In 2008, Nick and Kristen Arzner opened Block 15 Brewing in the 1926 Gazette-Times newspaper building, just blocks away from Oregon State University and its prestigious Fermentation Science program. The Arzners took full advantage of Willamette Valley’s agricultural abundance, which, of course, includes hops. Block 15 built a reputation for first-rate IPAs and other hop-forward ales, rock-solid renditions of classic recipes from around the world and a dazzling variety of Belgian-style brews, including cask-conditioned specialties featuring wild yeasts and exotic flavors. Today, Peaks & Pints presents an in-house flight of Block 15 craft beer that we call Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Block 15 Brewing.

Peaks and Pints Beer Flight: Block 15 Brewing

Block 15 Cardinal Coalescence – Raspberry

6.1% ABV, bottle

Inspired by the classically tart and delightfully complex red ales from the Flemish region of Belgium, Block 15’s Cardinal Coalescence – Raspberry blends fresh red ale with portions of mature brandy barrel-aged ale from their wild cellar. Extended conditioning in oak foeders with raspberries allows this blend to develop wonderfully balanced notes of raspberries, caramel, and dried fruit character alongside a complex acidity.

Block 15 Revolve 2023

11% ABV, bottle

In celebration of their 15th anniversary in April, Block 15 Brewing brought back this bière de Champagne brewed Northwest-grown grains cellared two years with Brettanomyces in peach brandy barrels and bottled, riddled, and discouraged in the méthode traditionnelle. Expect fruity peachy and sweet, but tart and wild yeast funky goodness with an amazingly thick mouthfeel and effervescent.

Block 15 Animal Cookies

7% ABV, draft

Brewed with Cashmere, Chinook, CTZ, and Mosaic hops, Block 15’s Animal Cookies hazy IPA is packed with sticky, pungent hops. Unleash a swirling circus of pineapple, tangerine, mango, pine, and dank herbs — balanced with sweet pale malt and malted oats for a soft mouthfeel and gentle finish.

Block 15 Cosmic Cold Brew

7% ABV, can

Working alongside their south Corvallis neighbors, Bespoken Coffee Roasters, Block 15 elevated their classic Nebula Stout with a 24-hour cold extraction on freshly roasted coffee beans. Cosmic Cold Brew is exactly what you want from a coffee stout. It’s dry, complex, balanced, and delicious with flavors of coffee, chocolate, dark fruit, and pepper. On the nose, expect spice, coffee, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, well-aged fruit cake, and cinnamon.

Block 15 Queen of Spices

7% ABV, draft — can in the cooler

A special style of stout that is brewed bigger than normal for a long journey, the more traditional foreign/export stouts will be found in the tropical regions of the world. Higher in alcohol with a very pronounced roasted character, export stouts have moderate to high roasted grain and malt flavor with a coffee, chocolate, or slightly burnt grain character, plus earthy, herbal, or floral hop flavor. Navigating a bearing between the delicate flavors of cardamom and the depth of roasted malts, Block 15’s export stout, Queen of Spices, is inspired by the rich, equatorial tradition of export-strength beers.

LINK: Peaks & Pints beer and cider cooler inventory