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Not much on the label, except that we can expect:

• a 22 oz bottle
• of hoppy,
• Imperial IPA,
• sometime in 2011,
• IBUs: 80,
• ABV: 7.5%

This should be another great release from John and Phil down at the Portland Waterfront location! I'll have more information when the press releases start dropping, but with 2011 on the label this one is probably at least a few month off.

Normally, we don't report on things too far outside of Portland—there's enough going on here.  However, there are a few things that require mentioning for those who may not know what's going on outside of out Portland beer bubble.  Earlier this year, I brought some news and praise from one of my favorite breweries, Block 15.   Not long ago, I went back to Block 15 after the release of their Ferme De La Ville Provision, and I was simple amazed.  I was down in Corvallis on other matters (Otto's annual echocardiogram), and lunch at Block 15 was inevitable.  But that beer stopped me in my tracks, sucking all of the momentum out of me.  Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind being sidetracked from my duties by a beer—it happens quite often.  But stopping by and expecting something fantastic, and yet still being blown away, it's an amazing traction.

And that's why you go to Block 15.  Nick Arzner and Co. are doing amazing things by any beer geek standards, and yet so much of it never leaves Corvallis.  Keg after keg is served to and consumed by the locals.   Does this mean that the bottle predicted below will reach Portland?  Hoping and praying probably won't help, but I doubt it will hurt either.  I have no other information on Block 15's Figgy Pudding,  other than the label below.  But with Block 15's track record of exceeding expectations, I will pick up as many as possible, whether by driving down to Corvallis, or crossing my fingers and hoping it makes it up here.  Who am I kidding though?  I'll be down to Block 15 soon, regardless of bottle releases.