Lagered by the Sun

Lagered by the Sun represents the company's commitment to sustainable brewing practices. Emphasizing community involvement, this program pays homage to three key areas: sourcing local and regional ingredients, utilizing solar energy in the lagering process, and implementing mindful brewing practices that extend to the shelves and taps.

“Lagered by The Sun encompasses many of our efforts to brew sustainably while creating unique craft beer that genuinely represents our place and the PNW.  This has been an exciting project several years in the making as we studied and tested materials and techniques that have culminated in our Lagered by The Sun offerings matching the quality we strive for every day.” Says Co-Owner Nick Arzner.

Solar Energy:

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 185.57MWh 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.

Locally Sourced ingredients:

With lagers inspired by historical European and international lagers that emerged regionally, the brewery focuses its efforts on working with growers that are close to home without diminishing the quality of the beer. By reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation, these partnerships support farmers in the Oregon and Washington regions while giving our brewers greater control over the beer's excellence.

“A brewery sourcing local materials means they are putting a critical eye on their impact on the environment and community. It matters because, as an industry, brewers need to be good stewards of our planet's natural resources. Breweries need high-quality water, grain, and hops to make their products, so anything we can do to reduce our impact on the environment contributes to better-growing environments for the crops we need and less impact on the watersheds we count on for our water. Locally sourcing our materials has the added benefit of supporting local economies and helping keep jobs and money in our communities where needed."” - Director of Brewery Operations Matt Williams explains.

Brewing Techniques / Water Consumption:

Water consumption is the most significant factor that contributes to the brewing process. Block 15 Brewing draws from the Willamette River and the Rock Creek Watershed just east of the Mary's River using water from two local rivers that run through or by Corvallis. With the impact on these local waterways, the brewery makes process changes to ensure minimal water usage. With the use of processes to reuse water in the chilling and heating methods, the brewery uses a system to re-coupe the water for the next stage of the brewing process, reducing the amount of water per brew.

Restaurant Locations:

Working with the brewery, the Culinary Team at Block 15 Brewing follows suit with the same mentality. Focusing on pairing dishes with the latest beer releases, Executive Chef, Sarah Farey, explains the vision behind what it means to be a sustainable kitchen.

"Sourcing local ingredients means using fresh, high-quality produce and products from our community's farmers and artisans, supporting that community that we are so proud to be a part of, promoting sustainability, and creating seasonal, innovative dishes for an excellent dining experience."