
Core Block 15 beers made year-round
Beers: Sticky Hands, Deep Seek, Joy, Fluffhead, Nebula, Gloria!
Perennial
Seasonal ales and lagers which return around the same time every year
Examples of Perennial Ales: Love Potion #9, Charmed Life, Favorable Fortune, Group Ride, Board Shorts, Animal Cookies, Nugg Hugg, Fresh Flow, Flicker, College, Ol’ St. Nick, Fresh Pow
Examples of Perennial Lagers: Alpine Ibex, Sol Fresco, Kumo, Fresca Pils, Bloktoberfest, Punch Out & Prost!, Carpathians
Orbital
Beers made periodically which typically have a higher price point than our Perennial or Perpetual beers
Orbital beers may or may not be made around the same time each year
Recent examples: Consortium, Wandelpad, Island in the Sky, The Incredible, Tipping Point, Tropicolor
Emerging
New and/or experimental beers typically made in a smaller capacity.
Sometimes you’ll see an Emerging beer return or be a part of a series if we’re testing things like hop combinations or adjuncts (Ingredients added which aren’t a part of traditional beer ingredients, like fruit or spices).
A cool thing about the Emerging Series is if the beer goes well, we can bring it back in a larger capacity and make it a part of our regular beers. So you might see them again!
Recent examples: Hop Shuffle, Paddle Season, Keen As!, Queen of Spices, Future Focus, Standing Sun
Synergy
Beers made in collaboration with another brewery or business
Recent examples: Peach Punch! With Great Notion Brewing, Oregona with The Oregon Hophouse, Alumni Club with Excelsior Brewing, Crystal Ball with The Bier Stein, Headhaze with Moonraker Brewing
Cellar
Predominantly barrel-aged beers, with small exceptions, made in a very limited capacity
Cellar beers are typically aged for longer periods of time in stainless steel tanks, oak foeders, oak barrels, or other specialty barrels.
For packaging, most Cellar Series beers are bottled, with small exceptions like Caves Saison which was canned
Recent examples: Rekindled, Cassidy, Caves Saison, TC Bing PX, Revolve, Hypnosis
EVENTS
Bloktoberfest - October 6th-7th
Save the date!
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Alissa - for being the best bookkeeper possible. She's always on top of things and has a great attitude every day.. HIGH FIVE!
—
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week!
SAFETY TIPS
Make sure to clean up spills immediately and provide warning signs on wet floors.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
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!
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!
—
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
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!
Internal Brewsletter - July 19th, 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 Kelsey! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Fried Fish Sandwich.
We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 7/21
Wandelpad // Inspired by the Trappist beers of Belgium, this blonde ale is crisp, complex, and refreshing. Paring traditional malts and yeast with PNW-grown hops, it balances fruity esters, rustic flavor, and a zesty hop finish. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: Naturally conditioned in tank, this step adds time to the process, but it's a commitment to quality that we can't overlook. The refermentation of Belgian beers is essential to the mouthfeel and perception of dryness the style requires.
Tasting Notes: Bartlett Pear. Ginger. Leisurely Stroll.
Animal Cookies // Brewed for the hop-loving animal inside of you, this can is packed with sticky, pungent hops. Unleash a swirling circus of pineapple, tangerine, mango, pine, and dank herb hop characters. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: The return of a classic Block 15 IPA. Hazy IPA done the Block 15 way.
Tasting Notes: Ripe Papaya. Navel Orange. Equitorial.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 7/21
Wandelpad // Belgian Blonde Ale
Animal Cookies // Hazy IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Kumo
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Paddle Season // West Coast Pale Ale
TopWire IPA Block No. 03 // India Pale Ale
Consortium: Mosaic x HBC 586 // India Pale Ale
Rekindled // Wild Golden Ale
Native Land 2.0 // Mexican Lager
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: Style Feature - Hazy ipa
Written by Ted O’Hanlan, Head Brewer
The plethora of products sold as India Pale Ale today offers a diversity of characteristics that continue to make them appealing to such a broad range of consumers that they remain the most popular “style” of craft beer in the market. They have, in fact, developed into such distinct sub-styles that they only feature a few common characteristics, such as abv (between 5.5% and 9%, but with some examples exceeding that), or being very hop-forward in their flavor and aroma. Most examples hardly resemble the beers that pioneered the style in the 18th and 19th centuries.
History of the style
Flash forward to the beginning of the 21st century and the explosion of craft beer in the United States. IPA had gone from a forgotten style to the most popular style in craft beer. Often malt-forward, clear, and extremely bitter, they largely featured the characteristics of the infamous “C-hops,” such as Chinook, Crystal, Cascade, Centennial, or Columbus (also referred to as CTZ for Columbus, Tomahawk, and Zeus, three nearly identical hop varieties).
In 2004 The Alchemist Brewing in Waterbury, Vermont started making Heady Topper IPA, a sea-change for the industry. The beer was less bitter, featured a less prominent malt profile, and the hop profile was juicy with very little of the floral and herbal characteristics that were popular at the time. There was a move to push hop additions to the end of the boil, allowing their more delicate flavors to shine through by preserving the aroma and flavor-carrying hop oils and pushing dry hop weights higher and higher. The increase in hop oils in the product and lack of filtration gave heady topper a murky, hazy appearance that was initially scoffed at, but ultimately became a trademark component of the emerging sub-style. Initially referred to as “Vermont-Style IPA” before being called “New England-Style IPA” it is now mostly just referred to as “Hazy IPA,” a reflection of how universally produced and enjoyed it has become.
There are many, many breweries that played a role in the advancement of the style and production methods, far too many for this article. The period of the style’s development produced no shortage of misconceptions both from brewers and consumers, some of which persist today.
some of my favorite misconceptions:
“The haze is from the yeast” - An idea where brewers intentionally tried to hold yeast in suspension to produce the characteristic haze. In reality, the haze in these beers is a polyphenol-protein complex derived from malt and hops. Yeast plays a role in the process, but it should be the goal of every brewer to package a beer with as little yeast in suspension as possible.
“New England IPAs have zero IBU’s” - There is no such thing as a beer with hops that has zero IBU’s. Even if there are no hops in the boil, where alpha acids in the hops are converted into bitterness, just dry hopping a beer adds IBU’s to the product.
“There is lactose in Hazy IPAs” - Some hazy’s do have lactose, those that are identified as “Milkshake IPA,” but most do not and are fine for Vegan consumers to have.
“They taste fruity so there must be fruit in them” - If a hazy IPA doesn’t say it has fruit in it, then it doesn’t. Contemporary hop varieties often feature strong fruit characteristics. I assure you, if we go to the expense of putting fruit in our beers we will advertise that.
Key Characteristics
A few distinguishing characteristics largely define the style. They have less bitterness, are sweeter and more full-bodied than other IPAs, usually feature predominantly juicy hop profiles, especially with tropical and citrus characteristics, and they use malt adjuncts that have high protein levels that help produce a more stable haze.
The “Blazy”
Block 15 produces many hazy IPAs, but we often prefer to make them less sweet and with more bitterness than many other breweries - affectionately nicknaming them “Blazys”. We feel a lot of the hazy IPAs in the market are not made with balance in mind, and our goal is always to make beer that is balanced and drinkable.
This week we are releasing Animal Cookies, which has proven to be one of our most popular Hazy IPAs. Animal Cookies features Citra, Mosaic, and Cashmere hops, all of which are popular for Hazy IPAs, but also Chinook and CTZ which push a more piney and dank profile that is common for us.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
Blueberry-Lavender Lemonade is being phased out by Passionfruit this Friday! We may have a small amount left over, but once we sell through what we have, we will be out for the season. If guests remember the Passionfruit Margarita that we used to do, we will be able to do that one again and will have a button in for it.
This Friday we are also launching the Texas Sun (name from a Leon Bridges song) which will have tequila, watermelon, and Topo Chico. This is modeled after Ranch Water which is a cocktail that originated in Texas consisting of Topo Chico, tequila, and lime.
Fun facts about this cocktail:
We acid-adjusted the watermelon juice by adding some citric and malic acids (which are naturally derived from citrus fruits) to give the watermelon juice the acidity of lime juice. This juice in combination with the watermelon simple that we made gives the cocktail a big and bright hit of watermelon without getting watered down. Plus the color is gorgeous!
The simple syrup is made only with fresh juiced watermelon and sugar, so it's super concentrated and not cooked down which conserves that ubiquitous summertime flavor.
We used nearly the whole watermelon in this cocktail by also pickling the rind which will be the garnish.
With this new cocktail, we will also have Topo Chico available for purchase!
We are nearly out of the Wombat Flats and should be out by Friday morning at which point we will transition back to 2 Towns Outcider. If you get any feedback from guests saying they loved the Lassen Ciders, let a manager know and we may be able to bring some back on.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Always ask Madie before moving things, changing any appearance of something, etc.!
We will be switching up from Passion Fruit lemonade in the next few weeks, stay tuned!
Make sure FOH communicates with BOH on seating. Especially big tops but if you sat 4 2 tops or 2 3 tops and a 5 top, etc. It helps keep everyone on the same page and ready to rock!
Make sure to triple-check the food you are running against the ticket to be sure you have the right items. When we are busy it is easy to try to move really quickly and make easily avoidable mistakes, so just take a moment to be sure!
Caves UPDATES
Whether you are FOH or BOH, please remember to check your HotSchedules messages before each shift. This is a very helpful tool we use to communicate as a team, and important info is often passed along via messages.
Lagered by the Sun updates!
Check back next week!
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 - Wednesdays in July
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
All reservations have been booked, if people ask. People can still enjoy the music on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Here’s the schedule:
Wed 7/19 - Ludicrous Speed
BBQ Special: Huli Huli Chicken Hindquarters, Hawaiian Mac Salad, Mango-fennel slaw, Rice
Wed 7/26 - The Hunks and The Hottie
BBQ Special: Brisket Burnt Ends, Texas Toast, Pickles, Elotes
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
7/25 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 8/1 6:10pm @ Rene Moye West.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Entire BOH - I wanted to give a shoutout for the BOH on last Saturday the 8th at the taproom. They continuously cranked out great food the entire busy busy night. And even had a good attitude at the end of it. It was a long day and we couldn’t have done it without them!
—
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome the following folks to the team!
Gretel Ellenburg (BOH)
Alex Salazar (BOH)
SAFETY TIPS
When temperatures rise, so do the risks of heat-related illnesses and injuries. Make sure you’re staying hydrated and cool on these hot busy days
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!
Internal Brewsletter - July 12th, 2023
General
Employee Provision:
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Kailey! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a tomato and burrata crostini.
We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 7/14
Fresca Pils // A crisp, hop-forward Italian-style pilsner brewed with Italian Eraclea pilsner malt and generously hopped with European Styrian hops, lending zippy notes of citrus, berries, and fresh-cut grass. // 5.30% ABV
Takeaways: This year we employed German-grown Amarillo hops to really push the dry-hop character of this delightfully dry pilsner.
Tasting Notes: Marmalade. Elderflower. Enrapturing.
Scientifical // Don your lab coat and imbibe this supercritical display of dankness. We layered waves of sticky, resinous hop goodness on a delicate malt base to scientifically flavorize this delicious IPA. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: New-Age West-Coast IPA with old school hops. Nugget has been around a while, but using it as Salvo (a new hop extract) has allowed us to access all its best characteristics.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Pine Resin. Working Hypothesis.
Ice Knife // Brewed with cutting-edge hop technologies, including Co2 extracted Salvo™ and cryogenically frozen Strata CGX™. This WC x NE Hybrid IPA amplifies the most vibrant factions of sticky and pungent hop characters with a razor-sharp hop showcase of bright citrus peel oils and dense resin. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Crosby's new CGX (cryo-processed hop pellets) pack a considerable punch in this west-coast IPA, featuring Comet and Strata.
Tasting Notes: Grapefruit Juice. Pine Resin. Razor's edge.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 7/14
Fresca Pils // Italian Pilsner
Scientifical // India Pale Ale
Ice Knife // India Pale Ale
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!
Animal Cookies // India Pale Ale
Wandelpad // Belgian Blonde
Paddle Season // Pale Ale
TopWire IPA Block No. 03 // India Pale Ale
Consortium: Mosaic x HBC 586 // India Pale Ale
Native Land 2.0 // Mexican Lager
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: Italian Pilsners
It might sound like a classic European lager style, but Italian Pilsner is a baby compared to German Pilsner or Bohemian Pilsner. Invented by Agostino Arioli at his Como, Italy brewery, Birrificio Italiano in the mid-90s, Tipopils is the original Italian Pilsner. Initially, to recreate a particular example of a Northern German Pilsner, Arioli added a small dry hop that drastically changed the beer. The result was light and crisp with a touch of sulfur from the lager yeast and a noticeable, but not overpowering hop aroma and flavor from dry hopping with Noble hops. Birrificio Italiano initially used Tettnanger, Spalter Select, and Hallertau Mittelfruh, three German hop varieties known for their herbal, spicy, and floral attributes. The hops lend a gentle spicy and grassy character to the pilsner.
