Block 15 Brewing out of Corvallis is, right now, one of Oregon’s best breweries in my opinion, consistently releasing solid, well-brewed beers that span the gamut of styles—not just IPAs. These two beers I’m reviewing represent two great examples of underrated malty styles that you don’t see very often, and Block 15 hit the targets on both.

Squirrel Stash

I wish breweries would release more brown ales, especially moderate-strength, easy-drinking ones like this one, which is 4.5% ABV. I think the name is meant to evoke “nut brown” though of course no actual nuts were used in the brewing of it. The description on Untappd says:

A roasty, nutty English-style Brown Ale brewed with British Maris Otter and a host of specialty malts, producing a silky mouthfeel and a malt profile full of toasted nuts, baker’s chocolate, and roasty malts. A delightfully dry finish brightens up this complex, malty beer.

Appearance: Nicely clear, brown, with amber-gold highlights. Creamy, light tan head.

Smell: Lightly roasted malts with a touch of caramel, indeed nutty with a light malt ball sweetness. Puffed barley cereal, rich and bready maltiness, fresh baked bread, low to no hops.

Taste: Grape Nuts cereal, bread crust, toasted walnuts in a rich yet not overly sweet first sip. Description says baker’s chocolate and I can see that, though it’s mellow with some light-roast coffee fruitiness. Subtle marmalade and spicy hop flavor to temper any sweetness but it’s the luscious, roasty, nutty malts that are the star here.

Mouthfeel: Medium-light-bodied, creamy-smooth, with a clean and dry finish.

Overall: Really, really nice example of a great style.

Alt

This is a classic German-styled altbier, noted on the packaging as a “German-style ale” which was a nice touch (if an average drinker doesn’t know what “Altbier” means, for instance). It’s a sessionable 5% alcohol by volume and the description (pulled from Untappd) says:

This Northern German-style Altbier leads out with a beautiful malt profile featuring caramel, grain, and bread notes that quickly give way to a crisp and refreshing finish. Cool fermentation with a German ale yeast lends this Altbier fruity and gently rustic complexity, while extended cold conditioning—much like what you find in a traditionally brewed lager—rounds it out with a smooth, refined finish.

A proper altbier is not a style I see or drink often enough, and I wasn’t disappointed with this one.

Appearance: Deep ruby brown, good clarity, with a light tan colored, whipped egg white head.

Smell: Richly malty with a nutty, roasty character like dark bread crust. Some hops come through, green and lightly spicy.

Taste: Pleasantly bitter with a combination of burnt toast and earthy hops, which linger. Nutty grains, nicely dry, with a nice roastiness akin to light roast coffee without the overt coffee character, and a touch of fruity esters.

Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with a pleasant creaminess giving way to a dry body with a lingering gentle bitterness.

Overall: Quite nice, I’m liking the malt flavors and the dry body makes it super drinkable.