The Block 15 thread

Discussion in 'Pacific' started by guajolote, Mar 10, 2016.

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  1. shelby415

    shelby415 Pooh-Bah (2,098) Oct 10, 2011 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Cans at Belmont a couple days ago. Might be gone by now but they were limit 2 so might still be there.
     
    #281 shelby415, Feb 17, 2017
  2. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    they were almost gone when i went the day they got them.

    Ive kind of given up trying to get any special bottles at Belmont as they are so well known that they blow through things ridiculously fast. they still have a great selection of beer and a good taplist but there are various markets and other spots around town where you can go weeks later and still grab a special release.
     
    #282 derftron, Feb 17, 2017
  3. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Amen. I pretty much assume that any special release in PDX, Belmont station will likely be the first place to run out it (and probably pretty quickly at that). Whenever I'm over there (typically to get something off the draft list), I'll wander thru the store just to see what's available. Every once in while I'll find some gem that was overlooked, or just happen to find something that was moments ago placed on the shelf (found one of the prairie noir beers that way one time).

    But it really doesn't happen all that often. :-)
     
    #283 John_M, Feb 17, 2017
  4. mudbug

    mudbug Pooh-Bah (1,762) Mar 27, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Thank you Block15! The Newport Liquor store now keeps a steady supply of Sticky Hands and Gloria!
     
    #284 mudbug, Feb 17, 2017
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  5. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just noticed that NWIPA currently has Breakfast with Woodford on tap. Have no idea if they got any bottles, but at least you can drive over and have a glass or three. Of course if you have to take some home, it looks like you can get a growler fill for $48. :slight_smile:
     
    #285 John_M, Feb 17, 2017
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2017
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  6. derftron

    derftron Pooh-Bah (1,663) Feb 8, 2012 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    nice. I was able to snag 2 bottles of that but I havent tried it yet. Ill probably pass on the $50 growler fill
     
    #286 derftron, Feb 17, 2017
  7. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Just ran over and tried it. It's very, very good, and much better than the regular super nebula this year (IMHO of course).
     
    #287 John_M, Feb 18, 2017
  8. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Anyone planning to stop by tomorrow for the Funky Peach (Punch You In the Eye) release? $8, limit 6. If anyone snags an extra bottle I'd be interested to hear from you.
     
    #288 sharpski, Feb 18, 2017
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  9. G_Z_a

    G_Z_a Zealot (635) Feb 2, 2015 Oregon

    As far as Oregan made IPAs, Block 15 and Pfriem have moved ahead of Boneyard and Barley Brown's ever so slightly for me. From regulars like SH, IGHS, and Alpha, to others like Fluffhead, Hoppy New Year, Dab Lab, and Lupulin Gold, I've enjoyed them all and find their lineup to be more varied and exciting than any other in the state. Pfriem's double and triple are also crazy delicious. RPM has become so ubiquitous it's lost its luster for me although I still love Hop Venom. Boneyard has seemed to kind of rest on their laurels while Block 15 continues to experiment to great affect. My only complaint, if you can call it that, with BB's is they have too many offerings that seem similar to me I have a hard time distinguishing one from the other. They're all great just feel Block 15 has separated themselves in the last couple of years. Fort George is near the top of the list for me too.
     
    #289 G_Z_a, Feb 18, 2017
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  10. 66jzmstr

    66jzmstr Pundit (960) Jul 17, 2005 Washington

    Thread de-rail: Speaking of Ft. George, it looks like they no longer can tallboys of Java the Hop. Is that true, or do they just not distribute them to Washington State any more? (Or, am I just not looking hard enough?)

    Thread re-rail: Block 15 is amazing. Their fall saison was amazing, and I have to keep their distribution on my calendar a little better for when their tasty wares hit the Seattle area.
     
    #290 66jzmstr, Feb 18, 2017
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    Pretty insightful post.

    I remain a big fan of Boneyard and Barley Brown IPA's and DIPA's, but I can't really disagree with your observations, especially as it pertains to Boneyard. They keep on periodically putting out new IPA's, but all seem to be slight variations on the RPM theme. It would be interesting to see them come up with a new DIPA/TIPA at some point, though like you I gather, I continue to be a big fan of Hop Venom (and Notorious). Your comments regarding BB I also agree with, at least as they pertain to the DIPA's. I've liked them all, but I have to acknowledge that the difference between Forklift and Headshake (for example) is pretty subtle. I think there's a pretty noticeable difference between Pallet Jack and WFO however, and I also think their APA's are pretty good. I could drink a beer like Ratchet Strap all day long.