The emerging style was introduced to America by Firestone Walker and their beer, Pivo Pils. They moved into using Saphir, a German-grown hop with more intense aromatics that pushed the hop profile of that beer. More American brewers caught on to the emerging style and started brewing variations of it, mostly using German hops, but also looking at other unique European hop varieties that could bring interesting characteristics not otherwise seen in Pilsners.
Fresca Pils is Block 15’s take on the Italian Pilsner style. Historically that beer has been brewed with Mandarina Bavaria, a German variety that exhibits strong citrus notes, but this year we substituted that with Hallertau Amarillo. These are hops of American origin and typically grown here in the PNW, that were grown in Germany, imparting the terroir of Hallertau, a hop growing region in Bavaria, into an aromatic, American IPA style hop.
The other hop featured is Styrian Kolbiri, a newer variety of Slovenian hop from the Slovenian Institute of Hop Research and Brewing in Žalec. There are a number of interesting new varieties coming out of Slovenia now, to the point that it has become the second largest hop-producing nation in Europe, after Germany. Styrian Kolbiri features notes of blackcurrant, pineapple, and elderflower.
Some breweries exclusively brew their Italian Pilsners with noble hops that feature the traditional tasting notes of those regions, while others, like Block 15, prefer to interpret this emerging style utilizing the newer, progressive variety of European hops that continue to become available as the American Craft Beer movement continues to influence European beer culture. When you get down to it, Italian Pilsner is just a European Craft beer style, a rare thing that will likely be more common as the industry continues to evolve.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
Congratulations to Taylor Stine for stepping into a Server role! He will begin training in a few weeks, go make sure to give him a big ‘ol high five in the meantime!
Please turn off the light to the Mill Room (where the brooms and vacuum are located) and close the door when you are finished. Since this is a workspace/storage area, we want to keep it from being visible to customers. Also, when you are finished with the broom or dustpan, please hang them back up to keep the space tidy.
Blueberry-Lavender lemonade is on its last legs (as is the Don’t Panic). Within the next week or two we will be switching to the Passionfruit Lemonade. A new cocktail is in the works to replace the Don’t Panic.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Big congratulations to Makayla who is now a Taproom FOH Manager! She is starting to train and step into that role over the next week or so. Make sure to give her a huge high five next time you see her!
We have a new mini fridge! It is smaller than the old cocktail fridge so the cocktails are now in the old lemonade fridge and lemonades and 2towns cans are in the small fridge.
The felt letter board by the merch now has all the prices listed for the merch to help keep all the info clear for customers!
We are completely sold out for reservations for all remaining tunes, brews and bbq dates if folks ask.
Caves UPDATES
Welcome Donlon! He is going to start cross-training this week and we are super excited to have him on the team!
Another reminder to please use coasters upon greeting each table–we have a large back stock and should be using them to provide a better experience for guests and to keep the tables looking good.
Lagered by the Sun updates!
The marketing team is working on displays to go up at the Taproom and Downtown locations that talk about our solar energy, ingredients sourcing, and what cans to find the lagered by the sun stamp on. The Pub will have slides on the TV and the Taproom will have posters hung up by the entrance and cooler.
Next up will be digital pushes for what this program means… Soon (next week!), we will have a webpage with all the info about Lagered by the Sun! It will be a nice tool to go back to and brush up on what the program is all about!
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 - Wednesdays in July
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
All reservations have been booked if people ask. People can still enjoy the music on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Here’s the schedule:
Wed 7/12 - Summer Of Love
BBQ Special: Chicken Yakitori w/ Tare Sauce, Japanese potato salad, Cucumber Sunomono, Rice
Wed 7/19 - Ludicrous Speed
BBQ Special: Huli Huli Chicken Hindquarters, Hawaiian Mac Salad, Mango-fennel slaw, Rice
Wed 7/26 - The Hunks and The Hottie
BBQ Special: Brisket Burnt Ends, Texas Toast, Pickles, Elotes
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
7/18 8:45pm @ Pioneer Park, 7/25 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 8/1 6:10pm @ Rene Moye West.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Nic Haye - Nic made a delicious Peach Turnover dessert special last week & it was bomb.com!
Bryce Benson - You did an amazing job reorganizing the keg washing area this week!
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week!
SAFETY TIPS
Workplace procedures exist to keep employees safe, so using every tool and machine according to their instructions is critical. If you’re uncertain on how to use something, 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 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.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - July 5th, 2023
General
Congrats to Travis Smith for accepting the kitchen line Manager position! Thank you to all who interviewed, we had a pool of AMAZING candidates and am so excited to continue to see everyone grow in their current roles and to see Travis take on this new endeavor!
New Dessert! This Friday both locations will be replacing the Carrot Cake Bell with the Strawberry Bell!
Oregon strawberry cake with a fluffy cream cheese filling. This update to a childhood classic is then topped with a classic swirl and fresh strawberry. $8
Employee Provision: We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Tyler! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a traditional-style Chicago dog.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 7/7
Kumo // An incredibly dry, Japanese-inspired rice lager, Kumo features NW-grown Pilsner malt and citrusy Cashmere hops. Crisp and easy-going, Kumo breezes through like a drifting cloud. // 4.50% ABV
Takeaways: After Nick and Ted's trip to Japan, this beer was adjusted to more accurately reflect the rice lagers they encountered on their travels
Tasting Notes: Bread Crust. Lemon Rind. Super-Dry.
Island in the Sky // Inspired by the mountain peaks that stand, inviting, over our valley. This deceptively smooth Imperial Hazy features a bounty of juicy and piney NW hops, reflecting the beautiful landscape itself. // 9.00% ABV
Takeaways: This Hazy IIPA focuses on fruit-forward hops, featuring several that showcase robust berry characteristics, including a unique lot of Chinook that is heavy on the Blue Raspberry character.
Tasting Notes: Orange Sherbert. Ripe Mango. Elevated.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 7/7
Kumo // Japanese Rice Lager
Island in the Sky // Hazy Imperial IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Queen of Spices
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Scientifical // India Pale Ale
Ice Knife // India Pale Ale
Fresca Pils // Italian Pilsner
Animal Cookies // India Pale Ale
Wandelpad // Belgian Blonde
Paddle Season // Pale Ale
TopWire IPA Block No. 03 // India Pale Ale
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: Kumo
Last year we released Kumo, our take on a Japanese-style rice lager that Asahi Super-Dry inspired. While it was close, we felt there was room for improvement, especially after traveling to Japan and tasting the beer fresh with a perfect pour at every establishment we visited.
We set out to make a few changes to the beer:
Reduce the bitterness to emphasize drinkability with a very dry finish.
Ensure the lagering duration is adequate to reduce the sulfur level of beer to near zero. Examples of this in Japan had no sulfur at all.
Move all possible ingredients to PNW sources to highlight our “Lagered by the Sun” program. (All malt and hops are from the PNW, only the rice flakes are from elsewhere)
Additionally, we set out to improve the customer experience with this release:
Focus on the pouring, bringing in specialty equipment that can mimic the perfect head formation we saw with every pour in Japan.
Design a food pairing that reflects the authentic culture we experienced when traveling in Japan.
Friday-Sunday for the release we will be running a Katsu Curry dish that will be offered at both locations!
Panko breaded and fried pork cutlet over a bed of steamed basmati rice, with our Japanese curry sauce, shredded cabbage, and quick citrus pickled cucumbers. $16.99
"The clean, malt-forward profile of a Kumo rice lager beautifully complements the robust flavors of curry tonkatsu, providing a refreshing balance to the rich and spicy curry while allowing the crispy, breaded tonkatsu to shine."
Creating this and other supplementary documents to help aid staff education for this release.
A little History of this style:
There are four major conglomerates in the Japanese beer industry: Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory. Kirin dominated beer sales as the clear #1 brand in Japan from the end of World War II into the mid-1980s (61% of beer sold in the decade before 1985). There had been several “wars” with product development in the decade leading up to 1985 that impacted the beer market, but nothing like the “dry wars” that came out of Asahi releasing their “Super-Dry” beer that year. Their market research indicated that the consumer taste was changing to prefer a sharp and refreshing product rather than the richer profile of Kirin. That beer was a huge hit and eventually pushed Asahi to be the top brand in Japan. The other breweries tried to copy their success, but were never successful in regaining market share from Asahi.
PUB UPDATES
For the Kumo release, we will be running a special cocktail pairing for the weekend only (or until we are out of the ingredients). This cocktail will feature a split base of white rum and shochu*, salted lime simple, muddled lime and shiso**, and soda water. Similar to a mojito, but not as sweet and will pair super well with the curry.
*Shōchū is a Japanese distilled beverage. It is typically distilled from rice, barley, sweet potatoes, buckwheat, or brown sugar, though it is sometimes produced from other ingredients such as chestnut, sesame seeds, potatoes, or even carrots
Shiso is an herb often used in Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese cooking. Shiso has notes/flavors of mint, basil, tarragon, cilantro, cinnamon, and sometimes anise
We will also run an N/A cocktail alongside this mojito-inspired one with Calpico, lime, and soda water.
Happy Place will be falling off of the menu this Friday and will be replaced by a cocktail made by the lovely Laura! It will feature Soho Lychee liqueur, yuzu, pink peppercorn simple, and prosecco. It’s super crisp and refreshing with a nice tropical sweetness to it. It’ll be a great offering during these hot summer days.
Happy Hour is back! Starting Sunday 7/9 we will be offering a selection of small plates and 4 cocktails on our happy hour menu and it will run Sun-Thurs 2pm-5pm. All draught beer and wine along with root beer and kombucha will also be $1 off. There is a discount button to apply $1 off. For food items and cocktails, there will be a separate menu in the Toast screen specifically for Happy Hour items that will already be discounted. We will have menus that should be dropped at the table with our other menus during Happy Hour. Please specifically call these items out to guests.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Tunes Brews and BBQ starts this week on 7/5! We are full for reservations for this week but have a few spots left for the rest of them. They will be mapped out on paper so you can mark folks off as they arrive and if they don’t show within 15 min of their reservation please give them a call before giving the table away.
It is wasp season! Please be diligent about picking up food scraps and trash outside as they love to congregate by food. Let Madie know if you notice any swarms or if they linger in one area in particular.
Happy Hour is back! Starting Sunday 7/9 we will be offering a selection of small plates and 3 cocktails on our happy hour menu and it will run Sun-Thurs 2pm-5pm. All draught beer and wine along with root beer and kombucha will also be $1 off. There is a discount button to apply $1 off. For food items and cocktails, there will be a separate menu in the Toast screen specifically for Happy Hour items that will already be discounted. We will have menus that should be dropped at the table with our other menus during Happy Hour. Please specifically call these items out to guests
This Friday we are releasing Island in the Sky. It is pretty limited in draft so there will be no draft to go available to start, but we have plenty of cans!
The new logo pint glasses we have are for sale only! Please if you see one turn up in our dirty dish rack to wash it and put it back on the merch shelf!
Caves UPDATES
We have a new cocktail joining our line-up this week!
Raspberry Beret
White rum, golden raspberry simple, lime, cocchi rosa.
Fun fact: the golden raspberries are locally grown and are picked up at the Corvallis Farmers Market!
Lagered by the Sun!
We are working on merch!
You will see these coming weeks the Lagered by the Sun logo more and more. Coasters have landed! You may notice that one side of the coaster has Gloria! Pilsner on it… That’s because this is the beer we are highlighting in this program (that doesn’t meen our other beers aren’t lagered by the sun). We will be receiving stickers, pins, and hats (later in the year) and a display for our TR location for folks to read about!
Next up will be digital pushes for what this program means… Soon, we will have a webpage with all the info about Lagered by the Sun! It will be a nice tool to go back to and brush up on what the program is all about!
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
Check back next week!
EVENTS
Tunes, Brews & BBQ - Wednesdays in July
We have a dedicated web page for the events this year, with a complete list of details and a link to the reservation page: https://block15.com/tunes-brews-and-bbq-2023
Here’s the schedule:
Wed 7/5 - Wild Hog In The Woods
BBQ Special: Smoked Nashville Hot Pork Belly Sandwich, Smashed Pickle & Potato Salad, Watermelon
Wed 7/12 - Summer Of Love
BBQ Special: Chicken Yakitori w/ Tare Sauce, Japanese potato salad, Cucumber Sunomono, Rice
Wed 7/19 - Ludicrous Speed
BBQ Special: Huli Huli Chicken Hindquarters, Hawaiian Mac Salad, Mango-fennel slaw, Rice
Wed 7/26 - The Hunks and The Hottie
BBQ Special: Brisket Burnt Ends, Texas Toast, Pickles, Elotes
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
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
Distro Warehouse Team - They have been absolutely buried with work this week as we had a ton of last minute orders for distro before the holiday weekend, and have worked until the wee hours in the morning to make sure that our trucks are full and ready to rock for our drivers and accounts. Scott and Jarrod! Thanks so much for what you guys do!
