46: Love Potion No. 9

I think I’m in love. With my wife, of course. And my son. And the steak you see in the foreground. But right now, my newest love is Block 15 Brewing in Corvallis.* I’m not prone to frequent hyperbole, but if you’re reading this in your RSS reader, I’m going to cut right to the chase: Block 15 is the next Russian River.

The beers I tried in my short time visiting the brewery were some of the most revelatory, well-executed and creative beers I’ve tried in months. A sour wit (Wonka’s Wit) sampled from a bacteria-laden wine barrel that reminded me of clean, crisp Girardin Gueze, but with that funny coriander/banana thing going from the Wit style. And it worked. A 15% Belgian stouty thing from a bourbon barrel (Imagine) that was to me a deeper, darker cousin of Vinnie’s famed Consecration. And an IPA on tap (6 Hop Wonder) that positively blew the doors off of Moylan’s Hopsickle for aroma, and yes, bested Pliny the Younger for its disguised alcohol component, no small feat given its 9.5% abv. Was it a little like chewing on a hop pellet? Yes. Is there anything wrong with that? No.

I was so taken with the brewpub, and its extremely personable owner/creative director Nick Arzner that I filled three growlers – I only brought two with me, and ended up purchasing another! I enjoyed the first growler last night and tonight with my sweetheart, finding its fruity tones the perfect complement to a night in and a fine steak. I’ll open the other beers the rest of the week.

This brewery is absolutely worth the trip south from Portland, or wherever you hail from. It’s a destination, not a stop.

Beer Name: Love Potion No. 9
Brewer: Block 15 Brewing
Price: $7/growler**
Sampled: February 15, 2010
Rating: 4/5
Notes: A hint of earthiness just ahead of a hearty fruit flavor somewhere between … wait for it … blackberry & red raspberry. Nice roasty support & not too sweet. Vanilla?
ABV: 6.3% abv
IBU: 30 ibu
OG N/A
TG N/A
Serving Type: Growler.

* Saturday night and Sunday, I was a guest of Corvallis Tourism, who were good enough to put me up for the night in the unpronounceable Salbasgeon Suites and arrange for tours of several breweries, including Block 15. I paid for the growlers, though. ;)
** Growlers are $4 off on Sundays!