For a city with a fairly well-known fermentation science program (at OSU), Corvallis has surprisingly few breweries. Until 2008, McMenamins was the only game in town. That's when Block 15 opened, followed by Flat Tail in 2010, Sky High in 2013 and Mazama earlier this year.
Fortunately for Corvallis students and locals, each of these newer breweries has worked hard to make up for lost time.
Block 15 is the elder statesman, as it were. They tend to focus on Belgian styles, and experiment quite a bit with barrel-aging.
During my visit, I sampled five beers. Here's what I thought:
Gozer the Gozerian - a proper lambic-based gueuze. Light and cerealy, gently tart, and very clean finishing. Up there with the best American gueuzes available.
Figgy Pudding - a brandy-aged holiday ale. At 11.5%, this is a meal in a glass. It's rich - decadently so - with fine notes of oak, brandy, and holiday spices. Each sip reveals something new.
Giving Thanks - a strong, wild-aged Thanksgiving beer, this is funky, alcohol-spicy, and has a strong oaky tobacco note. It finishes extremely dry.
24 Carat - A light-colored, bracingly hoppy NW-style IPA. Listed at 70 IBU, this comes off far hoppier, with intense pine, citrus, and dank flavors and aromas.
Black Framboise - pouring a beautiful deep purple that appears almost black, this raspberry lambic also tastes darker. The raspberries are fairly muted, and the prominent flavor is that of acidity and funk.
Block 15 is easily the best brewpub in the Willamette Valley - no other brewery in this part of the state comes close to providing the same consistently high quality of food. And their beer rivals the best in Eugene for inventiveness and quality. About the only negative thing I can think to say about it is that it's not in Eugene so I can be there all the time!
If you're taking a trip north up I-5, there are few breweries more worthy of a stop.
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