Distro Drivers - Distro has been rockin at the end of this week with a ton of last minute orders for accounts before the holiday weekend that led to some insane Friday routes! Spencer, Mark, Nick T, Zach, and Andy. You tha real MVPs! Thanks for crushing it!
If you have kudos or kind words you want to share anonymously in the Brewsletter, use the button below!
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week!
SAFETY TIPS
Check back next week!
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!
Internal Brewsletter - June 28th, 2023
General
A reminder on acceptable forms of ID: https://www.oregon.gov/olcc/docs/publications/Acceptable_ID_Alcohol_English.pdf
This means that unfortunately, we are unable to accept UK IDs as well. Please be diligent and check IDs and log in your respective location’s OLCC log when you have to deny service due to an unacceptable form of ID.
Check out the Caves section for the new Caves newsletter designed to keep our crew up to date on all of the cool changes and items that we are bringing on next door.
Employee Provision: We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
This week’s Employee Provision will be brought to you by Niko! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Horiatiki, a traditional Greek salad featuring fresh veggies (NO lettuce), feta cheese, olive oil, and vinegar.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/30
The Incredible // This preposterously smooth Triple IPA is brewed with a duo of PNW-grown pale and pilsner malts and balanced by a bounty of our favorite hop varietals. Approachable but incredible. // 10.60% ABV
Takeaways: Revamped, reimagined, and fully loaded. We took our classic Triple IPA and gave it the attention it deserves, focusing on a crisp, dry finish with an intense hop aroma and dangerously smooth.
Tasting Notes: Resinous. Pineapple. Heavy Hitter
Where Rivers Meet // Brewed collaboratively between Sunriver Brewing, Block 15, and Buoy Beer Co, this excellent pale ale was created to support the Ocean Blue Project/World Ocean Day. Oregon-grown Salmon Safe hops provide bright citrus and tropical character in this easy-drinking beer. // 5.50% ABV
Takeaways: Made in Sunriver with Chinook, Crystal, Comet, Strata hops, this collaboration pale ale was made to celebrate World Oceans Day and bring awareness to the Ocean Blue Project and their 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. 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. We gathered together to volunteer our time cleaning up the beach this last Saturday and picked up almost 50lbs of trash!
Tasting Notes: Tropical. Bright Citrus. Impactful.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/30
The Incredible // Triple IPA
Where Rivers Meet // Pale Ale made with Sunriver Brewing & Buoy Beer Co
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!
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: What is a Lager?!
Lager is one of two overarching families of grain-based beverages that comprise “beer.” The other family is ale. Under these families lie further differences that split the world of beer into more than 100 styles, some distinct and some with decidedly fuzzy borders...
Technically, there is only one core difference between all ales and lagers: the type of yeast used to ferment the wort into beer. Simply put, ale yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) make ales and lager yeasts (Saccharomyces pastorianus) make lagers. Although most ale yeasts ferment wort at relatively warm temperatures, usually between 15°C and 24°C (roughly between 60°F and 75°F), lager yeasts can ferment at relatively cool temperatures, usually between 6°C and 13°C (roughly 42°F and 55°F). Lager yeasts also ferment much more slowly than ale yeasts, produce fewer fermentation by-products, and are considered “cleaner and crisper” tasting than ales by most drinkers. Lager yeasts also tend not to throw a thick, rocky head on top of the fermenting wort during primary fermentation; instead, they tend settle to the bottom. This is why lager yeasts are also called “bottom-fermenting” yeasts as opposed to “top-fermenting” ale yeasts.
Further Reading: https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/crsBr6IEDq/
PUB UPDATES
We will be closing at 7:30pm on the 4th of July
As mentioned in the Read & Sign, the garnish for Vodka Lemonades and Margaritas are changing to a dehydrated lemon and lime respectively. N/A Lemonades will get the standard single lemon slice. In the case of an Improbability Drive with booze, that will get a dehydrated lime wheel.
New Menu Item! Coming out June 30th.
Strawberry Fields Salad-Fresh salad greens tossed in herb-citrus vinaigrette and topped with Riverland Family Farms' strawberries, radishes, crumbled feta and our hazelnut gremolata. $16.99 (Replaces 185)
Pimento BLT-Smoky bacon, crisp lettuce, tomato and house pimento cheese, served on fresh-baked & toasted artisan bread. $16.99 (Replaces Italian)
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Reminder: We do not accept checks as payment, Checks are only accepted for Distro orders that have been facilitated to be picked up at the Taproom.
We will be closing early at 7:30pm on the 4th of July.
Tunes Brews and BBQ starts next week! Every Wednesday in July. Fun live music (starting at 6pm) and great food specials! We will be doing online reservations for tables 31-38, 41-42. Folks who reserve a table will be given 10% off all drinks throughout their stay and will have a screenshot to show the cashier to receive the discount.
A note from Garrison about our natural wines and what language to use with customers:
Most conventional wines are doctored from steps a to z to taste and smell a very specific way. Hundreds of food additives can be used to achieve this narrow window. Our wine is natural, with nothing added or detracted aside from a very small sulfite addition to aid longevity, and is a true expression of the fruit itself. We go out of our way to purchase some of the best grapes grown in our region, and our goal is to allow them to speak for themselves.
New Menu Items! Coming out June 30th.
Marinated Tomato & Burrata Salad-Fresh greens tossed in our shallot vinaigrette with balsamic & basil marinated grape tomatoes, fresh burrata cheese and toasted walnuts. $15.99 (Replaces Mesa Salad)
THe Z.A.T-Roasted zucchini, tomato relish, citrus aioli, fresh greens, fresh avocado and house smoked mozzarella on toasted ciabatta bread. $15.99 (Replaces the beet reuben)
Caves UPDATES
Please use coasters when greeting a table and dropping drinks. We have a biiiiig back stock and spent the money on them, so we should be using them. This is a great way to signal to your coworkers that you have greeted a table.
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.
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
Thank you to everyone who showed up to the Beach Clean Up last weekend! We had an awesome turnout and picked up close to 50 pounds of trash!
We also were able to try our collaboration beer, Where Rivers Meet, which will be on draft at our locations in Corvallis this Friday.
EVENTS
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
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
Wyatt Laramee - Wyatt always shows up early, with a good attitude, ready to rock and roll. If you've ever worked a mid shift you know how grueling they can be. Our friend Wyatt kills em on a daily basis. Even while working some of the roughest shifts, he continues to make dank food, keep a level head, and keep things fun. We love you buddy!
Taylor Stine - Taylor is always a joy to work with. He goes out of his way to be communicative and helpful even in busy/stressful times. We appreciate you!
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!
BreAnna Rae (Pub FOH Manager)
SAFETY TIPS
Make sure you keep water with you and drink it often. Consuming foods with high water content — think melons, lettuce, cucumbers, etc. — can also help you stay hydrated to avoid heat illnesses.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint - Last Week!
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.
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!
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!
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!
Internal Brewsletter - June 7th, 2023
General
This Friday (6/9) we will be switching to a new ground beef and moving away from Painted Hills. It is an all-NW beef that comes from the trim of Fulton’s steak program. Because it is steak trim, coming from all different cuts, it has superior beef flavor and texture. I am really excited for this new product to continue striving for the best dang burger! - Sarah
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 special is brought to you by Kolleen! Stop by the Pub this Thursday to try Bibim Mandu, a Korean potsticker salad.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/9
Blue Truck // A beer for those after work hours and the workers who make them happen. Brewed only in the Pacific Northwest with the finest Oregon water, premium malted barley, and choice hops. // 4.70% ABV
Takeaways: Our take on the classic American Premium Lager, with Block 15 quality. Easy drinker.
Tasting Notes: Crisp. Spicy. Heartland.
Tipping Point // Freshly foraged, these sticky spruce tips pair with layers of cryogenic, super-critical hop extracts. It all comes together with dank and fruity notes layered with a lingering, resinous finish. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: We added 2.5 pounds of hand-foraged spruce tips per barrel for this very special west-coast IPA.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Blue Raspberry. Coniferous.
Queen of Spices // Navigating a bearing between the delicate flavors of cardamom and the depth of roasted malts, this full-bodied stout is inspired by the rich, equatorial tradition of export-strength beers. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Enjoyed for over a century by the residents of hot, equatorial nations; yes, you can still enjoy a stout in the summer. Paired with delicious Cardamom to give a botanical punch.
Tasting Notes: Espresso. Mint. Surprising.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/9
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
Tipping Point // IPA with Spruce Tips
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout with Cardamom
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Joy Pale Ale
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
TopWire IPA No. 02 // West Coast IPA
Cassidy // Wild Ale with Honey, Hibiscus, and Rose Petals
Alumni Club // Dry-hopped Kölsch
Liberty & Justice for All // India Pale Ale
Keen As… // India Pale Ale
The Incredible // Triple 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: Beer foam
Foam plays an important role in the presentation and experience of drinking beer, dense stable foam is also one of the features that distinguish beer from other carbonated alcoholic beverages. Carbon Dioxide in the solution in the beer nucleates and is released during dispensing and as the beer sits in the glass. The foam is produced because of hydrophobic polypeptides derived from grain. It is then made more stable by iso-alpha acids from the hops, this holds the foam and also produces the lacing as the foam clings to the glass as you drink it. We always work to create stable foam in our beers. Foam can help prevent oxidation in the glass while drinking as well as add to the aesthetic.
Producing foam during beer dispensing is critical and our modern draught systems are designed to pour efficiently and to produce stable foam. There are many special tools used in beer dispensing that can aid in head retention; nitrogenators and nitro faucets, side-pull faucets, and the sparklers used in hand pump beer engines all help produce stable foam.
On our recent trip to Japan, Nick and I encountered Asahi auto-pour units that actually lift the glass, pour gently down the side, then straighten it and pour foam directly on top. They were everywhere and the beer came out perfect every time. It was such a reliable experience to get a cold Asahi lager with perfect foam that we decided to look into replicating that experience when we release Kumo later this month.
We decided to bring in a couple of creamer faucets for the pub and taproom to use. These work with two actions; the first action is the normal operation of a faucet, pull forward and dispense beer, the second action you push the faucet closed a little more and spits foam on top of the beer you just poured. We think the presentation of our rice lager deserved this special treatment.
Before Kumo releases, we want to make sure everyone is familiar with these faucets and will be installing the on the Blue Truck lines that are coming back this Friday. The idea is to pour within a finger or two of the top of the pint glass and top it with foam. We bought Perlick faucets that are identical to our normal beer faucets.
Further Information
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzLZIW-nih0 This is a different faucet, but a similar design.
PUB UPDATES
As outdoor seating ramps up, be sure to check for debris and dog water bowls under each table as we are cleaning them.
Napkin awareness! When running food, we should be grabbing one napkin per person/entree. Messy burgers or wings can get two, but it’s easier and less wasteful for us to bring extra napkins if they are requested.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We will be doing a bottle cellar stash sale next week as we lead into graduation weekend! There will be a selection of different vintage bottles on sale for $12 and all other bottles will be 20% off. This will run June 15th-18th. Let’s sell some beer!
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
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 once again for the closing party of Portland Beer Week.
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:
6/13 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 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 to the following folks!
Zach Griffiths (FOH)
Katie Mularky (FOH)
Dain Byquist (Caves BOH)
Congrats to Garrison and Goody on 10 years at Block 15!
SAFETY TIPS
Make sure to practice good posture while sitting or lifting to avoid sprains, strains, muscle tears or dislocations on your back or hips.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - May 31st, 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 special is brought to you by Kolleen! Stop by the Pub this Thursday to try Bibim Mandu, a Korean potsticker salad.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 6/2
Tropicolor // Capturing the freshest, juiciest hop character from a trifecta of Idaho 7, Sabro and Bru-1 varietals. With a soft, lush body, Tropicolor is a highly drinkable IPA with a tropical twist. // 7.50% ABV
Takeaways: Pushing tropical mango, pineapple and coconut, this is a very Tiki-inspired Hazy (no fruit added, all hops). El Dorado hop oil is in the ferment for biotransformation. Really pushing big and juicy.