    As for B15, I actually find their various NE style IPA's to be pretty similar as well. Part of the problem for me is that they make (or have made) so many of them, it's hard for me to keep track of them all. Some I've found to be better than others, but most of the one's I wasn't that big a fan of, it seems like those were all early experimental versions, before they honed their craft. At this point, it seems like their IPA's are pretty much "can't miss" in terms of quality. I feel like I know before I even try one what to expect when a new B15 IPA comes out (I know for certain it's likely to be pretty good, with a huge citrus presence).

    Pfreim is really pretty hard for me to make any argument over. Their beers just get better and better all the time, and damn if even their lagers aren't outstanding. Folks who want to argue that they're the best brewery in Oregon now... I have a really hard time arguing otherwise. And yes... their IPA's, DIPA's and TIPA's are all pretty terrific.
     
    #291 John_M, Feb 18, 2017
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  12. G_Z_a

    G_Z_a Zealot (635) Feb 2, 2015 Oregon

    Not sure, but it's not easy to find in Portland too.
     
    #292 G_Z_a, Feb 18, 2017
  13. honkduh

    honkduh Initiate (0) Jun 2, 2011 Oregon

    Java the hop is draft only this year.
     
    #293 honkduh, Feb 18, 2017
  14. LockeNess33

    LockeNess33 Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2016 Oregon

    Let me know next time you come through Salem and I got a bottle for ya.
     
    #294 LockeNess33, Feb 18, 2017
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  15. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I agree with most of this.
    One of my small disappointments in the Oregon beer scene is that Crux really haven't blossomed as i expected them to do. Dont get me wrong..real nice beer but haven't hit any outta the park .
     
    #295 Reidrover, Feb 19, 2017
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  16. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm clearly biased as the owners are close family friends, but Mo Fresh Hop is one of my favorite beers ever.
     
    #296 distantmantra, Feb 19, 2017
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  17. sharpski

    sharpski Grand Pooh-Bah (3,100) Oct 11, 2010 Oregon
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was initially pretty skeptical of Crux, but from my perspective at ground zero they seem to have blossomed quite well. They've begun canning recently, but before that they seem to have distributed Tough Love, Half Hitch, et al. decently far and wide. If their regular distributed offerings don't do it for you, you'll have to take my word for it that some brewpub-exclusives and limited beers have been sublime: Mo' Fresh, Sour Golden, Peaches & Pears Saison.

    Just as it took time for their initial barrel program beers to develop, I hope the additional space afforded by the opening of their production brewery will mean wider distribution of their sour barrel projects in a year or so.
     
    #297 sharpski, Feb 19, 2017
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  18. Reidrover

    Reidrover Grand Pooh-Bah (4,886) Jan 14, 2003 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I was pretty underwhelmed by the Gimme Mo release..it was good but compared to Block 15?
     
    #298 Reidrover, Feb 19, 2017
  19. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader


    I've been fortunate enough to be up in Bend the past few years during fresh hop season, and have to say that Crux really seems to have a knack for making excellent fresh hop beers. Even the fresh hop saisons have been generally interesting and excellent (and the mo fresh this past year was truly sublime). That being said, I can understand where @Reidrover is coming from with his comments. I guess I don't share his disappointment, but that's because it sounds like his expectations were a bit higher than mine. From their regular line-up, Tough love and occasionally the half hitch, are really the only beers I buy on a regular basis from Crux (and in the case of the Tough Love, that's only because the most recent batch was so outstanding). Everything else they make is decent, but isn't something I ever buy at the store or at my local tap house.

    On the other hand, the brewpub in Bend is pretty much a must stop whenever I'm up in Bend. The location is great, and as you indicated, some of the brewery exclusive beers are truly excellent.
     
    #299 John_M, Feb 19, 2017
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  20. distantmantra

    distantmantra Pooh-Bah (2,954) May 23, 2011 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Mo Fresh = fresh hop Half Hitch
    Not the same beer as Gimme Mo.
     
    #300 distantmantra, Feb 19, 2017
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