Tasting Notes: Pineapple. Coconut. Beach Day.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 6/2
Tropicolor // Hazy IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Fluffhead
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout w/ Cardamom
Tipping Point // India Pale Ale w/ Spruce Tips
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
TopWire IPA No. 02 // West Coast IPA
Cassidy // Wild Ale with Honey, Hibiscus and Rose Petals
Alumni Club // Dry-hopped Kölsch
Liberty & Justice for All // India Pale Ale
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: Brewery Upgrades
You all may have noticed some changes around the brewery of late so we wanted to take a moment and explain the upgrades and why we did them.
Second Grain Silo
The most obvious upgrade is the addition of a second grain silo out front. You can see it emblazoned with a 100% Pacific Northwest Malt logo. This silo will be filled with Pure Idaho Pilsner malt from Great Western Malting. This pilsner malt is grown and malted in Northern Idaho and will serve as our standard pilsner malt in all recipes requiring it. We chose this malt after many trials in-house looking for a PNW-grown pilsner malt to serve as the backbone of all our recipes utilizing it. The silo addition increases our efficiency by reducing the amount of physical grain handling we have to do daily, reducing the amount of malt we have to store inside our facility, and giving us significant cost savings by purchasing in bulk, 50,000 pounds at a time. With the addition of a second silo, we also upgraded our grain handling system to accommodate it, allowing us to pull accurate, specific amounts of malt individually from each silo as needed.
Whirlpool
We also upgraded our brewhouse quite recently. This was a major retrofit, as we added a third vessel to our brewing system, a whirlpool. This was custom-built to our specs and installed by North Coast Metal Design. This is a vessel specifically designed to spin the wort at the end of the boil process in order to condense the solid matter and particulate into the center of the vessel. This allows us to extract our wort from the edges of the vessel more efficiently, increasing our yield. Adding a third vessel to the brewhouse has the added benefit of increasing our throughput on the brewhouse, shortening our brewing days significantly. While we were doing the retrofit we also added a tube-and-shell heat exchanger inline between the boil kettle and the whirlpool. This allows us to step the temperature down while transferring to the whirlpool, creating a more optimal temperature for hop additions late in the process.
Floors
Under the brewhouse you can see we had some of our floors epoxied. After 7 yrs of brewing our concrete floors were getting a bit tired, so we brought in Cascade Floors to put down a hard epoxy protective layer on our floors. This is only the first stage of the process, as we plan on getting the whole brewery epoxied to match. This creates a more sanitary environment that is easier for us to clean and looks good while doing it.
Pipe Bridge
During the brewhouse expansion, we also had North Coast install a pipe bridge to our second building where we do our canning. For those of you that handle transferring materials, you may notice there is no longer a pesky transfer hose across the breezeway that has been a staple of our brewing days. This is thanks to the hard piping North Coast built. This is a continuous, sanitary length of stainless steel pipe that starts in our cellar, climbs up the ceiling, and then passes through the wall of the first building, crosses the breezeway overhead, and punches into the second building, before dropping back to a working level where it can be connected to the canner. Not only does this remove the hose that so many of us have battled over time, but it creates a more sanitary transfer of our product, is much less prone to wear and tear, and saves the brewers the time and trouble of rolling out our old hoses.
Second Keg Washer
The final upgrade, which is the least obvious to most people, is we added a second keg washer. This unit is of a similar design to our previous washer and operates on a similar timeframe, so we are able to run these units out of sync to drastically increase our throughput on the keg washer. This translates into cleaning the kegs we need, in less time, once again improving our efficiency.
If anyone has any further questions or interests in any of these systems, feel free to reach out to Matt, Ted, or Garrison for more details!
PUB UPDATES
New Menu Item! Next Wednesday 6/7 we will be replacing the eggplant parmesan sandwich with an asparagus provolone melt!
Roasted asparagus, melted provolone, harissa mayo and fresh tomatoes on house-baked ciabatta. $16.99
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Our new specials board is up! The letters are in containers behind the bar. Please be diligent about keeping this updated as we run out or add new items. Also, let’s take extra care to keep the letters organized. They are set up for success!
We have 4 umbrellas for the 30’s that can be put out on hot days. These should go on tables 31,32, 37, and 38. Please remember to take them down at the end of the night and store them in the bbq area. We also have to make sure that we keep an eye on the wind. If it gets super breezy out there, pull them down as fast as you can to avoid them breaking or flying into the 4 spirits parking lot!
Just a reminder that we have 2 outside tables that can be turned into ADA accessible tables. With the weather getting nicer, we will see more and more people wanting to utilize these out there so make sure you know the procedure! I think most of you are familiar, but if you are new to the Tap Room or are in need of a refresher, please ask a manager and we will show you the ropes!
New Menu Item! This Friday our clam dip will be making it’s return to replace the rosemary feta dip.
Cool & creamy clam dip made with NW clams, shallots and parsley. Served with house-made sea salt and black pepper potato chips. $10.99
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
Portland Beer Week - June 16th-25th
Where: Various locations around PDX
We’ll be participating in a few events this year, as well as hosting our own. We’re still finalizing the details, but here are some dates to put on your calendar!
Block 15 Cellar-bration
Saturday, June 17th, 1-5pm @ Tiny Bubble Room
Lots of Block 15 cellar goodies all in one place. This is an event hosted by Block 15, come say hi!
Mussels from Brussels
Tuesday, June 20th @ Wayfinder Beer
A competition for best mussels sauce and pairing between last year’s winner Upright Brewing, and Block 15, Little Beast Brewing, Monkless Belgian Ales, and Wayfinder Beer.
This is a ticketed event: https://www.pdxbeerweek.com/calendar/musselsfrombrussels2023
Portland Beer & Cheese Festival
Sunday, June 25th @ Living Haus Beer
Master cheesemonger Steve Jones and Portland Beer Week have teamed to select 10 beers from 10 different breweries, each expertly paired with a corresponding cheese in a carefully guided tour of flavor.
This is a ticketed event: https://www.pdxbeerweek.com/beerandcheesefest
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:
6/6 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 6/13 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 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
Wyatt Dabbs - Utilizes down time to restock stations and plates. Never wastes a second.
Taylor Stine - Always a blast to work with and gets the job done with efficiency! Great job Taylor.
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Nico Belesiotis (FOH)
Kenny Stryker (FOH)
Ian Harrington (FOH)
Alyssa Lindsay (BOH)
Congrats to Garrison and Goody on 10 years at Block 15!
SAFETY TIPS
Be conscious as to what others are doing around you, and do your best to ensure you don’t pose a hazard to them (and vice versa).
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!
Internal Brewsletter - May 24th, 2023
General
Company BBQ is Sunday, August 13th. More info to come, save the date!
The new Mug Club year is about to start (June 1st) with a handful of wonderful new members! See the list of benefits below and become well versed in them. This year we have brought back a pre-pandemic benefit–Mug Club Mondays where all Mug Club members get $1 off full pours (12, 14, 16) all day at both locations. This was a pretty popular benefit, so we hope to see lots of Mug Club faces at both the Pub & TR on Mondays.
Mug Club 2023-2024 Benefits
The first pint in the new Mug Club year is on us at our south Corvallis Tap Room or Downtown Pub (on or after 6/1)!
The return of "Mug Club Mondays" where all Mug Club members get an additional $1 off pints all day on Mondays. This will start on Monday, June 5th)!
Mug Club Beer Prices - $.50 off every beer!
10% discount on packaged beer, eligible year-round.
10% discount on retail merchandise.
$25 gift card emailed to you for your birthday that can be used at our south Corvallis Tap Room or Downtown Pub.
Exclusive Block 15 Mug Club giveaways.
Exclusive opportunity to pre-order bottles and cans for our major beer releases.
Early access to Block 15 events and programs held throughout the year.
Invite to exclusive Mug Club only gatherings held throughout the year.
Mug Club quarterly newsletter highlighting upcoming beers, events, dates, brewer’s notes, etc.
Access to online Block 15 Mug Club apparel store, with 100% of proceeds going to the Oregon Brewshed Alliance (this custom apparel store will continue to replace the standard t-shirts that we have offered in previous years).
Members can also add a 2023-2024 Souvenir Mug to their order for an additional fee of $20. These mugs will be available for pick-up in July at our Mug Club Night with the Corvallis Knights.
Employee Provision: We’re looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
This week’s special is brought to you by Kailey! Stop by the Pub this Thursday to try Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Dip.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 5/26
Oregona // Named for a historic sternwheeler, and made to benefit the Friends of Historic Butteville. We collaborated with The Oregon Hophouse to feature 2b, McKenzie, and Anchor hops; all varieties from their breeding program. // 7.40% ABV
Takeaways: Collaboration with organic hop pioneer Oregon Hop House, designed to showcase the history of Oregon’s esteemed hop industry.
Tasting Notes: Honeydew. Navel Orange. Locality.
UPCOMING Wine RELEASES
RELEASING Friday 5/26
Shooting Star // First pressed biodynamic Syrah grapes from Hedges Family Estate Vineyards, native fermentation, and stainless steel conditioning. Bright and balanced acidity with a moderately dry finish. Unfined, unfiltered, uncorrected, living wine. // 11.00% ABV
Takeaways: Made using biodynamic grapes with nothing added or detracted: No added yeasts, sulfites, etc. It's a "zero-zero", with nothing changed. A true spontaneous rosé.
Tasting Notes: Fresh peach, Fresh strawberry, Rosewater
AVA: The Red Mountain AVA, Washington
Vineyard: Hedges Family Estate
Vineyard Management: Biodynamic
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 5/26
Oregona // India Pale Ale
Shooting Star // Rosé of Syrah
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!
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout w/ Cardamom
Tipping Point // India Pale Ale w/ Spruce Tips
Tropicolor // Hazy IPA
Blue Truck // American Premium Lager
Cassidy // Wild Ale with Honey, Hibiscus and Rose Petals
Alumni Club // Dry-hopped Kölsch
Liberty & Justice for All // India Pale Ale
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
Crimson Bliss will be replaced by Pacific Pineapple this Friday. If we run out before then, we will just sell Blueberry Cosmic, SeekOuts, and the draft cider. We want to have the menus updated before starting to sell the new cider.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Don’t forget about Band Tee Friday! Wear your favorite artist, band, performer, etc. tee on Friday!
New Menu Item! This will launch at the taproom this Friday at the Taproom only!
Sonoran Hot Dog (Replaces kimchi chicken sandwich)
Hill Meat Co. all beef hot dog with refried black beans, shredded lettuce, sweet onion & pickled jalapeño relish, sour cream, crispy bacon bits and cilantro. $15.99
We will also have a standard hot dog on the secret menu and can add a regular hot dog to the kids menu as well!
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, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved.
More details to come with our partnership with Ocean Blue for the whole month of June!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
EVENTS
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
5/30 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 6/6 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 6/13 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 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.
Portland Beer Week - June 16th-25th
Where: Various locations around PDX
We’ll be participating in a few events this year, as well as hosting our own. We’re still finalizing the details, but here’s a few events to put on your calendar!
Mussels from Brussels, Tuesday, June 20th, at Wayfinder Beer
Clear the Cellar (Block 15 hosted event), Saturday, June 24th, Location TBD
Portland Beer & Cheese Festival, Sunday, June 25th, at Living Haus Beer
Beach Clean Up - June 24th 1-4pm
Where: Nye Beach, Newport, OR
Come help us clean up the beach for World Oceans Day! We’re partnering with Buoy Beer Co, Sunriver Brewing, and Ocean Blue for a collaborative clean-up effort. More info in the Marketing section above.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Entire Warehouse & Delivery Driver Team - Not only are they all awesome dudes, but they have been working their tails off over these past few weeks (record weeks to be exact) to make sure that all of our tasty beer lands safely at our accounts. These guys rock! Thanks Fellas!
Luis Reyes - Luis is always ready to learn something new and always keeps the crew laughing
Shelby M - Shelby always tackles everything thrown at her with efficiency and just the best attitude. Block is lucky to have her!
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Cody Oakland (BOH)
Helen O’Neill (FOH)
David Mellison (FOH)
Congrats to Garrison and Goody on 10 years at Block 15!
SAFETY TIPS
The most common accidents in restaurants are cuts or scrapes, burns from hot surfaces or oil, and muscle strains/sprains from either slips and falls or repetitive motions. Please make sure to take the time to be aware of your surroundings and how your body is feeling.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - May 17th, 2023
General
Friday we will phase out Cuatros Leches cake for the season and bring back the Carrot Cake Bell! This will be on at both locations.
Decadent carrot cake with a fluffy cream cheese filling. This update to a childhood classic is then topped with a classic swirl and candied walnuts.
Employee Provision: This is 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 Tyler! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Chicken Fried Steak.
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 5/19
The Beer Walker // Brewed for our longtime friend and first customer, Gary, "The Beer Walker." We loaded this West-Coast IPA with vibrant Simcoe, Strata, and Centennial hops, paired with a lush malt base that balances with a pleasant dryness. // 7.30% ABV
Takeaways: Small updates, pushing big flavor with new advanced hop products. We pulled the Simcoe CO2 extract that used to be in this beer in favor of CTZ Salvo that we have been loving, we also blended in some Strata CGX with the regular Strata to really push that character.
Tasting Notes: Kumquat. Pine resin. Straight-Laced.
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - Bottles
RELEASING Friday 5/19
TC Bing PX // Turbulent Consequence is our turbid mashed, extended boiled, lambic-style ale spontaneously fermented and matured in our underground wild cellars. Bing PX 2022 features a blend of 2.5-5 year old barrels matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry and French oak barrels, conditioned on locally farmed Bing cherries. // 6.30% ABV
Takeaways: This blend consists of barrels of Turbulent Consequence aged on Bing cherries for different lengths of time. The use of sweet cherries and Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels balances the acidity of TC.
Tasting Notes: Tart Cherry, Dates, Almond
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 5/19
The Beer Walker // India Pale Ale
TC Bing PX // Lambic Ale Matured in Sherry and Oak Barrels with Cherries
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Joy
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Oregona // India Pale Ale
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout w/ Cardamom
Tipping Point // India Pale Ale w/ Spruce Tips
Tropicolor // 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
Drip system will be ready for the hanging baskets above the 100’s and the Corral plants by Thursday morning! Once the big planters get repotted, we will need to make sure that those are getting watered in the morning and at night (hosts, this will be on your list). As you are working outside, it never hurts to check the plants in the Corral to make sure the soil is moist as we fine tune the watering system.
We are phasing out the Crimson Bliss cider and will be replacing it with 2 Towns Pacific Pineapple.
Sun’s out, dogs out! With the nice weather, we’re seeing all of the cutest pups! Please remember to offer a water bowl for those that have their sweet angels at an outside table, and don’t forget to bus/remove them after the party has left. This should be part of our floor checks as we are resetting tables, but they can be easy to miss!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Starting this Friday and ongoing we will be doing Band Tee Friday at the Taproom! Any employee is welcome to wear their band of choice (as long as it is appropriate for work)! It should be a fun way to be casual, start conversations about music, and just be fun! So dig out all your cool Band Tees and wear them this Friday!!
We have a lot of beautiful new flowers planted around the Tap Room. Some of these are on an automatic drip system and some of them we will need to hand water a couple times a day(while it is super hot). I have made a plant watering guide/checklist and it lives on the host stand. Please be diligent about filling this out twice a day and make sure all of our new plants stay super healthy! For the time being, Makayla will still take care of all the indoor plants.
We have an awesome new duster! This is the time of year that the spiders are super busy and like to set up cobwebs all around the outside of the building, specifically in the grass area to the North. Once a day(in the afternoon when we are slow) grab the duster and do a walkthrough and knock out any webs that you see!
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, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved.
More details to come with our partnership with Ocean Blue for the whole month of June!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
EVENTS
Block 15 Softball Team - May-August
Stop by and cheer on the team! Game dates are subject to change, but as of right now:
5/23 6:10pm @ Rene Moye West, 5/30 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 6/6 7:30pm @ Rene Moye West, 6/13 7:30pm @ Pioneer Park, 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.
Mt. Angel Maifest - May 19th-21st
Where: Mt. Angel, OR
Deep Seek and Gloria! will be pouring from Block 15 as part of the festival!
Block 15 Distro Tap Takeover - May 23-28th
Where: Beergarden, Eugene, OR
Kick off 7-9pm on Tuesday 5/23. Beer tastings & swag giveways Friday 5/26 from 5-8pm.
Portland Beer Week - June 16th-25th
Where: Various locations around PDX
We’ll be participating in a few events this year, as well as hosting our own. Check back later for dates/locations!
Beach Clean Up - June 24th 1-4pm
Where: Nye Beach, Newport, OR
Come help us clean up the beach for World Oceans Day! We’re partnering with Buoy Beer Co, Sunriver Brewing, and Ocean Blue for a collaborative clean-up effort. More info in the Marketing section above.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Paul Van Handel - Thanks for keeping everyone smiling and doing 7 jobs at a time! Always a rockstar line at the pub , y’all rock
Garrison - Thanks for always having the teams back, working to resolve and troubleshoot issues, and proving brewers can have a sense of style.
James Whitney Lakin - Whit is always an absolute pleasure to work with. He’s a hard worker, a good friend, and he has good cats. p.s. shouts out Elton and Mr. Business
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Tayler Jones (FOH)
Briley Heller (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Always make sure that you know how to use tools or machinery correctly. If you are not comfortable with any equipment do not operate it until you have further training! Accidents can quickly happen when something is not a familiar item.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Dine Out for Franklin K-8 School: May 23rd
On May 23rd, a portion of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help support equitable access to academic and enrichment activities for each of Franklin K-8 School's 320 students. This financial support helps them continue in their mission to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for every child.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - May 10th, 2023
General
Employee Provision: This is 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 Kelsea! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Chickie Chickie Parm Parm, a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich.
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 5/12
That’s the Badger // True to the tradition of English pub beers, this classic style balances complex malt notes of toasted nuts and caramel with a mellow hop bitterness and a gentle, spicy hop flavor. That's it! That's the badger! // 5.40% ABV
Takeaways: Corn and invert sugar add to the authenticity, but a gentle dry hop lifts an exceptionally drinkable British bitter.
Tasting Notes: Crusty Bread. Lemon Zest. Proper Good
Fresh Flow // Ready to float into the finest beer dispensers around the Pacific Northwest, this summertime IPA features a soft malt base beneath a tidal wave of exotic tropical and juicy citrus hop varietals. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: Summer is nearly upon us and that means our summer seasonal IPA, Fresh Flow is hitting the market for the season.
Tasting Notes: Clementine. Papaya. Runoff season.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 5/12
That’s the Badger // ESB
Fresh Flow // India Pale Ale
Future Focus 3.0 // Future Focus 3.0 is an experimental IPA brewed with an eye on tomorrow. Every batch is brewed with a unique ingredient or process to allow us to learn and grow. This batch features Mainstem Oregon Promise malt. // 7.20% ABV
Takeaways: A hazy IPA featuring a new domestic pale malt from Mainstem malting. Oregon Promise is a 2-row spring barley variety bred by Pat Hayes lab at OSU! It's a hybrid of Full Pint (another OSU developed varietal) and the much heralded Golden Promise from the UK. Grown locally at Goschie Farms, this is an exciting new local option for our malt needs. Tropical and jammy, it features the trio of citra, Talus and HBC-586 hops., the latter of which is an up-and-coming variety we will continue to use more and more.
Tasting Notes: Mango. Orange Sherbert. Observational Study.
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Nebula
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
The Beer Walker // India Pale Ale
Turbulent Consequence Bing PX // Lambic Ale Matured in Sherry and Oak Barrels with Cherries
Oregona // India Pale Ale
Queen of Spices // Tropical Export Stout w/ Cardamom
Tipping Point // India Pale Ale w/ Spruce Tips
Tropicolor // 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
New Menu Items coming online this Friday, 5/13!
Asparagus & Chickpea Quinoa Salad (Replace Sesame Ginger Salad) - Seasoned tri-color quinoa, fresh greens, roasted asparagus & bok choy, green onion, red bell pepper and our honey mustard vinaigrette. Topped with fried chickpeas, parmesan and a soft boiled egg. $15.99
HPBJ Burger (Replaces Green Chile Burger) - Painted Hills beef patty, Freddy Guys’ hazelnut butter, house marionberry jam and slow-cooked pork belly on a toasted brioche bun. $18.99
We will still be able to (mostly) make the green chile burger! We will continue to have pepperjack cheese and green chiles on the line. Chilly mayo will, however, be phased out for the time being. We can offer regular mayo, or our spicy mayo as a substitute! It will live in the secret menu screen.
Three chairs have been brought out for our new ADA table out in the Corral. Please bring these in at night and stack them by the back server station, waiting to do so until we are closed.
Hosts - As we head into nicer weather and potentially busier nights, please remember to offer Caves as an option for those that are waiting when we are on more than a 15-20 minute wait. Updated menus live in the host stand and the hours are as follows. Gather Hour (a happy hour) is 4pm-5:30pm on days that Caves is open for dinner.
Monday: 4pm-9pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 4pm-9pm
Friday: 4pm-10pm (Oyster Hour 4-5:30)
Saturday: 9am-2pm (Brunch) ; 4pm-10pm
Saturday: 9am-2pm (Brunch) ; 4pm-9pm
TAP ROOM UPDATES
On Friday, we will be launching Airlie Rosé in bottles and will hopefully keep it around through the majority of the summer. Please remember to date and gas these at the end of each night just like we do with our other wines.
Now that the weather has turned in our favor, please leave the High Bar stools out overnight and use the bike lock to secure it to the beam. We have a cover that fits over them if we anticipate the weather getting bad overnight, but otherwise, all you have to do is lock it up with the same key as all the other locks!
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, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved.
More details to come with our partnership with Ocean Blue for the whole month of June!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
EVENTS
Block 15 Showcase - May 13th 1-4pm
Where: TopWire Hop Project, Woodburn, OR
Small tap takeover which includes our new collaboration with Crosby called TopWire IPA Block No. 01.
Block 15 Distro Tap Takeover - May 23-28th
Where: Beergarden, Eugene, OR
Kick off 7-9pm on Tuesday 5/23. Beer tastings & swag giveways Friday 5/26 from 5-8pm.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Whit - Thanks for always being so cheery and positive and handsome.
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team the following folks!
Gabriela Gonzalez (FOH)
Daniel Hufnagel (BOH)
Connor Hastings (BOH)
SAFETY TIPS
It’s starting to get warm again, make sure to stay hydrated and take time for water breaks!
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint: May 16th - HTC Cancer Awareness
Tap Room Location Only. A portion of proceeds from beverage sales from the day will be donated to ATI’s group running Hood to Coast for Cancer Awareness.
Dine Out for Franklin K-8 School: May 23rd
On May 23rd, a portion of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help support equitable access to academic and enrichment activities for each of Franklin K-8 School's 320 students. This financial support helps them continue in their mission to make every child’s potential a reality by engaging and empowering families and communities to advocate for every child.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - May 3rd, 2023
General
Employee Provision: This is 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 Mars! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Earth Nuggets. It'll be 5 fried balls of earth burger, tossed in wing sauce and served with blue cheese/veggie sticks.
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 5/5
Nugg Hugg // A sticky squeeze of hop nugs embraces you with this aromatic, juicy IPA. This heady charge of hops delivers luscious waves of candied peaches, pineapple, mango, and spruce. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: A stalwart Blazey in our IPA lineup is joining the perennial releases. Juicy, but dank, hazy, but refreshing, A Nugg Hugg defies expectations. A true Block 15 style hazy IPA.
Tasting Notes: Candied Orange. Dank Herbs. Crowd Pleaser.
TopWire IPA No.01 // 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: Nelson Sauvin CGX and Riwaka CGX. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: A rotating west-coast IPA brewed for Crosby's TopWire Hop Project, and featuring select Crosby CGX hops. Only available here and there.
Tasting Notes: Tangerine. Papaya. Patio Season.
Where you can get it: Only at our locations and at TopWire Hop Project in Woodburn, Oregon.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 5/5
Nugg Hugg // India Pale Ale
TopWire IPA Block No. 01 // West Coast IPA
*Only at our locations and TopWire Hop Project in Woodburn, Oregon
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Nebula
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
That’s the Badger // ESB
Fresh Flow // India Pale Ale
Future Focus 3.0 // Hazy IPA
The Beer Walker // India Pale Ale
Oregona // India Pale Ale
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
As we head into a busy weekend, please remember to pre-bus empty plates off of tables, and clear bus bins as often as possible. This will help keep us stocked on plates and silverware through the rushes.
The rosé change is just around the corner! We are down to our last little bit of the Airlie, then we will be switching to the Anne Amie Rosé of Pinot Noir. More details will be posted as the change happens.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
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, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved.
More details to come with our partnership with Ocean Blue for the whole month of June!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
EVENTS
Block 15 Showcase - May 13th 1-4pm
Where: TopWire Hop Project, Woodburn, OR
Small tap takeover which includes our new collaboration with Crosby called TopWire IPA Block No. 01.
Block 15 Distro Tap Takeover - May 23-28th
Where: Beergarden, Eugene, OR
Kick off 7-9pm on Tuesday 5/23. Beer tastings & swag giveways Friday 5/26 from 5-8pm.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Matt Williams - Williams continues to find solutions and make things happen across pretty much all departments of Block 15. Don't know where we'd be without him. Thanks Matt!
STAFF SECTION!
Congratulations to Patience, Cedar, and Annalee on stepping into Lead Server roles!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Kolleen Peters (FOH)
Jenna Gonzales (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Use the buddy system to lift heavy or awkward objects. A full keg weighs about 134 lbs and is awkward. Even the strongest person can throw out their back moving one. Two people are always required to move kegs.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint: May 16th - HTC Cancer Awareness
Tap Room Location Only. 25% of beverage sales from the day will be donated to ATI’s group running Hood to Coast for Cancer Awareness.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - April 26th, 2023
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Friday 4/28
Board Shorts: Next Set // Brewed in memory of our dear friend and original bar manager, Seth. Notes of tropical and citrus fruits represent his bright and easy-going spirit, like rocking a pair of colorful board shorts. A portion of beer sales will be donated to the OHSU Brain Institute. // 6.50% ABV
Takeaways: Brewed every year in honor of Seth, this one really pushes into that new-age west coast direction with a balance of bright fruit and sharp resin.
Tasting Notes: Ripe Papaya. Pineapple. Sunshine.
Upcoming Wine releases
Note: Wine bottles are brown, not clear, as the image suggests.
Releasing Friday 4/28 at the pub, available now at the tap room
Pinot Noir Cellar Blend 2021 // Our cellar blend of 2021 biodynamically grown Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Natively fermented in open top vats and conditioned in neutral oak barrels. // 14.00% ABV
Highlights: Blend of all process and lots that we used. Free run and pressed wine of three different clones from two different vineyards. Portions fermented and conditioned in steel, and in wood. Depths of complexity from use of different methodologies. Minimal intervention.
Tasting Notes: Ripe Raspberry, Cola, Candy Cap Mushroom
Vineyard: Keeler Estate Vineyard, Johan Vineyards
AVA: Eola-Amity Hills, Van Duzer
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Friday 4/28
Board Shorts: Next Set // India Pale Ale
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!
Nugg Hugg // India Pale Ale
TopWire IPA No. 01 // India Pale Ale
That’s the Badger // ESB
Fresh Flow // India Pale Ale
Future Focus 3.0 // Thiolized 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
Monday, May 1st will mark the return of the Corral! As long as everything goes according to plan, it should be ready for use next week!
Two new cocktails will be replacing Pink Moon and Sparkle Motion this Friday! See info boards for more details.
Blueberry Lavender lemonade will replace Blood Orange this Friday.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Thanks to everyone who helped us throw a kick-ass anniversary party on Saturday. You are all rockstars!
On Monday, May 1st we will be open for our Summertime hours at the Tap Room. Make sure to check your schedules as shift times will be changing. Our new hours are as follows.
Sunday-Thursday - 11:30am - 9:00pm
Friday-Saturday - 11:30am - 10:00pm
MARKETING
Block 15 Corvallis
Drum roll please… the Marketing Team has started a new social channel just for Block 15 content. The account is @block15corvallis on instagram, and will cover things happening locally. Give us a follow!
We wanted a platform for sharing things like:
Changes to operating hours
Food specials
Package beer sales
Draft beers
People’s Pint / Dine Out
Corvallis culture
People enjoying our pubs
Other general content relating to our locations
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, so mark your calendars if you want to get involved.
More details to come with our partnership with Ocean Blue for the whole month of June!
Reach out to kelsea@block15.com if you have any questions!
EVENTS
15th Anniversary Distribution Tour - April 26th-29th
Wildwood Taphouse - Hillsboro - April 26th
PublicHouse - Springfield - April 27th
Bridge & Tunnel - Astoria - April 28th
Common Fields - Corvallis - April 28th
MayFly Bottle Shop & Taproom - Portland - April 29th
Block 15 Showcase - May 13th 1-4pm
Where: TopWire Hop Project, Woodburn, OR
Small tap takeover which includes our new collaboration with Crosby called TopWire IPA Block No. 01.
Block 15 Distro Tap Takeover - May 23-28th
Where: Beergarden, Eugene, OR
Kick off 7-9pm on Tuesday 5/23. Beer tastings & swag giveways Friday 5/26 from 5-8pm.
HIGH FIVE SECTION
The entire Block 15 Team. Way to absolutely crush our anniversary events! - Nick
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
James Watts (BOH)
Nicole Ceperich (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
It’s getting warmer out, remember to stay hydrated while working!
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
The People’s Pint: May 2nd - Institute for Applied Ecology
Tap Room Location Only. 25% of beverage sales from the day will be donated to the Institute for Applied Ecology in celebration of Earthday Oregon.
The People’s Pint: May 16th - HTC Cancer Awareness
Tap Room Location Only. 25% of beverage sales from the day will be donated to ATI’s group running Hood to Coast for Cancer Awareness.
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!
Internal Brewsletter - April 19th, 2023
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING Saturday 4/22 at the taproom, monday 4/24 at the pub
The Past // Few things stand the test of time as a crisp amber ale. Teaming up with Joel Rea of Corvallis Brewing Supply, we hope to inspire you as he did with generations of Oregon beer lovers. // 5.50% ABV
Takeaways: An inspiration to generations of homebrewers and professionals alike, we worked with Joel on creating subtle umami character in a relatively dry amber to make something unique; drinkable, but with a surprising depth.
Tasting Notes: Roast Bitterness. Caramel. Classic.
The Present // There's no time like the present to create this delicious West Coast IPA with our friends from Coldfire. A shared vision of craft beer brought us together, but juicy Nectaron hops sealed our bond. // 7.00% ABV
Takeaways: Pairing Nectaron hops and Mosaic Incognito, we're really pushing into the new-age west-coast direction with this one. Juicy, resinous and mostly clear. It will have some haze due to hop oils, but not a hazy. All contemporary.
Tasting Notes: Orange Marmalade. POG Juice. Bangarang.
The Future // Brewed for posterity with the Oregon State University Fermentation Science department, this crisp and refreshing lager features pilsner malt grown in the PNW. A more sustainable beer for our future. // 4.50% ABV
Takeaways: Working with Jeff Clawson from OSU fermentation science to build the pilot for this batch with the Students in that department, before moving into a batch here, we were able to collaborate in a unique way to produce this ultra-drinkable lager.
Tasting Notes: Biscuit. Noble Hop Spice. Bright.
Upcoming packaged beer releases - Bottles
Releasing Thursday 4/20 at the pub, Saturday 4/22 at the taproom
Sticky Hands: The Past, The Present, and The Future… // Our 15th anniversary sticky hands variant features The Past - a base malt of Thomas Faucet Pearl Malt, The Present - our current kettle hopping of specially selected nw hops and co2 extract, and The Future - a dry hopping of new age superdelic nz hops and high oil cascade. Tongue happy hoppy face slap! // 8.10% ABV
Tasting Notes: Pine resin, Sweet Berry, Flashbacks
Releasing Saturday 4/22 at the taproom, Monday 4/24 at the pub
Revolve // Entering our 15th revolution, this golden ale features NW-grown grains cellared two years with brettanomyces in peach brandy barrels and bottled, riddled and discouraged in the méthode traditionnelle, revolve symbolizes remaining in motion without forgetting where we started. // 11.00% ABV
Takeaways: Showcases simple but exceptional ingredients and advanced brewing techniques
Tasting Notes: Wildflower honey, ripe peach, effervescence.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING Thursday 4/20
Sticky Hands: The Past, The Present, and The Future… // Hop Experience Ale
Releasing Saturday 4/22 at the taproom, Monday 4/24 at the Pub
The Past // Amber Ale, collaboration with Joel of Corvallis Brewing Supply
The Present // India Pale Ale, collaboration with Coldfire Brewing
The Future // Rice Lager, collaboration with OSU Fermentation Science Dept.
Revolve // Bier de Champagne aged in Peach Brandy barrels
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Illuminated
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Board Shorts // India Pale Ale
Nugg Hugg // India Pale Ale
That’s the Badger // ESB
Future Focus 3.0 // Thiolized 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
Small amount of draft Selection Series: Simcoe & Mosaic will be available Thursday 4/20 along with the special release of Sticky Hands Past, Present Future
Here is the link to the menu information for the 2008 throwback anniversary party Thursday! We will be running this menu Thursday-Sunday for prep ease and for any folks who miss out on the goods Thursday! Please read through it and let me know if you have any questions! THROWBACK FOOD MENU
For the Anniversary Throwback Party on Thursday the 20th, we will be offering throwback beer prices starting at $3.75! When you greet guests, please let them know that we are celebrating our 15th Anniversary by offering 2008 beer pricing (the beer menu will be updated to reflect these prices). Internally (not explicitly told to guests) we will have an “Anniversary Beer Off” discount button that will take $2.50 off of the draft price putting it at that 2008 mark. Because the beer will already be discounted, we will not offer Employee Beer Off discounts in combination with the 2008 discount.
The leak in the breakroom has been fixed! If you notice any water on the floor or coming from the wall, please let a manager know ASAP so that we can have the spots patched. Water will find its way out if there are any small holes, so this could happen with heavy downpour, but we hope to find all cracks and seal them. Once we confirm that the space is dry, we will have the drywall and stairs area replaced to mitigate the mold.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
Everyone get ready for this weekend! It’s going to be a blast!
With adding a few more shifts as we get busier, please remember to phase people if the extra bodies aren’t needed.
We have new metal water cups! The plastic cups will still be used as kids cups since they have the appropriate lid.
MARKETING
15th Anniversary celebrations are this week - let’s party!
For Thursday, don't forget to dress up in your best 2008 attire and start up your My Space profiles.
EVENTS
15th Anniversary Celebrations
2008 Throwback Party - April 20th
@ Downtown Pub 11am-11pm
The 15th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future Fest - April 22nd
@ Southtown Taproom VIP 1-2pm, General 2-10pm
Distribution Tour - April 26th-29th
Wildwood Taphouse - Hillsboro - April 26th
PublicHouse - Springfield - April 27th
Bridge & Tunnel - Astoria - April 28th
Common Fields - Corvallis - April 28th
MayFly Bottle Shop & Taproom - Portland - April 29th
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Ian Hutchings - Thanks for being the ultimate event planner & logistics human leading up to the events! You’re appreciated!
STAFF SECTION!
A HUGE thank you and congratulations goes out to the following team members for reaching their 5 year employee anniversary in 2022. Cheers!
James Bartholomew
Cody Byers
Mike Galusha
Danny Perston
SAFETY TIPS
It’ll be busy this week with all our fun anniversary events going on, make sure to take corners slowly and be aware of your surroundings.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Check back next month!
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!
Internal Brewsletter - April 12th, 2023
GENERAL
Just a quick reminder on food discount policy. Discounts can be used on one food item per day, and only on an item that has a maximum pre-discounted amount of $25. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please reach out to a manager before you apply a discount.
Employee Provision: This is 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 Kelsey! This week’s provision will be a spiced up version of our chopped pork sandwich, called “The Deluxe”. It’s chopped pork and pickled jalapeños tossed in Korean bbq sauce, with kimchi and American cheese!
Swing by the Pub this Thursday to try it!
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas.
With our delicious and exciting new desserts that we just launched (way to kill it, Bakery Team!!) we wanted to post an example of the Brownie Brittle garnish on the Chocolate Coconut Panna Cotta to make sure that folks are getting all of that crunchy deliciousness. Please see the example below!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING FRIDAY 4/14
Crystal Ball // Divined with The Bier Stein; Cascade, Chinook, and Amarillo will be reimagined with alchemic practices. Visions of tropical fruit and intense citrus speak to you. Gaze into the future. // 7.40% ABV
Takeaways: What's old is new again is the concept of this beer. This thiolized India Pale Ale takes three classic hops (Amarillo, Chinook and Cascade) and reimagines them with all new processes and a thiolized Kveik yeast to produce something brand new. Cascade Salvo was added directly to the fermenter to allow for copious biotransformation.
Tasting Notes: Papaya, Kaffir Lime, Futuristic
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING FRIDAY 4/14
Crystal Ball // Hybrid IPA
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Group Ride
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
The Past // Amber Ale, collaboration with Joel of Corvallis Brewing Supply
The Present // India Pale Ale, collaboration with Coldfire Brewing
The Future // Rice Lager, collaboration with OSU Fermentation Science Dept.
Revolve // Bier de Champagne aged in Peach Brandy barrels
Board Shorts // India Pale Ale
Nugg Hugg // India Pale Ale
That’s the Badger // ESB
Future Focus 3.0 // Thiolized 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: Thiolized Yeast
You may have seen Thiolized yeast and Thiols mentioned in some of our beer writeups of late so we wanted to take a moment to expound on the topic.
Thiols are sulfur-containing organic compounds with a sulfur atom bound to a hydrogen atom. Thiols are generally present in very low quantities, making up less than 1% of the essential oils in a hop cone. These compounds come in 2 varieties, bound and free. Free thiols are present in some malts and hops and are freely available to be extracted. Bound thiols are generally present in the form of precursor compounds that must be unbound, or unlocked, chemically during the brewing process to incorporate them into the beer.
The main question raised is, at such a low concentration, why worry about these compounds? Well, despite these low concentrations, Thiols are highly impactful aromatic compounds that can impart intense tropical, citrus character reminiscent of juicy passion fruit, pink guava, and freshly zested grapefruit peel. When properly incorporated into the beer they can add significant variety and depth to the beer's flavor and aromatics.
While some thiol extraction can happen during a standard brewing process with standard yeast, one way to amplify the number of oils being incorporated is to utilize a Thiolized yeast. This is a yeast strain that has been engineered to have the ability to biotransform thiol precursors, thus unlocking bound thiols into the beer.
By utilizing thiolized yeast in our brewing process, we can better utilize certain hops, as well as extract character from hops that is significantly different from the character that hop would typically express. Research on the topic has revealed that many hops with the highest levels of thiol precursors are old standards that have never been known for their tropical characteristics, like Cascade and Chinook. This expands the possibilities and combinations of hops available to us drastically.
Thiolized yeast is another great tool we can utilize to increase the variability of the versatility of our ingredients into a wider range of higher-quality beers. While it won't be something we use in all of our products, its availability gives us one more vector to utilize in expressing our creativity and craft.
PUB UPDATES
There was a scheduling miscommunication this past Tuesday with getting the foundation crack repaired, but an appointment for Monday, 4/17 at 8am has been confirmed. This will (hopefully) fix the leak in the breakroom so that we no longer have to vacuum. Once that space dries, we will get the drywall in the Prep Kitchen and Breakroom repaired/replaced. Thank you all SO MUCH for staying on top of the puddles and helping to mitigate this issue as much as possible. You are all so appreciated!
Next Friday, (April 21st) we will be bringing back the Painkiller on the cocktail menu. Our Painkiller is a blend of gold & Jamaican rums, house made coconut cream, pineapple & orange juices, topped with a little fresh grated nutmeg. It has been a huge hit in the past and will hopefully bring a little sunshine to these cold and wet days we’ve been having.
TAP ROOM UPDATES
We will be launching our version of a Beergarita on Friday called Marg Fresco. It will have our standard margarita and Sol Fresco, with a Himalayan Pink Salt rim. Pretty simple but oh so delicious!
MARKETING
15th Anniversary
We are getting closer to the 15th Anniversary Fest! We will have posters and table tents going up with QR codes leading to our Anniversary Hub. We also have FAQ’s on there in case anyone has questions about the Fest. Take a look, read them and get a feel for what questions could be heading your way from our customers. If you have any additional questions, email us at Marketing@block15.com and we will help you out!
EVENTS
Crystal Ball Release Event in Eugene - April 13th!
A couple of us are heading to The Bier Stein next Thursday (4/13) for the release of our anniversary collab with The Bier Stein! This beer is releasing next week and is a celebratory beer for our relationship with this amazing bottle shop. Find yourself heading to Eugene? Stop by and say hey! We will be there from 5 - 8 pm.
15th Anniversary Celebrations
2008 Throwback Party - April 20th
@ Downtown Pub
The 15th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future Fest - April 22nd
@ Southtown Taproom
Distribution Tour - April 26th-29th
Wildwood Taphouse - Hillsboro - April 26th
PublicHouse - Springfield - April 27th
Bridge & Tunnel - Astoria - April 28th
Common Fields - Corvallis - April 28th
MayFly Bottle Shop & Taproom - Portland - April 29th
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Scott & Jarrod - Thanks for being the best warehouse team in the business. From the jokes in the daily emails to the attention to detail in the warehouse- you both rock!
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Aidan Hurliman (BOH)
Jack Kellems (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Are you interested in joining our Safety Committee? The purpose of a Safety Committee is to communicate and evaluate health and safety issues, assist in continuous improvement of health and safety programs, and ultimately support a safer and healthier workplace. We meet once a month for about an hour to chat about these issues. If interested in joining please contact Shelby via Hotschedules or by email (shelby@block15.com).
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Check back next month!
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!
Internal Brewsletter - April 5th, 2023
GENERAL
Employee Provision: This is 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 Rachel! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for Spicy Peanut Yakisoba, featuring plenty of fresh veggies like water chestnuts, broccoli, and snap peas.
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING FRIDAY 4/7
Sol Fresco // Brewed for warm days in the sun and packaged fresh for your enjoyment. This golden-hued lager balances gentle corn sweetness, light hop bitterness, and aroma with a crisp, clean finish. // 4.70% ABV
Takeaways: Shifting seasons brings on our Mexican lager, light and refreshing with a gentle bitterness. Brewed with 100% domestic malt and 100% PNW hops.
Tasting Notes: Honey. Floral. Sunshine.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
RELEASING FRIDAY 4/7
Sol Fresco // Mexican Lager
Standing Sun: Blackberry // The summer solstice is still a ways off, but it's never too early to start celebrating the sun-drenched days soon to be. Light and juicy, this beer is designed for maximum refreshment. // 5.50% ABV
Takeaways: Our first trial of a new series of heavily fruited, but low abv beers for the Summer. Tart, light and refreshing these beers are designed to accompany adventures all Summer-long.
Tasting Notes: Juicy. Crisp. Spring Bloom.
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Joy Pale Ale
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Crystal Ball // India Pale Ale, collaboration with The Bier Stein
The Past // Amber Ale, collaboration with Joel of Corvallis Brewing Supply
The Present // India Pale Ale, collaboration with Coldfire Brewing
The Future // Rice Lager, collaboration with OSU Fermentation Science Dept.
Revolve // Bier de Champagne aged in Peach Brandy barrels
Board Shorts // India Pale Ale
Nugg Hugg // India Pale Ale
That’s the Badger // ESB
Future Focus 3.0 // Thiolized 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
While we are pretty light on notes for the Read & Sign this week, one aspect that we want to focus on is utilizing time properly when waiting for drinks to come up in the well, and waiting for a ticket to be told before traying it. While we want drinks to come up and go out quickly, we also want to avoid being in the well when drinks are not ready.
If you are waiting for a ticket, but the bartender is busy working on other tickets or helping customers, please loop around and see if there are tables that can be pre-bussed or cleaned, sani that can be changed, food that can be run, etc. If you are comfortable behind the bar and there is space, feel free to check in and pop back to help if needed. If you have been waiting for the ticket for a minute, feel free to check in to confirm that it printed/is being worked on.
Please wait until the entire drink ticket has been sold and all drinks are garnished before traying it. This helps to ensure that all items are accounted for and that we don’t miss or take out the wrong items. If you are unsure if a ticket is ready, feel free to ask the bartender if it’s good to take.
With the return of Sol Fresco this Friday, we will also be bringing back the Michelada on the cocktail menu. For those of you who are not familiar, a Michelada is kind of a beer “cocktail” typically consisting of a light beer combined with a mix that can vary greatly in its ingredients (tomato juice, lime, chiles, spices, etc.), but shares some similarities to a Bloody Mary or Red Beer. Our mix is spicy, savory, and a little smoky and comes served with a Tajin (chili-lime salt) rim. There is an option in Toast to add a half shot of tequila or mezcal (the best addition, IMO).
In the coming weeks we will be switching our rosé from the Airlie to the Anne Amie rosé which will be a lighter, more traditional offering that’ll be perfect for Spring & Summer. Stay tuned for details and tasting notes!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
This Friday, we will be switching our Pinot Gris back to Compton.
With the weather getting nicer outside and business in our outside sections increasing, please make sure that as closers and pre-closers,we are diligent about how we are leaving it outside overnight. Obviously, wiping off tables and picking up large debris. But also locking up or bringing in furniture and checking that the fire and all the heaters are turned off. Lets keep it looking snazzy!
New Sandwich! This Friday we will be replacing the bourbon patty melt with a new chicken sandwich!
Piquillo Pesto Chicken Sandwich
Tender sous vide chicken breast tossed in piquillo pepper-pepita pesto with fresh romaine, shaved parmesan & citrus aioli on a toasted brioche bun. $15.99
CAVES UPDATES
MARKETING
15th Anniversary
We are getting closer to the 15th Anniversary Fest! We will have posters and table tents going up with QR codes leading to our Anniversary Hub. We also have FAQ’s on there in case anyone has questions about the Fest. Take a look, read them and get a feel for what questions could be heading your way from our customers. If you have any additional questions, email us at Marketing@block15.com and we will help you out!
Corvallis Half Marathon - April 15th!
Where are my runners at!? We’re doing another year of sponsoring the Corvallis Half Marathon and Blair was kind enough to give us a voucher to run for free! This is for either a 5k or a half marathon!
There are some rules though… if you use the voucher, you HAVE to run or you will have to foot (Ha! Get it?) the bill. The second rule is to make sure you have planned ahead with your work schedule and make sure your time off is covered. Third rule is just have so good ‘ol fashion fun.
If you’re ready to lace up your shoes for April 15th, shoot Kelsea an email (kelsea@block15.com) with the subject line, “I’m Ready to Run!!” and I’ll give you a voucher for free entry.
EVENTS
Crystal Ball Release Event in Eugene - April 13th!
A couple of us are heading to The Bier Stein next Thursday (4/13) for the release of our anniversary collab with The Bier Stein! This beer is releasing next week and is a celebratory beer for our relationship with this amazing bottle shop. Find yourself heading to Eugene? Stop by and say hey! We will be there from 5 - 8 pm.
15th Anniversary Celebrations
2008 Throwback Party - April 20th
@ Downtown Pub
The 15th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future Fest - April 22nd
@ Southtown Taproom
Distribution Tour - April 26th-29th
Wildwood Taphouse - Hillsboro - April 26th
PublicHouse - Springfield - April 27th
Bridge & Tunnel - Astoria - April 28th
Common Fields - Corvallis - April 28th
MayFly Bottle Shop & Taproom - Portland - April 29th
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Goody, Benny, Laura & The rest of the Downtown Pub Staff - Thanks so much for taking care of the folks that were here for the various 15th Anniversary Collabs! The folks from The Bier Stein & Coldfire Brewing were very impressed with the service and hospitality and were really stoked on the food! Nice work everyone! We really appreciate it!
Colin Yorke - Colin is always willing to help out if he's got an available hand, like putting away Sysco, closing the dish pit,and even cleaning bathrooms! We love having you in the prep crew Colin!
STAFF SECTION!
Welcome to the team to the following folks!
Matthew Rybarczyk (Caves BOH)
Matthew Sanchez (Pub BOH)
Tiva Ward (Pub (FOH)
SAFETY TIPS
Always be aware of your surroundings and be careful while using the stairs.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Dine Out for Greenbelt Land Trust - April 11th
On April 11th, 10% of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help their cause to protect and restore the lands and waters that you care about in the Willamette Valley, for a more resilient future for all.
Greenbelt Land Trust will be on site at Block 15's South Town Tap Room from 5-7pm. 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!
Internal Brewsletter - March 29, 2023
GENERAL
New Desserts! Starting this Friday we will have 2 new desserts at both Block 15 locations:
Chocolate-Coconut Panna Cotta (Replaces cheesecake)
Silky layers of chocolate & coconut panna cotta custard with house made coconut brownie brittle. $8
Cuatro Leches Cake (Replaces coco bell)
Our spin on the traditional Tres Leches Cake with the addition of bourbon-caramel. $8
Starting Wednesday (Today!) we will be making some minor menu adjustments.
We will no longer have piquillo peppers so the Alabama Slammer will come with house pickles and banana peppers! (It is really good!)
We are also phasing out the B&B peppers, so we will put house pickles on the meatloaf.
Lastly, we are also phasing out the quick pickled carrots. We will be replacing these with the daikon slaw on the kimchi rice bowl and fresh shredded carrots on the sesame ginger salad.
Employee Provision: This is 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 Tivey! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Philly Burger (Painted Hills beef burger on a brioche bun, with mayo and shredded lettuce. Topped with piquillo and pickled jalapeños, lightly marinated onions, and a scoop of our house bier cheese sauce.).
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - cans
RELEASING FRIDAY 3/31
Illuminated // Brewed with a dynamic array of grains, select hops, and classic Belgian yeast. Classic to style, rich and characterful, and naturally conditioned with Belgian Candi sugar with a surprisingly crisp finish. // 8.90% ABV
Takeaways: Brewed with Belgian Pilsner malt and naturally conditioned in tank, Illuminated represents our commitment to authenticity with the abbey program.
Tasting Notes: Bartlett Pear. Nutmeg. Enlightened.
COMING UP ON DRAFT
Illuminated // Belgian Tripel
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Sol Fresco // Mexican Lager
Revolve // Bier de Champagne aged in Peach Brandy barrels
Crystal Ball // India Pale Ale
The Past // Amber Ale
The Present // India Pale Ale
The Future // Rice Lager
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Nebula
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
WHIRLPOOL EXPANSION
It’s new equipment week at the Taproom, we’re having a brand new Whirlpool installed on the brewhouse. All the rearranging we’ve been doing has been to make room for this new vessel. What exactly is it?
Whirlpools are a relatively new technology, only invented in 1960. The concept is that a wide cylindrical vessel, equipped with a flat base and an inlet port that is parallel to the side of the tank is used to separate the solids from the liquids after the boil, but before sending to the fermenter. You pump the hot wort through the inlet creating centripetal forces that pull the solids to the center, then you draw liquid from the outer edge of the tank.
Hops and proteins from the grain are emulsified in the wort during the boil, the advent of whirlpools allowed brewers to use pelletized hops instead of whole-leaf hops. Since the material in the pellets is much finer than the whole-leaf, brewers couldn’t use it without a means to separate it from the wort.
The kettles at both production and the pub have a combined kettle and whirlpool tank. The advantage of the new whirlpool is that it has a better geometry that will allow us to get a higher yield at knockout as well as create efficiencies in our brew day operations, shaving many hours a week in labor. It’s very common for larger breweries to have a standalone whirlpool. There are even more vessels that can be configured in a brewhouse to make it more efficient as well. Many very large breweries have five vessels; Mash-tun, lauter-tun, wort receiver, kettle, and whirlpool. Our system is now comprised of a mash/lauter-tun, kettle, and whirlpool.
PUB UPDATES
We are slowly phasing out the Blood Orange lemonade and will be switching to a Blueberry Lavender lemonade in mid-April. This will also phase out the Sparkle Motion and mark the transition into our Spring cocktail menu. Keep your eyes out for this official change, and get the Sparkle Motion while you can!
Thank you all for your positivity and flexibility as we launched Toast Tables this past weekend and navigated through changes and small kinks in the system! There are a ton of benefits to the new system, but also a lot of new pieces to get used to, so we appreciate you all rolling with it! If you have any questions, ideas, or constructive feedback, feel free to shoot Goody a HotSchedules message or an email at alex@block15.com!
TAP ROOM UPDATES
CAVES UPDATES
MARKETING
We will host our first Group Ride tomorrow, 3/30!
Meet up at 6:15pm at the water fountains on 1st st and we will roll at 6:30pm. We will be heading south down the waterfront towards the bike paths on Willamette and Crystal Lake heading towards the Block 15 Taproom. We will have twinkly string lights for the first 10 folks that show up! Bring your friends!
Check out the bike route HERE
Wear a helmet and bring lights to bike home. It is still fairly dark out around 7 ish. Maybe pair up with a buddy on your ride home too. DRESS WARM!
Make sure to sign up for our Strava group HERE as I will be posting rides to this group after this test!
Questions? Hollah at me kelsea@block15.com
-Kelsea
Corvallis Half Marathon!
Where are my runners at!? We’re doing another year of sponsoring the Corvallis Half Marathon and Blair was kind enough to give us a voucher to run for free! This is for either a 5k or a half marathon!
There are some rules though… if you use the voucher, you HAVE to run or you will have to foot (Ha! Get it?) the bill. The second rule is to make sure you have planned ahead with your work schedule and make sure your time off is covered. Third rule is just have so good ‘ol fashion fun.
If you’re ready to lace up your shoes for April 15th, shoot Kelsea an email (kelsea@block15.com) with the subject line, “I’m Ready to Run!!” and I’ll give you a voucher for free entry.
EVENTS
Save the Date for our 15th Anniversary Celebrations!
April 20th at the Pub “2008 Throwback Party”
April 22nd at the Tap Room “The 15th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future Fest”
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 11AM!
VIP $45 - Limited number available. Includes early entry at 1pm, branded glassware, 10 tokens, and special merch.
General $30 - Includes entry starting at 2pm, branded glassware, and 10 tokens.
Non-Alcoholic Beverage $15 - Includes entry and 5 tokens.
Kids 12 and under are free with an adult.
Exclusive Beer Tastings from Block 15 and our friends in the industry
Block 15 Snack Shack & Portland’s Tastebud Wood Fired Pizza
Block 15 Cocktail Bar
Live Screenprinting
Live Music throughout the day
Brewery Tours
Shuttle from our Downtown Pub
Distribution Tour shortly afterward with dates TBD
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Joshua Gallegos - Spanked the best burgers I've ever worked with. Really helped during the weekend rush.
Ted O’Hanlan - Just noticing Ted working his tail off to make some seriously awesome beers and expanding on our research and development at Block. Glad to have him on the team. Our fans seem to be really stoked on what’s coming out these days. Thanks Ted!
Holly Amlin - Holly is great. Works hard, always looks to improve things at Block and does everything with a smile. A great problem solver and team member. We’re glad to have you Holly!
STAFF SECTION!
Congratulations to Ian F. and Kelsy E. for accepting lead cook positions!
Congratulations to Benny for accepting a Pub Manager position, and Donlon for accepting a Lead Server, Trainer, and Barback role! We are super excited to see these two behind the bar!
Congratulations to Taylor for stepping into a Host & Food Runner Trainer position!
SAFETY TIPS
Fire Safety Emergency Planning:
Do you know where your evacuation meeting spot is? If you have to evacuate the building for any reason, such as a fire, the Pub and Caves’ meeting location is the Jefferson Place parking lot on the corner of 4th and Jefferson. The Tap Room’s meeting spot is the sidewalk just to the south of the parking lot entrance.
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Dine Out for Greenbelt Land Trust - April 11th
On April 11th, 10% of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help their cause to protect and restore the lands and waters that you care about in the Willamette Valley, for a more resilient future for all.
Greenbelt Land Trust will be on site at Block 15's South Town Tap Room from 5-7pm. 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!
Internal Brewsletter - March 22, 2023
GENERAL
Employee Provision: This is 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 Cedar! Swing by the Pub this Thursday for a Brie Sandwich (brie, capicola, arugula and pear on artisan bread).
If that inspires you, we’re always looking for more submissions, so send in those ideas!
UPCOMING PACKAGED BEER RELEASES - BOTTLES
RELEASING FRIDAY 3/24
Hypnosis // Brewed with English malts and matured a year in freshly emptied cognac barrels. Hypnosis is rich, warm, and velvety with innuendos of red flame raisins and marzipan. // 12.50% ABV
Takeaways: Barleywine aged in French cognac barrels, perfect for cold weather, this will warm you from the inside out. Hypnosis is velvety and smooth, with just enough character from the huge barrels from which it is harvested.
Tasting Notes: Red Flame Raisins, Marzipan, Cozy
COMING UP ON DRAFT
Hypnosis // Barleywine aged in French Cognac barrels
UPCOMING / IN PROCESS BEERS
*This list is subject to change based on the brewing schedule, so please keep that in mind!
Illuminated // Belgian Tripel
Sol Fresco // Mexican Lager
Revolve // Bier de Champagne aged in Peach Brandy barrels
Crystal Ball // India Pale Ale
The Past // Amber Ale
The Present // India Pale Ale
The Future // Rice Lager
CROWLER/PACKAGE SALE
Crowler Sale: Cosmic Coldbrew
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
FERMENTATION VESSELS
Step foot in a craft brewery and you’re likely to see a lot of stainless steel, part of the appeal of visiting a brewery is to feel like you’re participating in something. An entire culture has grown around the craft beer industry, from casual fans to hardcore beer aficionados. At the center of all of it is the brewpub or craft brewery taproom, a public house where the beer is both produced and sold directly to the consumer. One sure sign you’re in a craft brewery is the organized lines of stainless fermenters. The design, cylindroconical, looks like an inverted rocket. Not to be confused with any of the other hundred-odd stainless vessels you might see in a brewery, the fermenters are there in numbers.
Beer has been produced for thousands of years, and technologies in how that beer is fermented have evolved greatly, the change from ceramic jars to wooden vessels took thousands of years, and the move from wood to metal vessels took a few more centuries, despite a few outliers; Pilsner Urquell continued to ferment in open oak vats until the privatization of industry after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. The 20th century brought great changes in materials and design. Mild steel replaced concrete, a brief player in tank design, but its highly-corrodable nature meant tanks had to the lacquered or coated in glass, internally. Aluminum briefly replaced mild steel, but had the same issues with corrosion and also needed the same protective coatings. Manufacturing advancements in stainless steel positioned it to replace all other materials starting in the mid-20th century, not only for tank design but for all components used in brewing. It was durable and was not corroded by beer (an acidic substance), or the caustic chemicals used in cleaning brewing equipment.
The addition of a conical base was developed in the 1960s, this had not previously been possible, but advancements in manufacturing again paved the way for a major change in design. The first large-scale brewery to install stainless cylindroconical tanks was Raineer in 1970, but those tanks had cones with a noticeably shallower angle than tanks do today, only about 25° compare to around 70° today. There are several advantages to having that conical base, not the least of which is the ease of separating yeast at the end of fermentation. It also allows us to unitank, a process we use greatly at Block 15. With this method, we ferment, cold crash, separate yeast, dry hop, carbonate and package all out of one tank without having to move beer around, potentially exposing it to harmful microorganisms or oxygen.
These tanks are ubiquitous among craft breweries, often sitting unused by the time taproom doors open and customers fill seats, but they are central to everything we do in the cellar. We’re fortunate to have a partition between our taproom and our cellar, some breweries seat directly in their cellar. Coldfire and Upright brewing both have seats on their production floor and have to be completely finished and cleaned up before they can open for service. It is this living aspect of visiting an active brewery that has helped build a culture that bridges the relationship between patrons, service staff, and production staff and continues to make craft breweries an appealing place to visit.
Further Reading:
PUB UPDATES
TAP ROOM UPDATES
This Friday, we will be launching a new SeekOut Flavor. Pineapple+Passionfruit!
With the weather getting nicer and it getting busier outside, we need to make sure we are wiping down the outside tables at night and picking up large debris on the patio. Keep it looking fresh out there!
CAVES UPDATES
MARKETING
We will host our first Group Ride tomorrow, 3/23!
Meet up at 6:15pm at the water fountains on 1st st and we will roll at 6:30pm. We will be heading south down the waterfront towards the bike paths on Willamette and Crystal Lake heading towards the Block 15 Taproom. We will have twinkly string lights for the first 10 folks that show up!
Check out the bike route HERE
Wear a helmet and bring lights to bike home. It is still fairly dark out around 7 ish. Maybe pair up with a buddy on your ride home too.
This is our test ride before we make the big announcement to the public. So any feedback would be gratefully appreciated too!
Make sure to sign up for our Strava group HERE as I will be posting rides to this group after this test!
Questions? Hollah at me kelsea@block15.com
-Kelsea
Corvallis Half Marathon!
Where are my runners at!? We’re doing another year of sponsoring the Corvallis Half Marathon and Blair was kind enough to give us a voucher to run for free! This is for either a 5k or a half marathon!
There are some rules though… if you use the voucher, you HAVE to run or you will have to foot (Ha! Get it?) the bill. The second rule is to make sure you have planned ahead with your work schedule and make sure your time off is covered. Third rule is just have so good ‘ol fashion fun.
If you’re ready to lace up your shoes for April 15th, shoot Kelsea an email (kelsea@block15.com) with the subject line, “I’m Ready to Run!!” and I’ll give you a voucher for free entry.
EVENTS
Save the Date for our 15th Anniversary Celebrations!
April 20th at the Pub “2008 Throwback Party”
April 22nd at the Tap Room “The 15th Anniversary: Past, Present, and Future Fest”
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 24TH AT 11AM!
VIP $45 - Limited number available. Includes early entry at 1pm, branded glassware, 10 tokens, and special merch.
General $30 - Includes entry starting at 2pm, branded glassware, and 10 tokens.
Non-Alcoholic Beverage $15 - Includes entry and 5 tokens.
Kids 12 and under are free with an adult.
Exclusive Beer Tastings from Block 15 and our friends in the industry
Block 15 Snack Shack & Portland’s Tastebud Wood Fired Pizza
Block 15 Cocktail Bar
Live Screenprinting
Live Music throughout the day
Brewery Tours
Shuttle from our Downtown Pub
Distribution Tour shortly afterward with dates TBD
HIGH FIVE SECTION
Cedar Nelson - Ready to work every time she's on shift! Always has a great attitude and helps others a lot.
STAFF SECTION!
Check back next week!
SAFETY TIPS
Check back next week!
THE PEOPLE’S PINT / CHEERS FOR CHARITY / DINE OUT
Dine Out for Greenbelt Land Trust - April 11th
On April 11th, 10% of sales from both Block 15 locations will be donated to help their cause to protect and restore the lands and waters that you care about in the Willamette Valley, for a more resilient future for all.
Greenbelt Land Trust will be on site at Block 15's South Town Tap Room from 5-7pm. 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!